[Wayner]

I see on other circles, people spend all kinds of money on junk they put under their electronics. I just can't understand why. Yes, I like a nice sturdy purch for things, but this butcher block under the power amp stuff really makes me go, "Huh". What do you guys think?

Wayner

[Listens2tubes]

They think it sounds better.    What if it does?



TO EACH HIS OWN

[Wayner]

What if it doesn't?

Wayner

[rcag_ils]

Do people know what science is? A block under the amp will make it sound better? It makes the amp look nicer, I give it that much.

I am building a isolating platform for my turntable based on Joseph Grado's article. If someone would tell me how to post picture, I'll post it when finished.

[martyo]

Never tried it myself. It makes sense to me that isolating components, especially with tubes, from vibrations is a good thing. When equipment is stacked next to speakers it seems to make even more sense. But again, I haven't tried it. I suspect it is another tweak that will have varied results, depending on many variables such as construction of the building/room where the gear is and where the gear is located in that room, the gear itself, and the individuals hearing.

[Wayner]

A table I understand. That makes total sense to me. I do the same thing (I use Granite under one of my tables). Yes, post pictures when you are done!

Wayner

[mfsoa]

I'm always suspicious in that the change to a component's sound almost always correlates to the material being used-

"I put it on glass and the sound became hard, brittle"

"I put it on rubber feet and the sound became soft and spongy"  etc.

Just once I want someone to put something on 2 tons of concrete and say it softened the presentation, or I floated it in jello and it became hard and glarey  

I am a cable believer for sure, and even the green pen makes a big change but I haven't experienced the major changes that folks ascribe to component isolation (or cables off the floor either).

-Mike

[martyo]

Posting images:
1.  Upload your pics to your Gallery (create one, it's free, if you don't have one already here at AudioCircle)

2.  Go to that picture (in your AC Gallery) and (left) click on it.  It will open up as a larger picture.

3.  Right click that picture

4.  Go to 'Properties' and open it with a left click

5.  You will see either a .jpg or .gif address.....highlight it (by dragging your left clicker over the address) and then right click and choose 'Copy'

6.  Take that and 'Paste' in between the Insert Image icon (the second from the left on the bottom row of buttons available to you)

I copied this from the sticky thread on the Town Square Circle. It works.

When you go to the gallery, it will be easy and clear on how to upload your image to AudioCircle.

[timjthomas]

I think it's very much like cables.  If you think it improves the sound, great for you.  If you don't, that's ok as well.  As long as you aren't advocating that it will always help.  To each their own!

Rather than spend money on expensive tables, butcher blocks, etc., I prefer to buy music!!!  Isn't that what it's all about?

[baumer]

Never tried it myself. It makes sense to me that isolating components, especially with tubes, from vibrations is a good thing.

I agree with this. I think that it would do the most good under turntables and tube amps.

This thread is timely because I've been looking into this for the past couple days as well. What I'm more interested in finding out is if the type of wood you use matters. Does a soft wood or a hard wood work better. Does the size of the piece relative to the equipment being used matter? I also think that some type of material under the block of wood might be needed to allow the vibrations traveling through it to be dispersed as well. Maybe something like the Isoblocks from Mapleshade perhaps?

The way I see it, a piece of wood is fairly cheap so even if it doesn't pan out I have a nice new cutting board that I can use!

[zybar]

I see on other circles, people spend all kinds of money on junk they put under their electronics. I just can't understand why. Yes, I like a nice sturdy purch for things, but this butcher block under the power amp stuff really makes me go, "Huh". What do you guys think?

Wayner

Wayner,

Why not run a simple experiment and report back your findings?

You don't need to spend tons of money on expensive racks and platforms, for this type of test, you can simply use a variety of things already found in your house or that can be purchased very cheaply.

Here are a few things to possible try:

tennis balls cut in half
racquetballs cut in half
mdf
hockey pucks
granite
slate (or any type of stone)
glass (candle holders, shot glasses, whatever you can find)
ball bearings
wood (hard and soft)
bike tube (try different levels of inflation)

While I won't say which is "better", I am very confident in saying that you will find that the various materials will sound different (especially under gear such as turntables, anything with tubes, and transports).

Good luck and I hope you decide to try this.

George

[Listens2tubes]

OK, most all of us agree speakers need to be coupled to the floor. This is where spikes are used, not under equipment! Air is the best thing for is isolating components. To that end try placing a sheet of bubble pack found in most boxes that arrive from any retailer under your Cd transport (1/2" bubble size). If you feel the need you can place a board between the bubble wrap and the transport for stability. Then listen and report you impressions. I can tell you what I've heard but I don't want to taint the results. Enjoy!

[zybar]

OK, most all of us agree speakers need to be coupled to the floor. This is where spikes are used, not under equipment! Air is the best thing for is isolating components. To that end try placing a sheet of bubble pack found in most boxes that arrive from any retailer under your Cd transport (1/2" bubble size). If you feel the need you can place a board between the bubble wrap and the transport for stability. Then listen and report you impressions. I can tell you what I've heard but I don't want to taint the results. Enjoy!

Good one!

You can also use a bicycle tire tube (I added it to the list).

George

[emac]

The only place where I've used isolation feet of one sort or another and actually felt it made a noticeable difference that I could replicate was under my CD players.  The isolation I prefer in these cases is Herbie's Tenderfeet.  But the difference is not huge.  Some additional smoothing and clarity.  IMO, there are a lot of other things that you can do to your system that make clearer and more significant differences.   For example, I just installed a better receptacle (non-hospital grade Leviton, $2.50 from ACE Hardware) in my listening room, and I can hear the difference in the next room over.  

[rcag_ils]

Air is the best thing for is isolating components

Moving air does more transmitting than isolating, it happens usually when your stereo system's playing.

[charmerci]

When my friend needed his speakers isolated from his wooden floor (you don't want your wooden floor to add its own bass) I went out to the hardware store and bought some 1.5 inch thick rubber-like mat that was made to isolate a vibrating washing machine, etc. from the floor. Cost about 12 bucks.

[charmerci]

Here's Frank's take on all of this. (I don't think you'll mind the link or I'll delete it.)

It starts halfway down the first column of page 27 - starting with the "TIP-TOES" paragraph.

http://avahifi.com/root/audio_basics/ab_pdf/ab1986.pdf

(edited since original post)

[Listens2tubes]

Air is the best thing for is isolating components

Moving air does more transmitting than isolating, it happens usually when your stereo system's playing.

Is that air moved by sound or the beer and hot dogs from lunch?

[baumer]

Here's Frank's take on all of this. (I don't think you'll mind the link or I'll delete it.)

It starts halfway down the first column of page 27 - starting with the "TIP-TOES" paragraph.

No link? Where can this be found?

[sueata1]

Don't forget to Deaden that bright room with acoustical absorption material to cut down on reverb and to tighten the Image...Out of all the tweaks I've done this one made the Most profound difference in my enjoyment of my system.

Happy listening,,,
Mel