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Isolation Feet for Laptop

It seems fairly common knowledge that vibration is a form of distortion in many electric components, not just for turntables and speakers. Isolation feet seem to work well in most applications.

I searched around and I didn't find any information to suggest that folks are using isolation feet on laptops or desktops, despite increased streaming usage. In a great many cases, there are indeed heavy vibrations coming from within the computer.  Whether it is the fan for the CPU or even GPU to the all the various chips/transformers, etc or even power supplies and batteries. If adding isolation feet to a streamer, DAC or power supply makes sense, then wouldn't it also make sense to apply isolation feet to your laptop; if you use it for music?

Well, I am going to find out. :)

I ordered some IsoAcoustics Orea Series Audio Equipment Isolators with a max weight of 16 pounds. The laptop weighs about 6.7 pounds, so it shouldn't be that much strain, even with all the cables creating some measure of down force as they dangle over the edge.

My expectation is that the DAC will be able to perform slightly better due to reduced vibration across the USB port and power filter. The DAC is a USB stick (Dragonfly Cobalt) so it has a very rigid hard connection to the laptop; so vibration is very easily transferred.

Has anyone else tried this?

128x128guakus

Showing 1 response by kellyp

kellyp's avatar
kellyp
104 posts
 

Logically you have a valid point.  To stay consistent you must ask if the vibration isolators are NOT necessarily beneficial to the rest of the system.  In fact, do you notice it?  They may not be, and I am not intimidated by those who claim they do. 

You are talking about acoustically isolating a computer. Have you considered MAGNETIC isolation?  The CPU STREAMS OUT tons of 3 GHz white noise.  You should measure it.  There is HUGE RF there.  Let alone 5G and the RF in your house.  Do you think isolating your cables from micro-vibrations holds a candle to the voltage induced by these devices?  Or even a lowly DA converter.   

No.

You would be smarter to cut some thick steel plate and shield it all.  I reduced my TT noise -20 dB that way.  I get over -100 dB S/N from my MC cartridge.  Unheard of?  You bet. 

Now do I "believe" in acoustic shielding?  It has its place.  Far behind others. 

 

 

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