Correctly coupling LPs to their turntable platter, as with our Record Coupling System, yields bigger sonic dividends than upgrading from a $2000 to a $5000 cartridge. Two very recent breakthrough ideas have made this possible:

• Our first tests showed conclusively that record mats and record weights must be optimized together, not separately.

• Mounting an LP on tiny microdot supports drains the vinyl’s sound-muddying resonances far more effectively than clamping the disc flat against any full platter mat, as demonstrated clearly in our head-to-head listening experiments.

These two conceptual breakthroughs led to exhaustive testing to optimize every detail of the record weight/microdot geometry, mass, choice of material, and mechanical impedance matching. Our final Record Coupling System consists of:

1) an optimized five microdot array bonded under an 8” thin polymer film ring you lay flat on your turntable and then forget.

2) a unique 3” brass toroid record weight with carefully optimized mass, geometry, alloy, and machined-in micropoints to couple to the record label

3) a removable maple jig for centering the brass weight.

It only takes 30 seconds of listening to hear that our Record Coupling System transforms the sound of any turntable and cartridge. I hear new, extraordinarily clean definition in the deepest bass, a radical un-smearing of the highest treble, plus beautiful ease, warmth, and unsuspected harmonies in the midrange.

We welcome head-to-head shootoffs against the priciest competitors you can find. Mapleshade guarantees the Phonophile IRC System will best them, or your money back. We’ve already prevailed over record weights from Shun Mook ($1500), Black Diamond ($200), Clear Audio ($175), Harmonix ($515), and Kuzma ($700); ditto for record mats from Boston Audio ($199), Living Voice ($449), Funk ($150), and Ringmat ($140). 30-day money back.