My idea for cd player and turntable isolation:

Would this work? I'm thinking that I grab a couple of superballs, cut them in half, and get a piece of cut stone that is the size of the underside of my component. I put the superball halves on the shelf, then the rock on top of them, then the component on top of the rock. Opinions?

 

Stone: Huge tile?

 

Yes, or a slab of granite such as a cutting board or something.

 

Why a whole superball, Gary, and where the heck am I going to find someone to carve depressions in the rock on my budget? Also, the stone is going to be like an inch thick, so don't you think it would be risky in terms of cracking it? Also, do you have any photos you'd care to post that show your superball setups?


Hey, what about a couple sets of jacks? The little spiky things can provide the support and the rubber balls can dampen the vibrations!

 

I personally think a superball is a VERY bad idea, because it releases as much energy as it absorbs (why it keeps bouncing so high... for so long.) You actually want material that absorbs energy. When I think of the word isolation, a superball is the last thing that enters my mind. MHO.

 

Wow, that is something I've never thought of before! That's an EXCELLENT point. But what about hard plastic or wood? That doesn't bounce as well as a superball. Does that mean it would isolate vibrations better than a superball? I don't think so. Why rubber feet on so many components or those little rubber isolation cones they sell? Perhaps a rubber ball that is not as stiff as a superball? I'm not saying I disagree with you, in fact, what you've said tends to really make sense. I'm just sort of thinking out loud. So what would you suggest instead of a superball? A sheet of bubblewrap?? Water-ballons filled with toothpaste?? Give me some ideas here.

 

Superballs work for me in some cases, but Robert has a better idea. Choose a materal that's DEAD.

 

Like road-kill? Kidding.

 

Granite slabs work well with spiked sand-filled steel stands under my speakers. Not much can isolate/deaden like hard stone IMHO.

 

Prix, the rubber feet under some gear is a half-solution that works better than the hard crappy feet most gear comes with. My advice is to look at how mission-critical instruments like electron microscopes are isolated from vibration if you want to get really serious about it.

 

I've got a wood shelf that's integrated into the wall. It's pretty isolated, but not quite dialed in yet. Would you perhaps suggest just putting the stone flat on the wood with something like a sheet of cork underneath?

 

Well, now you've got me curious Robert. How do they isolate an electron microscope for shipment? Thx.

 

Yeah. ???

 

Just had another idea, though it's not very practical. Drill holes in the four corners of the stone slab. Throw in some bolts and washers and connectors and attach cables to all four. Then attach the cables to hooks that are anchored in the beams in the ceiling. The stone slabs would then be suspended slightly off the shelf in mid air, though only about a half inch high or so, just in case.

 

I just use mine on hardwood floors and so far, so good. No bass seepage through the floor to the suite below. But, then again you are speaking of components whereas I'm just commenting on speakers. I'm sure there must be a better way for components.

I'm really interested in what Robert can tell us.

 

How are they packed for shipment, Dave? Who cares! But when you're looking at something that's infinitesimally small through an electron microscope, just standing still looks like a raging earthquake without vibration isolation.

 

Oops! Wrong question. Ok, how do they isolate an electron microscope when in use?

 

They use something like this, which is very expensive.

I believe the isolation method is a very sophisticated air bladder system. A very cheap way to construct something similar would be a 14" partially-inflated inner tube sandwiched between two MDF board. Just a guess, but to me it looks the platten is constructed of aluminum, which absorbs vibration as opposed to wood (recall old movie camera tripods were wood until they switched to aluminum.) Aluminum introduces ringing unless it's damped, though.

 

Wow! Now that's high tech. What do those suckers go for?

 

These devices are also usd for microscope isolation and have their audio equivalents

http://www.vistekinc.com/products/custom_iso.htm = Aurios MIB
http://www.kineticsystems.com/otables.htm = Vibraplane

All the best - Andrew

 

I have no idea how expensive they are, Prix. I know that isolation devices for electron microscopes can run in the thousands of dollars, and I know there are rich guys out there that use them for audio gear.

The Aurios that Andrew pointed you to are very similar to the Symposiums.

 

There are at least 3 devices I know of that work on similar principle Symposiums, Aurios and Finials - I believe the Finials are the cheapest (at least at the entry level)
http://www.gcaudio.com/products/reviews/infodaruma.html

The Vibraplane is an almost direct translation of the kineticsystems electron microscope platform into the audio world - two manufactured alternatives are the Townshend Seismic Sink http://subvsys.freeuk.com/blowes/prodfr.htm and the Voodoo Airtek http://www.southwestanalogue.co.uk/voodoo isolation.htm although many have reported the method Robert outlines above as being very successful for a LOT less money.

Andrew

 

Guys, Electron microscopes use compressor driven air suspension tables, very expensive. There are as many theories out there as there are theorist as to how to best isolate HiFi components.

Prrix, Try your stone idea but instead of superballs try some Sorbathane feet or something like that, check the major e-mail sites (MD for one) for isolation feet