he matte and the clamp, the elements that stay in direct contact withthe vinyl records while it's being played, form an important part of amechanical system of a turntable. A matte is sort of interface between arecord and a platter, making sure that these two elements connect
mechanically with each other. Although the stylus movements are small,the energy that is released at its rapid movement that is transferred to therecord and then back to the stylus is large enough to affect the work of thecartridge, modifying the signal. So the matte is supposed to suppress thesevibrations.

HARMONIX in „High Fidelity”

Recordings used for the test (a selection)
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In turn the record clamp is part of the mechanical system called: the main
bearing. Its role seemingly is to press the vinyl record against whatever itis placed on (e.g. matte) a platter and thus better integrate the two elements
mechanically. In reality, however, clamp plays a much more important role– placed over the main axle it dampens the vibrations from the mainArchie Shepp, On Green Dolphin Street, Denon YX-7524-ND,„Denon PCM | Jazz in New York” LP (1978)
Billie Holiday, Songs For Distingue Lovers, Verve/Classic
Records AS AVRJ 6021, “Special 45 Edition, One-sided”, 2 x 200g LP (1957/2012)
Brendan Perry, Ark, Cooking Vinyl/Vinyl 180 VIN180LP040, 2 x
180 g (2011)
Budka Suflera, Cień wielkiej góry, Live 2011 + studio 1975 (box),
Polskie Nagrania „Muza”/Budka Suflera Productions BSP 052011, 2 x 180 g LP + 2 x CD (1975/2011);
Depeche Mode, Spirit, Columbia | Sony Music 5420022, 2 x 180g LP (2017)
Polish Jazz Quartet, Polish Jazz Quartet, Polskie Nagrania„Muza” XL 0246, „Polish Jazz | vol. 3”, Mono LP (1965)
SBB, Hofors 1975, GAD Records GAD LP 008, „Limited Edition
Clear Wax”, 180 g LP (2016)
Skaldowie, The 70s Progressive German Recordings, Kameleon
Records KAMPLP 3, „Limited Edition”, 180 g LP (2013)
The All Star Percussion Ensemble, The All Star Percussion
Ensemble, arr. Harold Farberman, Golden Strings/First Impression

bearing, which otherwise are transferred to the record and then to thestylus.
The mattes are known ever since a turntable has been invented. Initiallymade of fabric, such as velvet, then of rubber, for the iconic turntables ofthe 1970s, such as Linn Sondek LP12, it was made from a black felt.
Today it is still one of the basic ways of damping the vibration , but not theonly one. We also find mattes made of cork or cork and rubber and othermaterials. For some turntables designers decided not to use any matte, orrather to integrate them with a platter (see - Transrotor, Avid HiFi and ProJect) or to eliminate them completely (see - Talk Electronics; Polish).
The record clamp on the other hand is a relatively new idea, although it hasbeen used for several years too. There are two main types: ones that arescrewed on the axle (see - Avid HiFi, Kronos) and ones that are placed
over (see – Transrotor, Pro-Ject). The former ones are usually quite light,
because they only have to press the record to the platter, which is achievedby screwing them on the threaded axle. There is a variant of this type ofclamps that is not screwed on but rather clamped on the axis, using a
clever mechanism. The representatives of the other type are usuallyheavier because they press record against platter only with their weight,
and also because they act as an extra mass in which the vibrations from themain bearing are suppressed.
The turntable manufacturers, who have the most experience with their own
products, usually deliver mattes and clamps together with their turntables(and included in its price). But it is not always the case – it often happensthat one has to pay extra for the clamp. Some companies offer higher
quality mattes and better clamps as optional upgrades. And that's wheresome specialized manufacturers come in offering their own mattes andclamps. Apart from the well-known to the "High Fidelity" readers Berlinbased Pathe Wings brand, also some other ones offer products of this kind.
Some of the best but also most expensive mattes and clamps are offered by
the Japanese company Harmonix.

TU-800M Tribute
The manufacturer uses for the TU-800M „Tribute” Maestro a revealing
name: “Tuning Record Matte”. This name gives away a hint on the design
assumptions for this product. Vibration reduction can be achieved by two
main methods: by dampening them using materials, usually by a heavy
weight of the element, or by minimizing them by appropriate "tuning" ofthe elements. Both methods are popular and used by many manufacturers
in their products.
Mr. Kiuchi, same as many other Japanese manufacturers, definitely
chooses the latter method. His new matte was being developed for fouryears during countless hours of listening sessions spent by the owner ofHarmonix to find the ultimate solution. The starting point was a special,thin material, resembling graphite, but soft. The matte is only 0.5 mm
thick, and on its top one finds longitudinal metal strips going from thecenter of the matte towards its perimeter plus there are some "dots" of adiameter corresponding to the elements of the mountain crystal fixed byMr. Kiuchi to the various elements of the system to reduce vibration.
The record does not contact the matte with its entire surface. Usually theidea is to provide as big contact area as possible, that was also the casewith Mr. Kiuchi's previous model, TU-800EX, which I have been using
for four years. Since the center of the record, the round area with label, isrecessed against the surface of the record, one should not use heavy clampswith this matte. The matte weighs just 47 grams and has a diameter of 298

