PHONOSOPHIE Activator turntable mat -leather

Phonosophie LEATHER TURNTABLE MAT with activator technology

The acoustic effects of a record mat are enormous.

Its task is not limited to controlling the resonance of the record alone; it must also control the vibrations of the turntable. It is particularly important to achieve the right amount of damping. If this is too great, the music loses its liveliness and does not detach itself from the loudspeaker.

Only after many attempts did we find the optimal solution and can now present a mat that realises all the characteristics typical of the PHONOSOPHIE sound. Maximum dynamics and a large sound stage are now accompanied by great care for the smallest musical impulses.

MATERIAL, YESTERDAY & TODAY
Felt mats are often recommended, and we too have sworn by felt mats in the past. The basic idea is to dampen the resonances of the record caused by the stylus. Felt mats are good at this, but it turns out that the record usually lies too softly, which takes away some of the precision of the sound.

The PHONOSOPHIE Activator turntable mat is made of high-quality, very fine cowhide leather* and combines many positive characteristics. The natural material is characterised by a high-quality appearance and ideal self-damping. The fibrous underside supports this effect, as it also effectively minimises the resonance of the turntable. In addition, the material is antistatic, thus reducing the crackling caused by static discharges during scanning. A positive side effect is that the mat does not stick to the record.

THE FILIGREE PATTERN WAS NOT CHOSEN WITHOUT REASON
The aim is to achieve optimum damping of the record and turntable. Our tests have shown that a balance of low mass and a non-full-surface contact ensures extremely even control of the sound across the entire frequency spectrum. The pattern and engraving are cut with the utmost care using a laser. The leather is only 1.5–2 mm thick and weighs just 30–34 grams. In many cases, this eliminates the need to readjust the tone arm height and, if necessary, the subchassis. As leather is a natural material, there may be slight variations in thickness, weight and surface structure.

ADDITIONAL SOUND ADVANTAGE THROUGH PHONOSOPHIE ACTIVATOR TECHNOLOGY
Leather is a natural material and already has many positive structural patterns. PHONOSOPHIE supports this by integrating AKTIVATOR technology into the mat. The composition of our vibration patterns significantly improves the sound characteristics.

This unique technology reduces the EM fields emitted by so-called energy potential vortices and their interaction with the environment. These vortex energies are not only generated by the electrostatic charge of the record, they are also present on the turntable itself and can be detected with EM field measuring devices. Reducing these energies has a major impact on the sound and is an indispensable part of sound optimisation for us.

PHONOSOPHIE-AKTIVATOR technology transforms music into an emotional experience that comes close to a live concert. The performance gains in dynamics and detail, presenting the music with great intimacy, creating the impression of being in the same room as the musicians.

BREAK-IN PERIOD
This leather mat actually has a break-in period. It is equipped with unique AKTIVATOR technology and therefore needs to synchronise with its surroundings and the hi-fi system.

Depending on the circumstances, this synchronisation takes about a week. At first, the sound seems a little "hard", with the performance stuck in the speakers. This is completely normal and will diminish day by day. Once the break-in period is over, the music will detach itself from the speakers and present itself on a large stage, with plenty of dynamics and the live character typical of PHONOSOPHIE.