[michaelv]

Hi,
  I've been reading about isolation , but still don't know the theory or why we need to put isolation device under amplifier or integrated amp. I thought only mechanical thing will take advantage of using isolation device.  What's your opinion?  Right now i put my cdp on top of Herbies' tenderfoot which also on top of maple cutting board (ordered from timbernation.com) and this board rests on on top of my MDF shelf.

thanks.

[gooberdude]

Hey michael,

i adhere to the isolation & coupling ideas that are spelled out in the Mapleshade catalogs and on their site...very similar to what you have with your cdp, except that isolating your maple cutting board (with isoblocks) should be done to complete the theory (and to improve the sound).   i have not been able to get a cdp i've owned to benefit from using isolation, coupling or a combo...however every other piece of kit i've owned benefits dramatically:  amp, preamp, TT, power strip, psu, speakers etc...  it seems analog components benefit more than digital ones???   just my opinion really...

i've experimented with a # of difft set-ups & products, but always end up with the same conclusion...isolation and coupling BOTH have to be done to some degree on each piece of gear.  HOWEVER, this stuff is dependent on the gear you are using.   

Amps benefit bigtime because of their large power transformers.  they vibrate a lot and the internal vibes created from AC current flowing through the chassis needs to be dealt with, or they muddy sound and rob 3-D effects.   My Muse amp sits on a spiked maple platform (spiked to the floor) from timbernation and the amp is coupled to the plat by a set of flat topped mapleshade brass 2" footers.  IMO the design of the footer is crucial as is the type of maple platform...

adding the proper pointed brass footers would help my amp further, but these footers are expensive and i've found that a 1" square of Herbie's thick Grungebuster material works excellent in between chassis bottoms and flat topped footer tops.  not the same performance as the spiked footers, but an improvement over the stock cheaper footers for certain...

in terms of gear that vibrates (IME), turntables and amps vibe the most.  preamps next...

try removing the Herbie's/maple set-up from your cdp and listen a few days to get used to it in stock form.  then stick that set-up under your amp...but try and find a way to either 1) spike the maple plat to your floor getting your amp off the rack  OR 2) put Isoblocks under the plat ($25) if your amp stays on the rack.   Suspending the platform that the gear is coupled to is fundamentally important.  it lets the tonewood do its thing...   

See if this changes the sonics for the better, then try and figure out if your cdp and preamp can benefit from further $ & time expenditures.

the last part of this is adding pointed weights to the top of gear, but unless you've got the coupling & isolation rigged properly from below, weight on top does very little.

take a look at walker audio or maplehsade's websites for some of the better info on this weird subject...


matt

[Scotty]

It is impossible to predict the outcome of placing footers under a component.
I have had the best luck with the cork and rubber style isolation blocks which Mapleshade also sells.
Scotty

[tvad4]

It is impossible to predict the outcome of placing footers under a component.

Scotty

I agree. Experimentation and listening is the only sure method.

[Listens2tubes]

 As many do with speakers, I find homemade sandbags on top of cdp, amps, preamp always have an effect. Usually less than isolation but also different. More inner detail, solidity, fullness... I take gallon freezer ziplock bag and add 3 lb.s of a heavy coarse sandblasting material, then roll, pinch seal and apply packing tape over the seal. Now you should have a salami shaped/size weight that you can try in different directions on the various components. I've brought these to friends systems and never return with what I arrived with. The improvements in imaging and detail is that compelling.

 As a side note it was explained to me that only the speakers should be coupled while everthing else should be isolated. Spikes only belong under speakers never under front end components, amps or racks.

[michaelv]

Mat,
   so no matter what kind of  isolation i use, if there is no isolation between the maple board and the shelf, the effect is almost useless... i have also order myrtle blocks (they're on the way). I will try to isolate both cdp and integrated amp in alternated way to see what will happen.

  thanks.