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How do you deal with vibration?

Greetings all,

Many of us work very hard to keep vibration out of our equipment. I was hoping we could share our experiences with each other. I was wondering what other DIY methods people are using?

I personally have had good luck with shipping open cell foam under plywood. I find that about 60-70 percent compression works best. I place the foam underneath some plywood (Using spruce 3/4 inch). Then I place the component on the plywood. However, I think this more isolates the component from outside vibration. I don't think it does much to drain internal vibrations, especially in a CD transport.

Also I can not find open cell foam in town any more. I am ashamed to say that I actually went to Wal-mart to buy some. Now they don't carry it any more. So I was wondering where else I can get some?

I am currently thinking about building a Sandbox for my CD player and amp. Then putting the sand box on top of some sort of isolation material (open cell foam or cork rubber etc.) My thoughts are the foam or cork or etc should help keep the vibrations from getting into the equipment and the box should drain the internal vibrations.

Also, what are peoples experience with different woods. I live in BC so I can get most wood fairly cheap. I imagine every wood has it's own sonic signature due to it's resonant frequency. What works best? Solid maple, birch ply, MDF, walnut, mahogany etc...?\

Anyways, feel free to through ideas and experience (both good and bad) out there. It would be good to know what works and what doesn't.

Happy tweaking,
Nick
nickway

Showing 2 responses by sol322

sol322
426 posts
 
Sharing a experience
A friend (non audiophile) bought a Denon 2900 and put it on the top of his no-name rack where his Denon receiver was.
He had an "av joe room", i.e. just set the speakers more or less in a triangular way ref to his seating position and that was it, no accoustic treatment, no power treatment etc.
I helped setting the HT stuff in the menus etc.

We were listening to music (redbook) and then I paused the player and placed it on brass cones (seating position was lower than rack so he couldn't see under the player and I blocked his view). Sat down and pushed "play". He immediately was puzzled and asked me :WHAT DID YOU DO? THE SOUND IS RADICALLY IMPROVED!!!

FWIW Even in this "worst case scenario" his "untrained ears" noticed the improvement.

Happy listening
Luis
sol322
426 posts
 
Rsbeck:

Many details were omitted in my post for brief purposes. Basic tweaking was performed like interconnect and power cable layout, the rack was on a small rug and it was removed so it was directly on the tile floor. Mass loading of the player was also tried but the cone effect mentioned was far more noticeable than any of the other tried things. Since he was so puzzled by this it was tried several times and the improvement was confirmed by him not by me.
If you got the impression that the untrained ears phrase was demeaning for my friend that was not my intent, I tried to convey the idea that in a not sophisticated listening environment and with people not complicated as we as a group are, there are ways to share our hobby without been or projecting the "complicated" image we have that is limiting in a way the number of people that could enjoy more music with lesser electronics but properly set up that could eventually become audiophiles.
I keep an open mind but first I love to listen to music and is far more important to me than the equipment itself. If tweaking improves my music enjoyment I do it. For me vibration counts and affects the enjoyment I obtain from my listening sessions.
Vibration tweaking has worked for me and is not my idea to "convert" anyone. Just again sharing experiences to motivate people to experiment themselves and take their own conclusions as you seem to have, I have no problem with that and I respect your choices since they are your own.
Cordially
Luis
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