Review of Butcher Block Acoustics brand Audio Platforms. What is under your components?*

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by marka, Feb 23, 2020.

  1. putz

    putz Forum Resident

    Location:
    NJ
    Custom Furniture, Hi End Audio Stereo Racks and Isolation Platforms at Timber Nation.

    1" thick shelves are well under $1000. Thicker shelves will cost more. Prices are for 24" width but he can make whatever width you desire.

     
  2. Acapella48

    Acapella48 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Elk Grove, CA.
    I'm not a physicist or acoustical engineer but I don't think they are quite the same. One (vibration) is mechanical in nature the other (resonance) is a specific vibrational frequency. Yes, timbre is affected by the type of wood used but the "characteristic sound" of a stringed instrument is produced by pulling a bow across the strings, plucking or strumming. At rest (not being played), a stringed instrument may respond to vibrational energy or frequencies in the environment but not enough to affect tonal quality or the instruments "voice." There are other factors at play with a stringed instrument in terms of what it will sound like, e.g. wood species, grain pattern, shape and dimensions, type of strings, even humidity. Usually an instrument is constructed of different wood species. Spruce top. Maple sides, back, neck, scroll and bridge, even the way the top & back and the bridge is carved. Ebony fingerboard & tail piece. All of the different woods and fittings have an affect on the overall sound the instrument produces. But the instrument has to be played and until it is played for the first time, you only have a general idea of what it will sound like - AND I might add, just like certain audio equipment, as the wood fibers expand and contract and the instrument is played over time, it's sound, it's timbre, it's voice or whatever term you want to use to describe it, --it opens up. It gets better. It improves with age.

    That's why collectors, museums and universities loan out their rare instruments to professional musicians and musicians in residence -- they have to be played; otherwise, stringed instruments can loose their tone.

    Hope this helps.
     
    art, 2channelforever and wgriel like this.
  3. Sam

    Sam Senior Member

    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    Would someone be kind enough to PM me instructions as to how I can post pictures into this thread from my iPad. I asked a Gort, but I've had no response after two days. Thank you.
     
  4. Chazro

    Chazro Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Palm Bch, Fl.
    Yeah, after years of being told how easy it is, I've never been able to post a personal pic. What I HAVE seen , even in this thread, is post after post of unviewable pictures! I'm sure the procedure is a breeze....make it breezier!!!!;)
     
    motorstereo likes this.
  5. Kray

    Kray Sleuthing

    Location:
    Sarasota
  6. Sam

    Sam Senior Member

    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    [​IMG]

    Here's one of the four "cups" under my turntable. Stainless steel ball with Sorbothane on top under platform.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Sam

    Sam Senior Member

    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    [​IMG]

    Under speakers.

    [​IMG]

    Under amp

    [​IMG]

    Under pre amp. Note Sorbothane under cup under pre amp. Made positive difference.
     
    33na3rd likes this.
  8. Don Parkhurst

    Don Parkhurst Forum Resident

    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Hey Dave! I just noticed that we live down the road from each other (in a big picture sort of way - I’m also in the lower mainland). If I/we had a few of these Butcher Blocks, we could compare each of our systems with them and without them. Then we could share our notes with the gang here on the Hoffman forums.

    Unfortunately I only have my two HiFi stands with steel legs with walnut shelves and they are way too heavy to move back and forth!

    BTW, I used to have Classe Audio DR-5 and DR-8 separates with an SCD-777ES setup, with various speakers over about 17 years : )
     
  9. justanotherhifienthusiast

    justanotherhifienthusiast Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    I'm wondering what kind of rack to get. I like timbernation, can't figure out if I like the industral metal posts of this design

    [​IMG]

    Or the more refined sharp look of this design with the black posts in place of metal.

    [​IMG]
     
    tyinkc, mreeter and Acapella48 like this.
  10. justanotherhifienthusiast

    justanotherhifienthusiast Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    If I do get timbernation, I will go for the black posts. That stand costs $1350, substantially cheaper than butcherblockacoustics.
     
  11. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Hi Don, I'm near city hall sort of. Sure, anytime you want to drop by just PM me and we can do this. My Seventy amp is a little easier to deal with being right on the floor. My room is a bit of a compromise though too but I think I've made the best of it. No stand yet for me as everything is kind of a convenience set up with only mild WAF.

    FWIW I just found out today I can pick up more of the blocks like I have for dirt cheap from the USA and I might spring for a couple more. Maybe we can order together after you come by and hear what I mentioned. I'm certain you'll be able to notice the difference. Then I can drop by your place and we can see if it holds true with your system.

    Why did you get rid of your DR-5 and DR-8? I really can't imagine ever getting rid of my DR-6. I was actually thinking about getting another Seventy short of being able to afford one or two DR-3's that still go for a good chunk of change these days.
     
  12. Josquin des Prez

    Josquin des Prez I have spoken!

    Location:
    U.S.
    I went from a ButcherBlockAcoustics platform for my turntable to the isoAcoustics Delos. The former is a fine product but now it sits unused in a closet. The Delos works much better for me. I would sell the BBA platform but for its weight, size and relatively low resale value it’s too much of a PITA, especially to ship.

    Otherwise, I use Naim Fraim for isolation duties on the rest of my components. Very pricey, but does an excellent job at it.
     
    teag likes this.
  13. Pastafarian

    Pastafarian Forum Resident

    I think I've distracted from the main issue by pointing out making a violin is not the same as designing a barrier to energy, so I've learned a bit about the construction of instruments but taken us on a unnecessary detour. :doh:
     
  14. Pastafarian

    Pastafarian Forum Resident

    That's pretty expensive, as I'm poor I'd go with the IKEA LACK coffee table, £25, and use mass loaded vinyl to 'soundproof' it.

    The LACK is constructed using Particleboard, Honeycomb structure paper filling (100% recycled), Fibreboard, which in itself is a very good material for what we need. I've seen 2 of these being used stacked with the legs sawed off to make appropriate space for the equipment.

    With that in mind I'd allow enough room for a shelf inner tube base to further improve isolation, it would be a interesting project to try and better the $1350 rack, if you achieved your goal you could then celebrate with a $1000 bottle of whisky.
    [​IMG]
     
  15. OC Zed

    OC Zed Bludgeon Riffola

    Location:
    Costa Mesa, CA
    I know I'm a week behind on this, but I'm curious about the bolded part above. What were the conditions that led to the "over-dampening"? (i.e., What are the things to watch out for in going too far?)
     
  16. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    I was using Symposium Acoustics platforms plus the roller blocks (doubled) on a cement slab. On everything. Too much. Once I cut back the music felt better. Still mainly vibration free but (in THAT room, with THAT gear) more musical.

    Sean, designer of ESP Speakers wised me up..
     
  17. mreeter

    mreeter Forum Resident

    Location:
    Kansas City
    Kray likes this.
  18. rednedtugent

    rednedtugent Forum Resident

    Location:
    Funk, Ohio
    I'll be darned if my granite and marble does have a slight ring. :eek:
    Back to the drawing board. :doh:
     
  19. Josquin des Prez

    Josquin des Prez I have spoken!

    Location:
    U.S.
    I've been told before from people I trust that stone for isolation purposes doesn't work well for turntables, and high density hardwood like Maple is better, or Walnut if you want a bit more warmth. I've been using Maple with excellent results. My current setup is such that I feel no need to try any changes.
     
    Dignan2000, mreeter and rednedtugent like this.
  20. Acapella48

    Acapella48 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Elk Grove, CA.
    Concrete/cement slab seems to have come up often in this and other threads but I hadn't paid much attention until now. I believe the majority of homes here in California are built on cement slabs. I have engineered hardwood floors on a cement slab.
    My AN J/SPe speakers are on stands designed by Audio Note for these speakers. I've been thinking of adding aquarium sand to the legs since this is what Peter Q and my dealer have recommended. My audio components currently sit on a very heavy and dense piece of cabinetry designed for TV but not necessarily for audio. Need to find something more suitable for the task. The racks from both Butcher Block Acoustics and Timbernation look interesting. Decisions. Decisions :sigh:
     
    mreeter likes this.
  21. William Bryant

    William Bryant Forum Resident

    Location:
    Nampa, Idaho
    Floor joists supported by rebar-reinforced concrete pad and pier

    One layer of three-quarter inch subfloor

    One layer of half inch subfloor

    LVP floor

    Retrofitted teak and birch credenza by Poul Hundevad

    Custom glass shelves on brass pins

    [​IMG]
     
  22. Don Parkhurst

    Don Parkhurst Forum Resident

    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    I can relate to this....

    20 years ago I decided that I would try the ferrite clamp tweak - placing them on the power cords of my system and well, just about anywhere on the back of my system. The idea was to make the system quieter and have blacker backgrounds. I bought a couple dozen of them and after installing three of them and liking what I was hearing, I put every single one that I had bought onto the cables on the back of the system.

    The seem now sounded completely lifeless. I removed all of them and started over. In the end I kept about four of them, if I remember correctly. Nice balance that gave a quieter background and the life remained in the music.
     
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  23. Pastafarian

    Pastafarian Forum Resident

    I think we need to be circumspect about what was/is going on when musicality diminishes. I've experienced a deadening of the sound when using Sorbothane directly under my amp and a brightening using rollerballs, so it isn't just use a paticular method but to experiment now my system sounds dynamic with very clean highs if I wanted to mess it up I'd either use Sorbothane or my rollerballs under my 'boxes'.

    But I've found Sorbothane can be helpful under a wooden shelf supporting the 'box'. When you've dissipated most of the energy you can hear the difference more clearly if you introduce other methods/tweeks.
     
    33na3rd likes this.
  24. Pastafarian

    Pastafarian Forum Resident

    The base, 2 bamboo chopping boards with a single sheet of the MLV, to make a composite damping base, cost £12.

    On top of the Hi-Cap, 3 sheets of MLV to dampen any potential 'ringing', I've also used same approach on my Pre-amp but not my 250 as it would cause the power amp to overheat. In fact one sheet is enough but I had so much MLV left over and using 3 doesn't have a negative effect.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 29, 2020
    Pythonman likes this.
  25. Thing Fish

    Thing Fish “Jazz isn't dead. It just smells funny.”

    Location:
    London, England
    [​IMG]

    My Custom Lenco sits on a lump of granite which in turn sits on 4 half cut squash balls.
    Sounds great to me.
     

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