A QUICKIE REVIEW OF THE HEXMAT ECLIPSE ISOLATOR AND MOLEKULA RECORD CLAMP

Hexmat is the brainchild of Zsolt Fajt, located in Budapest, Hungary. The company focuses on the design and development of accessories for vibration control using a combination of blended materials and precision machining.

The featured products in this review, the Eclipse, and the Molekula, share the principle of minimum surface contact with the intent to control vibrations that adversely affect music playback on audio systems.

ENIGINEERING AND DESIGN

Hexmat Eclipse 

This is the top-end model out of the two isolators offered by the company, Yellow Bird being the other offer. It is designed to replace the stock turntable platter mat on any turntable. The Eclipse is delivered in a laser-cut wooden case and manufactured with a “secret sauce” proprietary material. Albeit very light in mass, the accessory has a firm and solid feel, has a hexagonal shape fitted with small spheres beneath and with a black, and now also white, colour finish.

From the company’s website, the product is a “… mechanism that separates the record from the vibrating mass it contacts (with) and allows the vinyl to have its own (…) damping properties …”

Hexmat Molekula

Using the same material, and a similarly sized wooden case, the product is offered in two variants, one with a standard size and one at a reduced size, referred to as the “mini” offered for turntables with short spindles. Both the mini and the normal size share the same design and features. When placing it you will notice a firm grip to the spindle; ensure that it firmly lands on top of the label.

Hexmat states that “Unlike the other clamps or weights on the market that use a big contact surface with the record, the Molekula has only six contact points to efficiently transfer the torque but dampen harmful resonances and frequencies.”

This is where it gets interesting: Like most of us, I have experimented with different sorts of stabilizers and clamps, from heavy ones such as the ones from Stillpoints made of solid steel and aluminium, or the composite ones made of wood and plastic like the ones from Origin Live. The Molekula feels extremely light when handling, to the point that you may think: “This is not going to work at all, it is just a piece of plastic”.

LISTENING

Hexmat Eclipse

After the initial first impressions, the “lesson” effect started to become apparent when playing records: The first choice was “Greensleeves” by the Shoji Yokouchi Trio, for an instant I thought that the system was turned off, I did not notice the needle dropping and touching the surface of the record, even less running on leading track; when the music started playing the startling impact was such that I had to place the needle back to the beginning and start listening all over again. Mind you, I am not referring to playing the music at a louder volume, but to the quantitative amount of the sonic information reaching me as a listener. The ability to experience the range of frequencies, discern the sound stage and details, and the “background silence” is quite something. The Eclipse was invented to control spurious and unwanted vibrations originating from the record’s surface that affect turntable platters: Well, I found that the product does exactly that, succeeding perfectly.

The follow-up listening sessions with assorted albums: “Swing Sessions” by Eiji Kitamura, “Crown” by Eric Gales, “The Blues is Alive and Well” by Buddy Guy, “TajMo” by Taj Mahal, and “Mari Nakamoto III” by Mari Nakamoto, I could not help noticing, and enjoy, the naturality and clarity resulting from the musical information recovered from the record. 

Your mileage may vary depending on the combination of cartridge and turntable! Initially, I used a Benz-Micro Wood SL on the Acoustic Signature Storm which did not produce interesting results when using the Eclipse. When I upgraded the cartridge to a ZYX Ultimate Omega then everything changed, the Eclipse tremendously enhanced the listening experience.

Hexmat Molekula

From a blank slate, I started the listening session with tracks that were new to me: “Just as I am”, “Harlem”, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, and “Grandma’s Hands” by Bill Withers. The playback was sublime: The guitar’s strings texture, the singer’s voice, and the ambiance of the recording were as if I was actually in the presence of the musical presentation.

The immediate impact is the visceral realism of the music: You are able to listen, and notice, how the details are made more explicit with the added vibration control and noise reduction. When listening to records with low surface noise, my experience was that the Molekula excels making them lively with a wonderful and delightful auditive comfort.

CONCLUSION

Hexmat Eclipse

In my tests, the listening sessions produced outstanding results: My experience was that the Hexmat Eclipse enhances the fidelity of the tested systems. 

Hexmat Molekula

When listening to the clamp alone, without the Eclipse, the results are palpable: Regardless of the preconceptions, the music playback is vastly improved, as well as the system resolution, without compromising the sound integrity. All these results were achieved without exerting stress on the motor of the turntable.

Even Better Together

I found that standalone, the Molekula is a great upgrade to your system. Now, when used in tandem with the Eclipse your listening experience will be another order of magnitude with considerable improvements of the levels of music realism. The Hexmat Eclipse and Molekula are now an integral part of my system.

AT A GLANCE

Build Quality and Features:

The Hexmat Eclipse and Molekula are a light-weight elegant accessory, with excellent levels of materials and machining

Sound Quality:

Extremely revealing sound fidelity and resolution

Value for Money:

Justifiable investment

We Loved:

Wooden laser cut case, space-age design

We Didn’t Love So Much:

Nothing to report: Both products are excellent in my experience.

Elevator Pitch Review: The Hexmat Eclipse delivers on the promise of transforming your system with enhanced resolution. When coupled with the Molekula, the music playback hits another level. These products are beautifully designed, with an elegant finish at affordable prices; certainly, a legitimate upgrade to turntables and systems of every class. Buy them with confidence.

Price:

Eclipse: EUR 300, including worldwide shipping.

Molekula: EUR 130, including worldwide shipping.

Tarso Calixto

Specifications:

Eclipse:

• 7”/ 10”/ 12” Record Compatibility
• Anti-Static Feature
• Full Torque Transfer
• Diameter: 275 mm
• Overall Thickness: 3 mm
• Material: Blended polymer with optimised damping coefficient

Molekula:

• Weight: 17 grams
• Material: Same blended polymer as Hexmat Eclipse
• Can be used with other mats.