Montesquieu/Tom was kind enough to lend me his HQ Mat/Stabilizer, I thought I'd leave some impressions. I'm not using it absolutely correctly, but the positives are undeniable and different to any outcomes with my current platter-LP interface, so it's almost certain when I do fully optimise setup, the results will be even more favourable.
I'm using the ResoMat that Tom also tested as standard on my rim drive Salvation TT. I was a bit unsure about his criticism of the ResoMat being too "exciteable" but when I refer back to my slight negatives of hardness or glassiness on piano crescendos and massed strings, "exciteable" is a correct analysis.
As with all good upgrades, what's ideal is if the effect is self-effacing, ie doesn't shout attention, but the effect becomes apparent as music washes over you.
Putting on some Brahms solo piano with Julius Katchen/Josef Suk, indeed a good proportion of slight shrillness I've had before on loud fast runs on the keyboard were ameliorated, but not at the expense of verve and dynamics.
I've tried any number of mats where calm is mixed with softness and mutedness, this not the case with the HQ system.
Playing the Tone Poets reissue of Ornette Coleman/NY Is Now and Love Call, this is pretty furious polyrhythmic stuff, easy for the twin horns to sound clashy and strident. Again, the HQ system did what I call decluttering and organising of the music, but not at expense of forward drive. Chaos in music is always nice if it feels deliberate, not fully out of control.
Playing Dixie Dregs first album, I was struck how pertinent bass was, not a false highlighting, more again resonance control allowing more delineation of lower frequencies.
In all the music I listened to, but most of all the Brahms, the biggest compliment I can pay the HQ system is how it really allowed notes to play out, ridding harshness on piano strikes, and reducing glare and graininess so that the full reverb and harmonic texture of notes was fully rendered, and as a piece of music played out, whole veils removed bringing playing of music at home closer to what I hear live.
Once this product is finally released, I'll be buying mine.