Music GS LP 001-LE, „First 1000 Pressings”, 200 g LP(1982/2011)

Japanese issues available atA matte and clamp are the final touches that allow user to achieve anultimate performance from his rig. It's really a dot on 'i', and I would notwant you to think that these are basic elements of a turntable setup. These
two should be added at the very end when everything else in the system iswell-thought-out, selected so that the system already meets ourexpectations, gives us a lot of satisfaction when listening to the music. I'd
say that both a matte and a clamp add up to 5% to the performance.
This is good news because in a way it removes from our shoulders aburden of having to buy more items for the system. But it is only amomentary “relief”. Once we start to compare few different clamps,
mattes and their combinations, preferably using numerous turntables ofdifferent type/design, we inevitably come to a moment when it turns outthat these 5% can actually complete a given sound, that without them thesound is actually not as good, not as satisfactory. Even if before such trials
we were absolutely satisfied with it.
Because that's what audio is about: our main job is to compare, and if acomparison proves a superiority of a particular element over another, wegain a new experience, we know more, our point of view changes. That's
the worse part of the news, because eventually we will get to the moment
when we will have to deal with it. Regardless of the price of the turntable
we own – whether this is a 1500 PLN Pro-Ject or a deck for 10 000, 50000 or even more.
I was aware of that when I sat down to listen to new Harmonix products,and once again, both parts of the equation I wrote above were confirmed.
But I also again heard that the changes that a matte and a clamp are able tointroduce to the sound in some, incomprehensible (for me) way, are clearly
audible no matter what turntable I use. After all, I listened to the clamp andmatte costing a staggering 19,000 PLN combined on a turntable, that costs
about 45,000 PLN (deck, tonearm and cartridge)!

Mata TU-800M TRIBUTE„Million” Maestro Series
The Harmonix matte belongs to the "fine-tuning" elements, not justdamping vibration. It is very light and the contact between it and the record
is limited only to the selected spots chosen purposely by the manufacturer.
Its impact on the sound is greater than that of both mattes it was comparedwith. Interestingly, sound-wise the Acoustic Signature leather matte wascloser to the older Harmonix one, than the two Japanese were to eachother.
The most important changes that the TU-800M Tribute introduces to thesound about tone and resolution. Both mattes to which it was compared,
lowered the tonal balance, added some weight to the bass and slightly“pumped up” phantom images. It was cool, it might have been pleasing,but it seems that it was achieved at the expense of selectivity anddifferentiation. Harmonix slightly shifted the tonal balance up, mainly

mm. Its surface is rugged and it easily catches dust, which is difficult toremove later. So whenever one does not listen to music it is worth to use
something to protect surface of the matte against dust.

because it opened the midrange. The clarity of all sub-ranges has increased
significantly too. The sound was clearer and more energetic.
It was achieved without resulting in adding any brightness or harshness tothe sound. I would say that it was exactly the opposite, that with the mattethe sound was calmer, i.e. everything in the presentation was betterarranged, more orderly. It was only in comparison with the new Harmonix
that it became obvious that the previous model offered a bit moremonotonous sound. This is of course a subjective impression, because theleather matte goes much further in this direction, but a direct comparisonof both Harmonix products proved a much better differentiation provided
by the new version.

The matte is very expensive. Its price has been influenced primarily by thetime that gentlemen in Combak Corporation devoted to her project. But it's
not the only factor here. Mr. Kiuchi treats his products as works of art ultimately "tuning" is a personal choice of a designer. To emphasize thisstatus, we receive the matte with an unusual wooden red relief, which you
can hang on the wall as a work of art, that it actually is. It is made by oneof the Japanese companies that's been in this industry for several hundredyears. Unfortunately, its name remains unknown. The matte is placed
inside the relief and I know that the latter is used in different ways - wife of
one of matte's owners uses it as a box for her scarfs.

