Isolation Platform Suggestions

PhilNYC · « **Reply #20 on:** 25 Nov 2003, 08:17 pm »

Sa-dono,

Yep, those are them (although mine are dark grey, not green). The set of 6 (without the holder) weighs in just under 3 pounds...

Phil

robertwb · « **Reply #21 on:** 26 Nov 2003, 01:31 pm »

I use an inner tube(12") under a piece of MDF with panda feet on top of that supporting the CDP(maybe someday I'll replace the MDF with granite)-I also have some footers from herbies under my DAC and reciever(which I use as a pre-amp) and .2" thick 1"x1" sorbothane sqaures between my speakers and the stands

I think the panda feet are really good because he sells 3 different durometers based on the weight they will support AND work best with-most sorbothane feet are one size fits all but this can't work for everything since sorbothane has to be compressed between 10-20% to work well-if not then it doesn't do much good-and if too much then they don't last long-

surprised no one mentioned the old cheapie inner tubes here-works much better than my herbies footers-which are rated for 20 lb EACH-hell my whole CDP weighs 17lb-I can't balance it on 1 footer and with 3 they weren't isolating they were coupling-not what I wanted

JackStraw · « **Reply #22 on:** 26 Nov 2003, 10:12 pm »

Whatever happened to the magnetic levitation platform that I've seen featured here before? It seems like Bolder Cables used to carry it, but I might be mistaken.

Marbles · « **Reply #23 on:** 26 Nov 2003, 10:21 pm »

see:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=6282&highlight=

JackStraw · « **Reply #24 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 06:27 am »

Quote from: Marbles

see:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=6282&highlight=

Hey, whattayaknow...

robertwb · « **Reply #25 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 07:10 am »

well I can't afford the levitator-but I think I could DIY a reasonable facsimilie

however I'd like to eleminate the guide poles and maybe use magnets to also keep the alignment instead

any ideas?

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #26 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 10:51 am »

One elegant solution---
http://store.acousticsounds.com/store.cfm?Title_ID=12345&do=detail

But it sells for $300 when all it seems to be is two sheets of acrylic (top & bottom) and four racquet balls. One could easily DIY a version of this--Home Depot sells some precut acrylic (clear, but I'm not sure if it's thick enough) or plastics fabricators could custom cut different colors. The jet black plastic DOES look very nice.

robertwb · « **Reply #27 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 11:02 am »

the levitator is $350 and $300 is still too much for raquet balls

these were both discussed some here- http://www.hometheatertalk.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/001166.html

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #28 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 11:22 am »

Quote from: robertwb

the levitator is $350 and $300 is still too much for racquet balls

these were both discussed some here- http://www.hometheatertalk.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/001166.html

Robert,
I kinda admire Gingko for being so forthcoming as to the components of its isolation platform. It makes me wonder how much mark-up on raw materials is NECESSARY for an audio business to succeed; for instance, if you & I decide to market TontoBob platforms and figure raw materials (acrylic & racquet balls) are $50, how much do we have to sell them for in order to make profit, pay employees and overhead/etc.

JackStraw · « **Reply #29 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 02:33 pm »

Quote from: Tonto Yoder

It makes me wonder how much mark-up on raw materials is NECESSARY for an audio business to succeed; for instance, if you & I decide to market TontoBob platforms and figure raw materials (acrylic & racquet balls are $50, how much do we have to sell them for in order to make profit, pay employees and overhead/etc.

Also, how high does the price have to be for the majority of audiophiles to take the product seriously? I think that this marketing philosophy abounds in the world of audio wire and cable... but fortunately this isn't how the manufacturers with boards here do business.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #30 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 03:13 pm »

jackstraw,
I forgot to figure "perceived value" into our marketing strategy, but am pleased to announce that the TontoBob platform is now $500 and much better-sounding than earlier this morning!

Plans are in the works for a "Signature Edition" signed by none other than Jay Silverheels!

JackStraw · « **Reply #31 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 05:50 pm »

I see the 50 lb. rating, but have you ever tried setting speakers on the Levitator? I guess you might have some magentic interference, but if enough distance and/or shielding were in place you might see some nice benefits. Aurios claim huge benefits under speakers...

