[andyr]

Regarding damping, I use the following low- and no-cost tweaks:

2) Granite and marble slabs (for under components, and one piece on top of my CDP as well) gotten for free from a local business' scrap heap....

It seems you enjoy experimentation ... otherwise you wouldn't have found out that the tweaks you list, improved your sound.

However, why don't you do one further simple experiment ... buy a simple concrete 18" x 18" paver and substitute for one of your marble/granite slabs.

My understanding is that marble & granite ring ... whereas concrete does not.  Of course, concrete pavers look terrible but, if it sounds better, search out 1" thick (or more) slate slabs, as slate does not ring and can be dressed to look quite attractive.

Regards,

Andy

[mcgsxr]

I found slate at a local building supply store - the slabs seen here were about $8 each, and the granite cobblestones were free.  Just took some time to clean and seal them, then I dropped them in the system.  Simple, cheap, and I like it.

[andyr]

Wow, good one!!

Regards,

Andy

[mcgsxr]

Thanks, to clarify, those have partially inflated inner tubes, then slate slabs, then Pandafeet, then the component, then some thin sorbothane, then the granite cobblestone.

[andyr]

Thanks, to clarify, those have partially inflated inner tubes, then slate slabs, then Pandafeet, then the component, then some thin sorbothane, then the granite cobblestone.

Great!  I have a similar setup ... I use 3 racquet balls under each corner of the slab under my CD-R unit, and my t/table.

Regards,

Andy

[Jon L]

I like those slate slabs!  I wonder who would have them around here in So. Cal.  

For those who don't have kids, I highly recommend trying components with the lid/cover taken off.  For years, I tried similar things trying to "damp" the chassis, including EAR damping material, sorbathane, rocks, sandboxes, etc, etc.

In the end, when I took the tops off and just concentrated on the bottom shelf, things sounds a lot better.  A lot more open sound, and definitely a sense of boxy/resonant character disappears.

[andyr]

I like those slate slabs!  I wonder who would have them around here in So. Cal.  

For those who don't have kids, I highly recommend trying components with the lid/cover taken off.  For years, I tried similar things trying to "damp" the chassis, including EAR damping material, sorbathane, rocks, sandboxes, etc, etc.

In the end, when I took the tops off and just concentrated on the bottom shelf, things sounds a lot better.  A lot more open sound, and definitely a sense of boxy/resonant character disappears.

Trouble is, Jon, surely if you take the lid of the DAC, CDP etc. off then you no longer have a case shielded against EMI?

Regards,

Andy

[Jon L]

Trouble is, Jon, surely if you take the lid of the DAC, CDP etc. off then you no longer have a case shielded against EMI?

Regards,

Andy

Well, theoretically, that's true.  But look at all those digital IC's on the CDP's boards.  Their EMI radiation, not to mention power supply's magnetic radiation, must be overwhelming enough inside the chassis that outside EMI must not matter as much.  Certainly not as much as resonance from the chassis itself, at least in my case, in my system, blah blah.  

Also in my and most others' systems, the CDP is on top, so the bottom chassis still is "in the way" from most things in my system that radiates EMI.

Worth a shot anyway to see which way sounds better in a given system.  It's free  

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

I found slate at a local building supply store - the slabs seen here were about $8 each, and the granite cobblestones were free.  Just took some time to clean and seal them, then I dropped them in the system.  Simple, cheap, and I like it.

Where is this "local building supply store" located? I'd like to get on of the slabs for under my isolation transformer.

Biggie.

[mcgsxr]

Mr Big, it is in Burlington, ON, at the corner of Walker's Line, and Fairview streets.  In spite of being located in Burlington, it is called Hamilton Building Supply...

Lots of stock, mostly kept outside - I was able to wander around and pick and choose my Wiarton slate, then go inside and pay.  Simple, and huge stock of different types of stone, in a variety of shapes.

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Mr Big, it is in Burlington, ON, at the corner of Walker's Line, and Fairview streets.  In spite of being located in Burlington, it is called Hamilton Building Supply...

Lots of stock, mostly kept outside - I was able to wander around and pick and choose my Wiarton slate, then go inside and pay.  Simple, and huge stock of different types of stone, in a variety of shapes.

Thanks, I'll check it out one of these days. ^^

Biggie.