Ortofon SM-101 Cork Record Mat

Two Layers of Cork, and a Grip That Rules Out Back-Cueing

The Ortofon SM-101 is sold each, one mat per turntable. It is a multilayer cork mat — two bonded layers rather than a single sheet — with Ortofon's red logo on the face. Ortofon makes it to fit all turntables.

Cork earns its place on a metal platter. Felt holds a static charge that pulls dust onto the record and does little to damp metal; cork makes solid contact, so the charge drains and the platter has somewhere to send what the stylus puts into it.

Multilayer Cork, and What the Second Layer Is For

Fit, Load and Materials

The SM-101 uses a two-layer cork construction rather than one thickness of material. The bonded layers absorb vibration between them as well as within them, and Ortofon particularly recommends the mat for metal-platter turntables. It adds under 0.5 pounds to the platter.

Ortofon publishes no thickness or diameter figure. It is a standard platter-sized disc that drops on in place of the mat already there, so measure your platter and your existing mat before ordering.

Cork grips a record noticeably more firmly than felt does. That is the point on a hi-fi deck, and it is the problem on a DJ one: the record will not slip against the mat, so back-cueing and scratching are out.

Who Is the SM-101 Best For?

• Your turntable has a metal platter — the case Ortofon singles the mat out for
• Your records attract dust between plays — cork does not build the static charge felt does
• You want more than a single layer of cork — two bonded layers absorb between them as well as within them
• You like a mat that stays put — cork grips both the platter and the record, so nothing creeps
• You back-cue or scratch — the grip that suits a hi-fi deck stops a record slipping, so a DJ turntable wants a slipmat; see what else is in turntable mats

How Do You Fit It?

Lift the old mat off the platter. Drop the SM-101 on, line the hole up with the spindle and press it flat so nothing is trapped underneath. If the mat you removed was a different thickness, reset vertical tracking angle where your tonearm allows it.

Pairs Well With

What most turntable mat owners shop next.

• Record clamps and weights — a mat only damps what is pressed against it
• Record brushes — a dry sweep before every side
• Stylus force gauges — a new mat changes arm height, so it is worth re-checking
• Cartridge alignment tools — the setup job that decides how a record tracks

Frequently Asked Questions

How many do I need?

One. The mat is sold each and a turntable takes a single mat.

Will it fit my turntable?

Ortofon designs it to fit all turntables. It is a standard platter-sized disc, so check the diameter of your platter before ordering.

What does multilayer cork do that plain cork does not?

Two bonded layers give vibration an interface to lose energy at, as well as the cork itself to lose it in. Ortofon recommends the result particularly for metal platters.

Can I use it on a DJ turntable?

It is built for hi-fi use. Cork grips a record firmly enough that it will not slip against the mat, which rules out back-cueing and scratching; a slipmat is the right tool there.

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