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Isolation Questions

Hi to all,

Being a true believer in vibration control, I purchased a BDR Shelf for Source here on Audiogon (thanks Sam) for an AA Capitole mk 11 CDP, equipped with BDR cones affixed to the bottom of the chassis.

My very limited understanding of the principles involved seem to indicate that the CDP, when placed on this shelf, will likely be more resonant than the shelf. Subsequently, shouldn't the point end of the BDR cones be in contact with the chassis of the CDP? If that's the case, reversal of the cones won't be an option, but I think rollerblocks might be more helpful in draining internal CDP vibrations. Any thoughts on that?
If the consensus is that the cones are fine where they are, can anyone advocate for rollerblocks under the BDR shelf, or is that like killing a mosquito with a shotgun?

Thanks,
brimac

Showing 2 responses by plato

plato
1,543 posts
 
Brimac, you raise some good questions and unfortunately no one can give you a real definitive answer except to say you need to try a lot of different combinations and go with what sounds best to your ears.

I have gotten some very good results using small blocks of hardwoods between components and shelves; and the Source Shelf that I have my turntable sitting on sounds good with a combination of Sorbothane pucks at the rear and one small hardwood block at center front. I'm using the Sorbothane because I'm on a suspended floor, otherwise I'd use hard materials (either wood blocks or BDR cones) all the way around.

In some applications I find the hardwood blocks are preferable to BDR cones, with the woodblocks sounding very similar through the bass and midrange, but less tizzy in the high frequencies. VanEvers used to sell a woodblock kit, but I don't know if it's still available. I've had good success with cocobolo, mahogany, and tiger-eye (in no particular order).

Sometimes you also need to consider the stability of the component; if you push a button and it goes sliding toward the edge, well, that's a problem. :)
plato
1,543 posts
 
Stehno, just what are "appropriate points and racking systems," in your experience?

My experience tells me that those variables would vary for every different component available due to the fact that the resonant nodes would vary from component to component...
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