Best Platter Replacement/Upgrade for Your Record Player

Does your record player need a better platter? Do you think it is now time for a replacement? There are many options to choose the best platter upgrade for your record player. The dish is a crucial component that plays an essential role in two aspects:

Preventing unnecessary vibrations from interfering with the stylus.
Also, maintaining consistency in speed.

There are different types of platters based on the material used. While acrylic and MDF are commonly used, you can also find glass platters. Thus, if you are using the basic MDF platter, acrylic can be the next upgrade. However, you may also consider other sophisticated materials.

Things to Remember Before PLATTER UPGRADE FOR YOUR RECORD PLAYER!

There are many reasons why all these products use an excellent material for platters. Also, many of them offer various properties similar to the vinyl record itself. The products also have a higher mass compared to most of the high-performance thermoplastics. It helps in improving speed stability.

Some of the main benefits you should watch while upgrading to any platter:

Well-balanced frequency response without any loss in dynamics
Enhanced presentation of instruments in the soundstage means improved imaging
Brings out in-depth detail

Some platters have their bottom recessed to match the gap between the tops of the plinth and playing surface. It helps in maintaining the combined thickness of the felt mat and glass platter. Thus, one can use that particular platter without any changes to the tonearm height.

1. Pro-Ject Acryl-It Acrylic Turntable Platter

The Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter is a widely popular upgrade for the Pro-Ject Debut series of record players. It is made of low-resonance, dense acyclic material that enhances sound definition. Moreover, you can use it with or without a mat or slipmat. Furthermore, it weighs 1.3 kg or 2.86 lbs, which helps increase speed stability.

Thus, it is an excellent replacement for your turntable’s stock metal platter. It is a precision-designed platter that offers the following beneficial features:

Reduction in distracting resonance
Lowered noise floor that delivers dynamic and clear sound
Punchy and tight bass
Excellent mid-range detail
Enhanced spatial definition

It has non-magnetic material construction. As a result, it allows for the better use of MC cartridges.

2. Music Hall Acri-Plat Acrylic Platter

If you are now looking for an upgrade that improves your turntable’s sound, you should choose Music Hall’s Acri-Plat. It is both an excellent acoustic and aesthetic upgrade. It works by lowering background noise and increasing bass definition. The acrylic platter makes the sound more 3D and improves the highs.

You can certainly use this platter with or without mats or slipmats. It is a universal platter that anyone can use with both Music Hall and other standard sized tables.

It is compatible with the following models from Music Hall:

Mmf-2.2 and 2.3
Mmf-5.1 and 5.3
Mmf-5.1se and 5.3se

3. Pro-Ject: Acryl-E Acrylic Platter

If you have Pro-Ject Essential or Elemental series of record players, you can upgrade to the Acryl-E acrylic platter. Additionally, it improves sound quality and lowers resonance. Some of its top vital features and benefits include:

Made from dense acrylic material
Lowers vibration and improves the acoustic experience
Use without slipmat
Improves your turntables aesthetics with the transparent body

4. Purest Audio PA-602-V2 Glass Crystal

Made of hardened glass, this is an excellent platter upgrade for your turntable. Weighing at 1kg, it helps improve sound quality. However, the standard platters usually absorb a significant amount of sound stored within the record groove.

Purest Audio discovered that the use of hardened glass could help in significantly improving the audio experience. Also, this platter helps in reducing the information that gets trapped within the original turntable platter.

Measures 290 mm by 6 mm
5 mm of etching at the middle to provide space for the thicker part of the record label. Thus, it ensures accurate contact.
Harder and lighter compared to aluminium
Special coating technique to generate crystal clear sound along with a high level of separation

5. SRM TECH 10mm Acrylic Platter

The SRM TECH 10mm acrylic platter is designed explicitly for Rega record players. It measures 292 mm (298 mm with the ring) and 10 mm thick. Also, the dish weighs 808 g. It comes along with the famous Platter Damping Ring from the brand. Even more, it fits all the models from Rega along with other brands made by Rega, including NADA and Moth, among others.

There are many advantages of using acrylic platters over their glass counterparts:

Lesser treble
Improved articulate bass
Excellent transparent midrange
More neutral sound

And when you add the Platter Damping Ring, the acoustic improve further. There is a record label recess, and it can be used without the mat too. The sound quality can also be enhanced when used with a silicone platter mat compared to the standard felt mat. This SRM TECH acrylic platter is an excellent value upgrade or replacement for your record player.

Final Thoughts on PLATTER UPGRADE FOR YOUR RECORD PLAYER!

Thus, turntable platters are made of a wide range of materials. Even when the acoustic differences between the different elements are subtle, they are noticeable. It is the cartridge that has a more profound impact on the character and quality of playback. However, we cannot ignore the difference that a platter can make. So, when it comes to making an upgrade, it is also recommended to replace the cartridge.

Usually, all platters from these significant brands undergo quality control process. So when you stick to branded dishes, you will almost always be making the right choice. Some of these quality processes include frequency deviation measurements, wow and flutter, and qualitative listening tests. The manufacturers also use digital microscopes to prevent any chances of platter wobble. So, you can now go ahead with any of these platters and start experiencing a new world of music.