“With the SERENE Mat, I experience, regardless of the age of the player, more openness, liveliness, and texture in the bass. If you like to listen to vinyl, then it is worth seriously considering this Mat.”

‘British StackAudio sent us a smooth and heavy-feeling Serene turntable mat. This upgrade mat is new to the manufacturer’s product line and is intended to replace the factory-supplied ones. To what extent does this Serene replacement mat offer an improvement in the playback properties of your valuable vinyl? Read on quickly.

Vinyl accessories

‘If you are a little familiar with the world of vinyl, you will have noticed that nowadays more and more often a cheap feeling felt mat is supplied with new turntables. With vintage models or the reintroduction of classic record players, this mat is often made of rubber and feels more premium. Such mats do not have so much an aesthetic function, they mainly have an influence on the sound experience when you listen to your vinyl. On the one hand, a good mat dampens the vibrations from the motor and plinth, on the other hand, these mats have specific material properties to dampen resonances in the vinyl caused by the scanning needle.

Felt, cork, leather, rubber or silicone dampen resonances each in a specific way and thus provide different reproduction properties. Think of adding bass or increasing openness. If you like to listen to your vinyl albums through high-quality headphones, you won’t have to go to great lengths to determine the difference in sound quality between such mats. The Serene mat from StackAudio that I received is made of a unique silicone mix that, according to StackAudio, not only achieves excellent results in terms of hearing but also in terms of measurement. What makes this mat so special, to what extent does this Serene turntable mat actually add to the music experience and for which type of record player or vinyl does this special mat ultimately provide the most gain in sound quality? I will gladly find out for you in this review.

StackAudio is a British manufacturer of audio accessories and believes that the slightest increase in sound quality in an audio component often goes hand in hand with a disproportionate increase in the price tag. That is why StackAudio started developing affordable accessories that contribute to a better sound quality of hifi components. With its products, the company primarily focuses on reducing vibrations and resonances in the sound chain. Proven factors that negatively influenced the final reproduction quality of the entire chain. Think of the audible difference after placing vibration-damping feet or decoupling spikes under your speakers. The most important thing? Audible improvements are substantiated with measurement figures and the accessories are of such a quality that they can last a lifetime of music with normal use.

StackAudio states that by reducing unwanted resonances during the scanning process, more layers in the music are revealed. The music is reproduced with more clarity, which creates a significantly higher level of experience. The Serene mat from StackAudio is made of a silicone mix specially composed for this purpose.

The manufacturer then provided the top of the mat with four raised points on which the record rests. On the underside, recesses were made in the mat at the same locations, creating a clever, non-glued and completely silicone spring system.

According to StackAudio, these can dampen even the smallest resonances across the entire spectrum, something that completely flat mats made of cork, leather or felt, and even flat mats made of silicone or rubber, generally do not do. These traditionally flat mats dampen in specific areas, but sometimes generate unwanted resonances in other frequency ranges, which can lead to an improvement in a specific area, but at the same time lead to a messy or diffuse sound reproduction elsewhere.

Listening results

In order to approach this review with an open mind, I only looked at the aforementioned claims of the manufacturer after the listening tests to prevent the manufacturer from unconsciously steering me in a certain direction with his claims. Of course, I did hold the mat in my hands, examined it extensively and then switched between the standard mat of my turntables and the Serene mat with each new piece of music. I initially used my own Denon DP47F turntable from 1986. This is equipped with a supplied rubber mat from 1986 and a relatively new Denon DL-110 MC element.

Furthermore, it has undergone the natural aging process and, unlike regular maintenance, this player has not been mechanically modified. A new Goldring GR3 turntable with a felt mat, which is present here for review, serves as a second test candidate. The media carriers consist of original (vintage) vinyl albums and new 180 gram remasters. With this I want to determine with which player and with which type of vinyl I perceive differences. In addition to regular music albums, I also use special test tracks to compare the tracking properties of both players with and without the StackAudio mat.

I start the review with a 140 gram vinyl album and pull out a first pressing of the album Money For Nothing by Dire Straits from 1985. When listening to the song “Ride Across The River” I experience more peace, depth of sound and openness with the Serene mat. The percussion sounds less compressed, is surrounded by more air in totality and has a more continuous extension in the top end when reproducing the cymbals. The electronically generated trumpet and other musical lines in the background are reproduced with more speed and better definition. The midbass takes a small step back, making everything a bit more neutral and realistic. The tonal spectrum seems to be better balanced with the Serene turntable mat.

This also applies to the sub-bass. This is a fraction less powerful, but is reproduced with more control and calm. Due to the substantially better definition in the midrange, the electronic cricket in the left channel is reproduced with such an increase in intensity that the non-existent, yet energetic animal quickly begins to irritate me. The same electronic crickets in the last part of this number are somewhat expectantly lined up in front of the listening position with the original mat, but fill the space with the use of the Serene mat up to the listening position. Thanks to the extension in the highs, I can even subtly perceive the underlying cymbals without effort during this chirping.

In “Paris, Texas” by Ry Cooder, the soundtrack of the 1985 film of the same name, the bird in the background that was previously somewhat muffled in the original mat now seems to have had song and whistles the backdrop as if it were a sweet delight. The slide guitar has a somewhat more muffled character with the original mat, while this has completely disappeared with the Serene. Due to the increase in energy and definition, I hear more resonances and more clarity in the guitar playing, but fortunately the warm sound of this type of guitar has been retained. When changing grips and chords, I hear the rasping sound of the steel-wound strings with even more intensity. The sound depth increases a fraction, whereby mandolin or banjo are lifted a fraction better from the distant background. Everything becomes just that little bit more open, grander and more realistic.