TU-812MX
Manufacturer uses term “ Record Tuning Clamp” for the Harmonix TU812MX "Million" Maestro. Same as in the case of the matte, this clamp
was created using trial and error method using painstaking process of
combing through different materials and shapes. It can be used with anymatte, but its true partner is the TU-800M "Tribute" Maestro matte. As thecompany materials reads:
In its time-honored tradition, COMBAK has developed the TU-812MX todeal amazingly effective with all resonances of analog records andturntable by tuning the record its self and record platter assembly at afrequency outside the audio band. The results are astonishing fantastic–
musical clarity is greatly increased, and the separation of musicalinstruments releases unprecedented depth of sound. An infinitely improved
sense of reality and palpability make for the kind of sound you have never
ever experienced before with analog record sources. New TU-812MX
record clamp lends solidity to much expanded soundstage, making it not
only an extremely worthwhile contribution of the potential of analog
record, but a necessity, to the art of faithful and exquisite analog music
reproduction. Try new TU-812MX. You will be completely astounded!
Extracts unparalleled Sound quality of Analog
Records, combak.net [accessed on: March, 21st 2017]

But still, the most important feature of Harmonix matte's sound, in myopinion, was the band's extension. To assess that I listened to Archie
SShepp's On Green Dolphin Street (particularly to assess treble extension)
and Brendan Perry's Ark (for bass). These recordings proved to me thatusing the TU-800M Tribute resulted in a significantly more resolvingperformance. I used the term "significantly" on purpose here, because thechange was, no doubt, positive and easily noticeable. The bass went lower
and it was more articulate, and the treble sounded sweeter and was better
differentiated. Both band's extremes sounded more natural and lessmechanical. The change was not as significant as, for example, withreplacing one cable with with another, of higher quality, but ultimately,
after a few days of listening, it turned out to be just as important inachieving an “ultimate” performance. With the matte on, changing thecable I'm talking about, had more meaning than without it.

Docisk TU-812MX„Million” Maestro Series
Harmonix clamp used in combination with the new matte of thismanufacturer deepens all the positive qualities I already described. Since I
did not find in the changes the matte introduced to the sound anything
negative, I can say that the clamp strengthens all its qualities. As it turned
out, it actually works best with this matte. The other three I compared theTU-800M Tribute with, allowed me to understand better what's so special
about this “gadget”, but none of them worked with it as good as Harmonix
matte.
With the clamp to the sound that I described, a new level of refinement
was added. The impression of a positive impact on the sound was evenstronger, as I heard it first listening to the album that should not havebenefited from the tested elements, i.e. with the latest Depeche Mode'salbum. Spirit. As I wrote in the April's editorial, this is not the best quality

recording, mainly because of a high compression of the material. The
matte and, above all, the clamp calmed down the slight chaos present on
this record and balanced the treble. It was less energetic but better
differentiated.
With the clamp sound seemed a bit deeper, more “serious”. If there wassomething in the treble that was slightly “off” before - maybe even to asmall extent, but still – with the clamp it became more refined, betterbalanced. The sound was deeper, more resolving, and richer. In short,music sounded more like music, and not like recording playback.

Summary
With its 360g the TU-812MX is rather lightweight contender. It is made ofchrome-plated metal (brass?) and wood. Its shape reminded me of ablooming flower that we lift by the "stem". Its diameter is 85 mm and theheight is 43 mm. It's the most expensive gramophone record I've everencountered.

The ultra-expensive audio products stir a lot of emotion among audiophiles
and it will most likely never change. That is the way it is and nothing willchange that. All the more, when it comes to a clamp that costs more than
12 000 PLN and a matte for another almost 5000 PLN. For this money one
can buy a fantastic cartridge, excellent cables and even a turntable. That's
why one can assume that these are the components for the people who
already have it all, i.e. a fantastic turntable, a amazing cartridge, excellent
cables and a sophisticated phonostage.

During my tests I use two different turntable matte's: Harmonix TU800EX and one if Pathe Wings', the one that combines rubber and cork. I
also use two different clamps, also by Pathe Wings - weighing 250 g, madeof stainless steel and 450 g one made specifically for the "High Fidelity"from an alloy that remains company's secret.

Unless all these components are the right ones, one should not bother topurchase either clamp or the matte as these do not improve performance.
Harmonix products release music from restrictions. If it is poorly recorded,
produced or released, these element will not help. But the clamp and thematte will do something that other products of this type can not: fromalmost every record they will extract some “primal” element, that willallow user to better understand music DESPITE recording's/system'slimitation. If this is not what the magic of this type of products is about,then I do not know what other it could be...

During the Harmonix mattes and clamp's test, I used all of the above, as
well as the leather matte made by the Acoustic Signature. Test wasperformed with a relatively inexpensive Storm MkII turntable, with theTA-1000 tonearm and Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC cartridge. The changes
that these components bring to the sound are perfectly audible and easy tocharacterize and then evaluate. So I expect that with more expensive
turntables their impact on the performance will be even more clear.