[kbuzz3]

Yahoo today on antique violins and wood density:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080702/sc_nm/stradivarius_dc

[whubbard]

Maybe if the speakers are made from Myrtle...but I don't think the blocks do much. I really like Cardas, and I feel there is a fair amount of merit to what he does, but the blocks I'm very skeptical about. If they were panels that you used along the walls it might make sense but I don't get how a tiny block can help. It just doesn't do it for me. If the block can work, then I think whoever sells the magical stones...well they might work too.

However, I do think there is something to be said for having the cabinet (like the instrument) made out of a dense wood. In that regard I think it could really make some improvements.

It just my humble opinion, don't hate me for it!

-West

[strider]

I dunno. I thought it was Magic Pebble-ish marketing BS at first, but I've found that I can hear differences in vinyl playback depending on what type of wood I have my plinth spiked to. My audio rack is 1.5" MDF, if I have the plinth spiked directly to it the sound isn't very lively. I've got 3 blocks of some type of Brazilian hardware (IIRC) that my boss was building a deck out of. Definitely a poor man's version of the Cardas blocks, but when I place the blocks in between the spikes and the MDF shelf, things seem to open up a bit and have more detail. Maybe the improvement can be chalked up to the MDF being a poor choice for a turntable to sit on, but it is an improvement using the blocks none the less.

Ben

[kbuzz3]

There is a guy who sells small myrtle cuboids on agon for about 10 or 15 bucks. Ive been playing with them...as skeptical as i was, i think its worth the time and investment. Personally i believe it is based on the particular construction of the existing component.  Use your ears whether its +, - or non existent.

If you dont hear no difference, burn em or give them to the kiddies to play with....

for the record, i refuse to even acknowledge the existence of the magic pebbles

[whubbard]

Ben,

Your application makes a lot of sense to me. I am going to be making little hardwood 'blocks' for my gear to spike into as well. There it can affect vibrations, which obviously affects the TT.

I am more talking about the people would just put them on the rack next to the gear and say they do 'amazing' things...but heck, if the music sounds better to their ears, good for them.

-West

[strider]

Is that how they are intended to be used??

Wow.

Of course, you do bring up a good point: if you can hear a difference, placebo or not, does it really matter what you're doing?

[nathanm]

Is that how they are intended to be used??

Wow.

Of course, you do bring up a good point: if you can hear a difference, placebo or not, does it really matter what you're doing?

Yes, it certainly does.  That is, IF one cares about reality…or money.  If people are content with fooling themselves that something exists then they can do it cheaply enough by using their imagination or exisiting objects.  But if you want to actually affect sound then the item in question, whatever it might be, ought to really, actually, objectively Do Something that it claims to do, right?  It's not too much to ask.  Does the thing work?  If we can't separate ourselves from such credulity then we just become suckers for anyone who comes along to charge us for what we already have easy access to, our brains.  The placebo effect is free, stuff that actually does the job takes real effort.

[whubbard]

Nathan,
I personally only purchase things that really do affect the sound, but in a way the placebo affect has its place in audio. Audio listening is all processed by the brain, and if the brain tells the body something sounds better, then in a practical world, it does. While testing might show it is really the same, audio comes down to the brain, so if you can trick your brain…your all good. I would obviously try and tell all my friends to not purchase the magic pebbles (or the new phone call thing being offered), but if one had already bought them and claimed it was the biggest improvement to his system I might just let it be, his loss, not mine.

I think the majority of people here wouldn't touch such a product, but when they do, heck it's their choice. I have never understood why George Cardas sells these tiny blocks, but he does and that’s just how it is. I respect him, and I think the wood might do things on a larger scale, but at the size he sells them at I feel any hardwood would do just as good a job.

The audio world is crazy...but everything has its place, one way or another.

-West

[DaveC113]

I am more talking about the people would just put them on the rack next to the gear...
-West

Aren't you supposed to use them as replacement for the rubber feet a lot of components come with. I think the sound improvement has to do with vibration transmission (or lack thereof)...

Dave

[Tliner]

Hi All,

A few years ago with some Aero Space engineer work mates that were into pursuing the audio nirvana built some speakers made of multi layer timber. The timbers were selected for their resonant frequencies (we could measure them) and laminated them together in such an order that the resonance of one type of timber cancelled or reduced significantly frequency transmission to the adjacent panel.  From inside out the layup was:- 1' end grain balsa, 1/2" western red cedar, 1/2" King William pine, 1" red gum on the outside. The bonding medium was a Shore A 40 (density/softness/hardness) polyurethane 3/8" thick. The result was one of the best speakers I have ever heard with very close to nil cxabinet colouration. Certainally there was no cabinet vibrations to be felt when touched while the music was being pumped out at a very high SPL. The finish of the Australian red gum was the deepest red which was like burr wallnut when finished. The down side was, it took a team of guys to move them , they weighed over 90 kilos each. However the choice of drivers at the time could have been better as they were the only weak link. I believe that has now been fixed by using Scan Speak Revelator drivers.

As for wooden plinths underneath TT's and other components it does have some merrit if you hit upon a timber and size of the block that cancels or significantly reduces the unwanted transmitted resonant frequencies. Try a laminated plynth of various timber densities bonded with soft polyurethane membrane. Might be worth a try?.

Have fun,
Laurie.