Next I take a few 180 gram albums from my collection. These thicker and heavier albums are very popular with some music lovers. To what extent can the Serene mat further increase the sound quality of this ‘audiophile’ vinyl? With “Cluster One” from the 2016 remaster of The Division Bell by Pink Floyd I again hear more openness, better transparency and a slight increase in sound depth. Subtle details also come out better from the background here. The static crackling sound of the solar wind at the beginning of this song has more energy with the Serene mat.

The piano’s touch is rendered with more attack and resonates a fraction longer. Guitar also gains more authority and occasionally shows these rougher edges, increasing realism. The synthesizer lines in the background are better unraveled and can be distinguished more clearly from each other, after which they jointly fill the sound image in width.

I hear a slight decrease in power in the low and midrange, but experience a better control in the deepest low and above all I hear more definition in the midrange. Halfway through the song the bass drum confirms this with the reproduction of deep, fierce blows and the cymbals leave a sparkling impression again.

In the song “Inclination” from Steven Wilson’s The Harmony Codex from 2023, I experience a better definition in the midrange, which makes the synthesizers, castanets and instrumental lines stand out better from the background. Thanks to the slight decrease in the massive bass in this song and its tighter control, the serene mat mainly ensures an increase in progressive tranquility. Wood sounds now jump off the speakers and are reproduced with a more realistic timbre. I also notice that the initially somewhat sibilant s-sounds in vocals are reproduced with more topping and energy, which also makes the vocals gain in realism.

Then I conclude my review with a few test tracks from Vinyl Essentials (LP 003) by Image HiFi from 2001. The tracking of the Denon already starts to experience problems at around 70h and at 80h and higher the needle with the original mat jumps prematurely out of the grooves of the test tracks. When using the Serene mat I again experience the first signs of tracking problems from 70h, but this mat now keeps the needle neatly in the grooves. With the Goldring GR3 I only experience resonances with the felt mat at 90h. With the Serene mat this improves slightly and the resonances now start at 100h. I had not expected this, to be quite honest.

That good interconnects or a higher quality turntable element can make a big difference in the music experience is known to almost every music lover. However, these are often expenses that come with hefty price tags. That changing something as simple as a mat can make such a big difference in timbre and sound quality is not yet known to everyone. The investment is relatively low at just over ninety euros and with the right combination you can realize a significantly more intense music experience relatively easily. Although this simple upgrade can be done by anyone, there are a few things to keep in mind before you randomly change your mat for a higher quality one.

My Denon record player is equipped with a thick rubber mat and this can easily be replaced with the new one. The felt mat of the Goldring, which is also used in many Rega models, is only 2 millimeters thick. This brings the LP, especially when you choose 180 gram vinyl, uncannily close to the vulnerable needle. If you cannot lift the needle sufficiently with the lift, you may risk a nasty scratch on your music album or even a damaged needle if the side of the vinyl touches the needle.

Furthermore, when scanning vinyl, it is important that the arm always runs exactly vertically with the music album, so that the needle hits the vinyl at the same angle as the cutting chisel did when producing the vinyl. Some record players are not equipped with a height-adjustable arm and this will affect the scanning if there is too much deviation from the original thickness of the mat. Also, some factory mats of fully automatic machines have small recesses in the mat with which a fully automatic record player can determine whether there is a record on the platter when the start button is pressed, what size it is and what speed should be selected at start. This mat from Serene is of course not equipped with such brand-specific recesses and this de facto disables the fully automatic ‘safety system’.

After listening to the albums and performing the tracking tests, I can cautiously conclude that the manufacturer’s claims are also fulfilled in my situation and I am amazed at how much profit can be achieved with this simple upgrade. Despite the fact that the DL-110 element of my Denon is only a few years old, this turntable dating from 1986 is really a very old specimen, whereby the arm wiring and the rubber mat no longer have the same material properties as almost four decades ago. The Denon DL-110 element, which was one of the better elements at the time, is still a well-performing element today, but the tracking properties are now outdated. When I perform the same listening tests with a relatively affordable GR3 from Goldring, which largely relies on an unnamed British turntable manufacturer, I also experience improvements. However, these are not as significant as the improvements I experience with the vintage Denon turntable.

The element and arm wiring of the GR3 are of better quality, which initially results in better sound and imaging properties. With the Serene mat from StackAudio, the music experience is pushed even higher. As if I have mounted a higher-quality arm with element on the players.

With which turntable did I experience the greatest improvement in quality? That is definitely with the old Denon. I expect that the rubber of the original mat has dried out slightly, which makes this mat soft enough to protect the vinyl from scratches, but too hard to optimally dampen resonances. Does it make a difference whether I play 140 gram or 180 gram albums? Both types of vinyl benefit from the Serene mat, but I notice the greatest differences again when I play 140 gram vinyl albums. Apparently 180 gram albums already experience better dampening of unwanted resonances due to the increased weight.

That this mat nevertheless manages to display so much more information from the 180 gram vinyl is nothing short of impressive. Whether you choose a vintage record player from the heyday of vinyl, a modern classic or a price-wise interesting entry-level model equipped with all the modern technology. Upgrading the record player mat is definitely worth considering. So I wouldn’t mind if this mat were to remain on my own record player.

With the StackAudio Serene mat, I experience, regardless of the age of the player, more openness, liveliness and texture in the bass. Are you a seasoned vinyl lover, an enthusiastic newcomer or are you currently immersing yourself in the world of vinyl? Every record player, young or old, has more than enough untapped quality in-house to be addressed with the right upgrades. If you like to listen to vinyl via a high-quality hi-fi set or with good quality headphones, then it is worth seriously considering this StackAudio mat.’

https://hifi.nl/artikel/34959/Review-StackAudio-Serene-turntable-mat-Black-Magic.html