Audio · Head-to-head
Pro-Ject Audio Systems Cork & Rubber It vs Turntable Lab Cork Record Mat
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Turntable Mats: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
Pro-Ject is the only maker here that sells the same mat in two thicknesses, which turns the biggest hidden trade-off in this category into a choice you get to make. The Turntable Lab cork mat does most of the same job for less, as long as 3 mm suits your deck.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems Cork & Rubber It
Buy itThe only mat here that lets you pick your thickness, which is the one spec that really changes what your stylus is doing.
- Sold in 1 mm and 3 mm versions, so you can match the mat to your arm's adjustability.
- Pro-Ject publishes material, diameter and thickness, which is more than most rivals do.
- Cork and rubber composite grips the record instead of lifting off with it.
- No weight figure is published.
- The 'less noise' and 'avoids static load' claims come with no measurement behind them.
- Two thickness options means one more decision to get wrong at the point of purchase.
Turntable Lab Cork Record Mat
Buy itThree millimetres of plain cork from a shop that tells you in the listing not to DJ with it.
- Thickness is published as 3 mm, so you can work out the height change before you buy.
- The listing states plainly that it is not recommended for DJ use, which is the right way round.
- Cork grips better than felt and does not cling to the record when you lift it.
- No diameter or weight is published.
- The 'improves sound quality playback' claim has no data attached.
- 3 mm is enough to shift your tracking angle on most decks.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Pro-Ject Audio Systems Cork & Rubber It Our pick | Turntable Lab Cork Record Mat | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Someone replacing a felt mat who wants to control exactly how much height they are adding. | A belt-drive owner who wants the cork upgrade without paying for a composite. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Material | Cork and rubber composite | Cork |
| Thickness | 1 mm or 3 mm | 3 mm |
| Diameter | 300 mm | Not published |
| Height change vs a 2 mm felt mat | 1 mm lower or 1 mm higher | About 1 mm higher |
| Intended use | Hi-fi, grip | Hi-fi, maker says not for DJ use |
| Label recess | No | No |
| Anti-static claimed by maker | Yes, 'avoids static load' | Yes, 'lessens static electricity' |
| Sold as | Single mat | Single mat |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Pro-Ject Audio Systems Cork & Rubber It if
someone replacing a felt mat who wants to control exactly how much height they are adding.
Know before buying: no weight figure is published.
Pick the Turntable Lab Cork Record Mat if
a belt-drive owner who wants the cork upgrade without paying for a composite.
Know before buying: no diameter or weight is published.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Pro-Ject Audio Systems Cork & Rubber It - The only mat here that lets you pick your thickness, which is the one spec that really changes what your stylus is doing. Choose the Turntable Lab Cork Record Mat instead if a belt-drive owner who wants the cork upgrade without paying for a composite.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Turntable Mats: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).