Danny Richie · « **Reply #32 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 05:56 pm »

Quote

I see the 50 lb. rating, but have you ever tried setting speakers on the Levitator?

Speakers need to be solidly mounted, not free floating. Setting a speaker on anything like that would be like suspending it on a swing. It would knock the bass response in the head.

Quote

I guess you might have some magentic interference, but if enough distance and/or shielding were in place you might see some nice benefits.

The Levitator uses apposing magnets. They cancel the magnetic field around them just like adding a bucking magnet to a woofer can shield its magnetic field.

JackStraw · « **Reply #33 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 06:03 pm »

Quote from: Danny

Quote
I see the 50 lb. rating, but have you ever tried setting speakers on the Levitator?

Speakers need to be solidly mounted, not free floating. Setting a speaker on anything like that would be like suspending it on a swing. It would knock the bass response in the head.

I hear ya man, and that was my instrinctive response too. But, I've heard others recommend Aurios under speakers so I thought that I'd offer it here.

See http://www.precisionaudioproducts.com/see.html, for example.

Anyone here have experience "floating" speakers?

Danny Richie · « **Reply #34 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 06:17 pm »

Ah yea, those products are used for Isolation and are a solid mounting.

Similar effects if not better results can be achieved by putting your speakers on standard floor spikes.

Floating speakers? Yea, that is funny.

JackStraw · « **Reply #35 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 06:47 pm »

Quote from: Danny

Ah yea, those products are used for Isolation and are a solid mounting.

Similar effects if not better results can be achieved by putting your speakers on standard floor spikes.

Floating speakers? Yea, that is funny.

Geez, I've always thought of Aurios as floating, not a solid mount at all. I don't mean to argue, but it might be worth a try rather than summarily dismissing the idea. I'm guessing that you probably have a ready supply of Levitators and speakers...

Have a good holiday.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #36 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 06:56 pm »

Quote from: Danny

Ah yea, those products are used for Isolation and are a solid mounting. :

How do you "solid mount" a ball bearing sandwiched between two cups?

Danny Richie · « **Reply #37 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 07:09 pm »

If they are indeed floating, meaning that they have any suspension travel to them at all them placing them under a speaker is not a good idea.

It could be that there is a solid dampening layer in between some type of metal pieces. That would be fine.

Placing a speaker on a Levitator would allow it to rock all over the place. The Levitator is not completely locked in the horizontal plane either. It is clearanced in a way that it allows a free float in that plane as well.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #38 on:** 27 Nov 2003, 07:13 pm »

Quote

How do you "solid mount" a ball bearing sandwiched between two cups?

What I mean is, solid contact, and not a mass spring system or something with a suspension.

andyr · « **Reply #39 on:** 28 Nov 2003, 10:46 am »

Guys,

I've read through all the posts and I now forget what the first post was actually asking ... but I'll give y'all my input on vibration platforms just the same!

What I refer to below is a "thing" to isolate:
a) turntables,
b) CD/DVD/SACD players, and
c) preamps/phono stages

(ie. those components which are susceptible to vibration-degradation) from vibration-interference which comes up through whatever it is you have these components resting on.

If you have the money, go buy a Vibraplane from Steve Klein of Sounds of Silence. If you want something that will go some way down the path of this audio Nirvana product, go see www. enjoythemusic.com and search the DIY archives.

I use this vibration isolation platform for my Linn LP12 and my CD-R unit. My "ultimate" version consists of a 30lb slab of slate resting on 24 squash balls (6 each corner).

You can try out a "cheapie" version - to see if you like it, for not much cost - by using an 18" x 18" concrete garden-paver supported by 4 tennis balls. If you like the result then you can build something that has a higher WAF!

Concrete pavers are good accoustically but look terrible. Granite or marble looks fantastic but rings. Slate looks OK and is fairly inert, accoustically. It's possible that other materials will be even better (Corian, maybe?).

Under my LP12, this vibration isolation platform produced a marvellous improvement and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Under my CD-R ... I haven't bothered to experiment and compare, given the success I had with my LP12 (the theory is the same in either case).

Regards,

Andy