Tune Block

Boston Audio provides a range of accessories to complement every stereo hi-fi setup. One of these is the Tune Block:

In my rather rave review of their Mat 1 carbon graphite turntable mat, I hinted that Boston Audio Design's brand new TuneBlocks were also something quite special. I first tried them under my Linn turntable in the process of reviewing the Mat 1. The bass became tighter still, and the tonal richness of the music eclipsed the previous standard set by the combination of Stillpoints on a Symposium Acoustics Svelte Shelf.

My old Linn Valhalla, without the Circus bearing upgrade, is on a solid oak shelf mounted firmly to the wall behind my loudspeaker. This shelf provides sufficient isolation to allow me to jump on the floor without causing the cartridge to skip. But these would be macro-vibrations. Where the Mat 1 and the TuneBlocks shine is in the realm of micro-vibration, where the resonances within the vinyl or the resonances on circuit boards and component chassis blur the electronic signal that brings us the music.

Design and ergonomics: I affectionately dubbed them the Big BAD Blocks. These blocks are 2" square and 1.5" high. A conical pit is drilled into the top with a countersink bit. The ball bearing is retained by this pit with more than half of the sphere still above the surface of the block. The TuneBlocks are also available in a 1" high version, and come standard with conventional chromium steel ball bearings. In the early stages of causal listening, I didn't notice any difference between the 1" version and the taller XT, but I surely give my vote for superior performance to the extra cost tungsten carbide balls. Austin Jackson of BAD also sent along a set of rocket grade ceramic balls, but these seemed to suck some of the life out of the music when used with the TuneBlocks.

Mat 1

Machined from pure carbon and finished by hand, the Mat 1 has been praised by audiophiles worldwide for helping them uncover more detail, nuance and music than they ever thought possible from their hi-fi. For less than the cost of an entry-level MM cartridge, owners of tables from Linn, Rega, VPI, Nottingham, Garrard, Kuzma, Basis, and countless others have discovered how easy it is to take their tables to the next level.

The Mat 1 is a direct replacement for any turntable Mat. Through the use of pure carbon and proprietary tuning techniques, the Mat 1 offers a unique acoustical impedance ideally suited to the platter/vinyl interface. Please read our white paper for more information on the technology behind the Mat 1.

Users notice a marked increase in resolution, microdynamics and clarity. Sometimes it's startling... as if someone turned up the volume. But most importantly, these gains are not achieved at the expense of a natural, musical presentation - there's nothing sterile about the gains achieved with the Mat 1. In fact, many customers report that the mat helps them enjoy all kinds of music - not just the same reference recordings. Music flows more easily with a greater sense of ease and texture. You truly have to hear the Mat 1 to understand the benefits it offers.