What's under your table?

Quiet Earth · « **on:** 22 Dec 2008, 06:34 am »

I'm thinking about upgrading the stock base of my Nottingham Spacedeck after the holidays. What do you think is the best support system for a non suspended turntable?

I like sandboxes in general ala Brightstar Audio, but I'm wondering if there is a less massive way of achieving the same result. I also like Herbie's Iso Cups in some situations, but I will need something that won't move or let go when I give the platter that manual "start me up!" spin by hand. I've tried the IKEA table top trick too, but I didn't really notice anything special sound wise.

So,,,,,,,, what's under YOUR turntable?

fsimms · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 12:20 pm »

Quote

I like sandboxes in general ala Brightstar Audio, but I'm wondering if there is a less massive way of achieving the same result.

I use a Gingko Cloud under my VPI Aries III. It makes a great difference. The fog lifts between me and the performers.

Bob

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 12:44 pm »

Quote from: Quiet Earth on 22 Dec 2008, 06:34 am

So,,,,,,,, what's under YOUR turntable?

3.5" of maple end-grain butcher block with 4 (Parts Express) brass toes pointed headlong into it from the turntable above.

Nirvana for about $125.00. Better than any comparable dollar change in cartridge. I am not certain if maple has special properties over another tree, but I was floored by this combo and have sought out nothing more under my table since.

I tried a couple of other isolation aids (probably not as exhaustive research as some), but this one so topped the prior ones that I closed the book on more research. I have maple hunks under my (small floorstanders) speakers, too and am pleased with that as well.

This: http://stores.ebay.com/Dawns-Depot_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsxQ3asstQQtZkm

&

This: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=240-721

=

John

BobM · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 01:54 pm »

The layering I use goes like this (from top to bottom)

- turntable (non suspended)
- butcher block
- squash balls (a cheap man's Ginko)
- butcher block floating in a 3" deep sand box (aka seismic sink)

I've tried cones, rollerblocks, bubble wrap, cork footers, and quite a few others in that layer between the butcher blocks. The squash balls made the greatest improvement on the knuckle wrap to the stand test. Nothing else came close.

Enjoy,
Bob

ricmon · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 09:20 pm »

I've got get a digital camera.

My TT stand is composed of a pair of mass loaded speaker stand with neoprene dots at all four corners. On top of that is a granite paver. On top of that is wooden frame filled with tennis balls. On top of that is a shelf made of two pieces of birch separated by about 10 pounds of plasti-clay. On top of that is a 1.5 inch butcher block. All I can say after constructing this beast the music got much better in every way.

Ric

TRM · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 12:02 am »

The other day I slid some small cedar blocks under my P1 just for kicks and was pretty impressed with the difference that it made. My table sits on the top shelf of a metal/glass hi fi rack. I'm looking at adding a butchers block once the holiday season ends and I have some free time.

orthobiz · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 12:43 am »

Quadraspire rack. Just redid my sound room and I put everything on the rack BACKWARDS. The front and sides have sloped edges, the straight edge that you see shouldn't face the listener. This thread need pics!!!!

I have a wallmount Quadraspire shelf but am waiting till I'm more settled in before I drill into the wall (I have inertia of rest).

Paul

xsb7244 · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 12:47 am »

how about using?

wire rope isolators
Boston Audio Design tuneblocks
Timber Nation sandbox
Chewing Dog Furniture sandbox by Steven Friedman

mbakes · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 01:01 am »

Something almost identical to this will be under my turntable. I'm having it built by a friend. The top will be a different color to contrast with the tt.

Listens2tubes · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 02:10 am »

I can highly recommend K Works Pneufeet. Contact Igor gorkuz@yahoo.com with the weight of your table and he will recommend the correct setup. I have seen these take turntables, CD transports and preamps to a level never experience with previous "isolation". Enjoy!

SET Man · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 05:44 am »

Hey!

This works fine for me so far....

Squash balls cut in half on granite slap on lightly inflated bicycle inner tube.

Works great for me. But the down side is that I have to check the level and inflate the inner tube once in a while.

Take care,
Buddy

lazydays · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 05:58 am »

Quote from: Quiet Earth on 22 Dec 2008, 06:34 am

I'm thinking about upgrading the stock base of my Nottingham Spacedeck after the holidays. What do you think is the best support system for a non suspended turntable?

