SteinMusic The Perfect Interface π Turntable Mat

The platter mat is the last thing between your record and the turntable, and the Perfect Interface is built to let the record's resonance flow freely. SteinMusic says it brings greater openness and serenity to vinyl playback, with precise timing and fine detail. It's handmade from Japanese paper and rests directly on the platter.

A mat that controls resonance without taking the energy away.

The Design

The base is Japanese paper made from the paper mulberry tree, pulled by hand in Japan the traditional way and dried on wood. In its workshop in Mülheim an der Ruhr, SteinMusic shapes the paper and impregnates it with its Maestro lacquer, made from natural resins. Because each mat is handmade, every piece is slightly different. It's 0.28 mm thin, and it suits platters of metal, acrylic, wood, and combinations of materials.

SteinMusic's idea is resonance control instead of damping. Many mats damp the sound by absorbing energy, and SteinMusic says the paper, impregnated with Maestro lacquer, controls the resonances between the record and the platter so the music flows freely. SteinMusic describes an open, organic sound with precise timing.

Two Versions

The Signature is the basic version of the Perfect Interface. The Carbon Signature adds a carbon layer to the underside, which SteinMusic says brings even more detail, even on turntables normally played without a mat.

Using It

• Place it directly on the platter with the label side up. It's designed to work without an additional mat. If your turntable has a permanently integrated mat, set the Perfect Interface on top of it.
• Because it's very thin, you may not need to touch the tonearm at first. If it replaces a much thicker mat, adjust the tonearm height (VTA) to the lower level afterward.
• If the mat lifts with the record because it's so light, fix it to the platter with the four adhesive dots and the template provided. Try it without a record weight or clamp too, since it sometimes sounds better that way.
• Care for it by removing dust with a soft brush, and keep it away from water. If it turns wavy, flatten it between two sheets of paper on a hard surface with an iron on the silk setting.

Where It Fits

Choose the Perfect Interface to refine a turntable you already enjoy. SteinMusic notes a mat can only sound as good as the cartridge is set up, and suggests its Achat 1 alignment protractor and Ametrin 1 Composite headshell for the next steps on the tonearm. We're happy to help you choose between the Signature and the Carbon Signature.

Press Recognition

SteinMusic's page cites reviews of the Perfect Interface from Michael Fremer at Analog Planet, David W. Robinson at Positive Feedback, and Shane Stephenson at An Aussie Audiophile. The quoted review describes increased transparency, blacker backgrounds, and especially audible transient precision. SteinMusic's store also shows two customer reviews.

Questions about which version suits your turntable, or how to set up the mat? Give us a call.

Specifications

• Material: Handmade Japanese paper (paper mulberry)
• Impregnation: SteinMusic Maestro lacquer made from natural resins
• Thickness: 0.28 mm
• Suitable for: Turntables with platters of metal, acrylic, wood, and material combinations
• Versions: Signature; Carbon Signature (adds a carbon layer to the underside)
• Package contents: One Perfect Interface, four adhesive dots, a template for applying the dots, and instructions
• Placement: Directly on the platter, or on top of a permanently integrated mat
• Production: Handmade in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany