Isolation pads

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Matter

Isolation pads
« on: 10 Jun 2020, 12:09 am »
Been doing some research on isolation pads for subwoofers & shelf speakers.  Any good brands out there beyond auralex.com?  Thoughts on a DIY project?  It seems simple enough.

FullRangeMan

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Re: Isolation pads
« Reply #1 on: 10 Jun 2020, 12:15 am »
Hi, Starting Block is really for people to introduce themselves. This question/thread is best posted in Acoustics Circle, so I'll move it there for you now.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=73.0

Phil A


Matter

Re: Isolation pads
« Reply #3 on: 10 Jun 2020, 12:25 am »
Great!  I'll do some digging


JLM

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Re: Isolation pads
« Reply #5 on: 10 Jun 2020, 02:08 pm »
Welcome!

Isolation is a rather complex subject.  I worked as a structural engineer for 8 years and along the way had an opportunity to associate with some super smart guys who designed concrete pads for power plant fans/motors.  The design involved dynamics (vibrational analysis).  Learned some basics from them.  For one, the type of floor (soft - wooden, versus stiff - concrete) makes all the difference in proper support.  For another the weight of the speaker/stand and it's operational frequency range also makes a big difference.  Vendors that don't try to take those factors into account should be avoided.  Isolation products are definitely not "one size fits all". 

By "shelf speakers" I assume you mean monitors on stands.  Ideally stands should be heavy and have a broad base to add stability.  The last stands I bought came from Timber Nation.  They weighed 25 pounds each and held 50 pounds of sand.  With the speakers each side added up to 100 pounds.  In the case of stands you'd have two sets of isolation needs: one between the monitors and the stands; and secondly between the stands and the floor.    Same idea for turntables on racks (two sets of isolation needs exist).  Speakers and turntables on soft floors need very soft isolation so the resonant frequencies of the floor doesn't coincide with the operational frequencies of the pieces in mind. 

sunnydaze

Re: Isolation pads
« Reply #6 on: 10 Jun 2020, 02:37 pm »

........

And you can find these super cheap (like a $1.50 ea) if you look in industrial sites, not audiophile sites:
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis997ac-sq-products-isol-pads-set-of-4-high-quality-isolation-pads-tweaks

Helluva lot cheaper than that!     :nono:

Few years ago I bought a box of 48 of these for like 20 cents each:

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Bluefin-VPE-200-E-V-A-Anti-Vibration-Pad-2-x-2-x-7-8

And if you prefer the cork version:

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Bluefin-VPRC-200-Rubber-Cork-Anti-Vibration-Pad-2-x-2-x-7-8



Rob Babcock

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Re: Isolation pads
« Reply #7 on: 10 Jun 2020, 09:13 pm »
I like the Auralex stuff.  The isolation aspect perhaps be debated but I personally think decoupling is good, and for center channels & monitors they can be used to aim/tilt the speakers a bit.

bardamu

Re: Isolation pads
« Reply #8 on: 13 Jul 2020, 11:15 am »
Hello,
Not sure if i can ask it here but i will try.
Is Herbie''s Audio Lab still in business? I send them a message but no reply.
Greetings, Eduard

max190

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Re: Isolation pads
« Reply #9 on: 13 Jul 2020, 12:43 pm »
Hello,
Not sure if i can ask it here but i will try.
Is Herbie''s Audio Lab still in business? I send them a message but no reply.
Greetings, Eduard

Herbie's is still in business. I ordered a Super Black Hole CD Mat last week and Robert sent me an email requesting feedback on my purchase.