I like sandboxes in general ala Brightstar Audio, but I'm wondering if there is a less massive way of achieving the same result. I also like Herbie's Iso Cups in some situations, but I will need something that won't move or let go when I give the platter that manual "start me up!" spin by hand. I've tried the IKEA table top trick too, but I didn't really notice anything special sound wise.

So,,,,,,,, what's under YOUR turntable?

I have two non suspended tables and one thats in between. Have used all sorts of gimmicks in the past, and some helped a little and others were a complete failure. I'd say a sand box is the place to start, but that's about it. The best thing I've ever found is a Ginko Cloud by a long shot. I took this a step further and isolated the motor from the cloud which helped it even further. I do have a couple more experiments left in the bag that I've not taken the time to try out yet.
gary

bluemike · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 05:12 pm »

As another viable alternative
Check out TT Weights new isofeet ..damn their good and they work

Pat

nature boy · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 05:40 pm »

I have a Nottingham Interspace which sits on top of a Neuance isolation platform, it made a big difference.

NB

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 10:25 pm »

Lot's of great suggestions here. I will try to research them all! Thanks guys.

I would love to try the Gingko Cloud, but I don't know if it would be safe to use one with my table. My spacedeck doesn't have an on/off switch. You have to manually start the platter by rotating it by hand, and then it just keeps spinning from there. I'm afraid to try anything underneath the table that moves or wiggles. I suppose I could hold the Gingko down with one hand and spin the platter with the other . . . .

I've heard great things about the Neuance shelf too. Maybe I will have to give one a try and just dismiss my IKEA experience as not good enough.

Butcher blocks are getting cheaper and cheaper. Thanks for those links too.

Has anyone ever tried an Auralex Gramma or Subdude under their table? I know that these are meant for speakers, but would they work under a table? There's another one called the Primacoustic Recoil Stabilizer that looks very interesting, but I don't know if the steel plate would interfere with the cartridge because steel is very magnetic. Should steel be avoided near the turntable?

http://www.primacoustic.com/recoil-home.htm

This is turning out to be a good thread. Lot's of great ideas going on here.

AUDFILE74 · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Dec 2008, 10:18 pm »

this is a bit crazy i know, but i am looking very seriously at this for my turntable

http://www.johnboos.com/residential/products.cfm?category=jbc0003

look at AB " BLOCK 10" AND AA"BLOCK 16"

these are over kill , i'll admit but i think they could work.

JackD201 · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Dec 2008, 02:11 am »

I've got a custom sized Critical Mass Systems QXK sequential filter platform on a QXK rack system under my TW AC-3. Dead quiet without dulling the upper frequencies. The table is set 6 meters away from the speakers (VSA VR-9s) but even at full tilt there is no observable acoustic feedback to speak of.

Syrah · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Dec 2008, 04:13 am »

There was an audio store in Toronto that sold a lot of Notts and many a discussion was had about what was best. A general consensus formed that the best was,

Table
Roller blocks of some kind
Symposium, Nueance... ie. constrained layer platform
Roller blocks
Rack

I have basically this setup with my Nott and it sounds great. I've had no problems with spinning it, so long as I use two hands around the platter to give it a good spin. No issues with the Rollerblocks, they jiggle but that's about it. The table has never fallen off them or moved.

lazydays · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Dec 2008, 06:35 am »

Quote from: Quiet Earth on 23 Dec 2008, 10:25 pm

Lot's of great suggestions here. I will try to research them all! Thanks guys.

I would love to try the Gingko Cloud, but I don't know if it would be safe to use one with my table. My spacedeck doesn't have an on/off switch. You have to manually start the platter by rotating it by hand, and then it just keeps spinning from there. I'm afraid to try anything underneath the table that moves or wiggles. I suppose I could hold the Gingko down with one hand and spin the platter with the other . . . .

I've heard great things about the Neuance shelf too. Maybe I will have to give one a try and just dismiss my IKEA experience as not good enough.

Butcher blocks are getting cheaper and cheaper. Thanks for those links too.

Has anyone ever tried an Auralex Gramma or Subdude under their table? I know that these are meant for speakers, but would they work under a table? There's another one called the Primacoustic Recoil Stabilizer that looks very interesting, but I don't know if the steel plate would interfere with the cartridge because steel is very magnetic. Should steel be avoided near the turntable?

http://www.primacoustic.com/recoil-home.htm

This is turning out to be a good thread. Lot's of great ideas going on here.

That's pretty much what I do with my string drive tables, and get little if any movement out of the Cloud.
gary

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Dec 2008, 02:17 am »

Thanks for sharing Syrah and Gary. That little bit of information is very good to know.