Medical Isolation Platforms


Decided to open a discussion on Vibraplane, Halcyonics, Minus-K type tables. What are the merits of active vs passive and industrial vs medical? Is the fuss of setting up compressors and tubing worth the benefits of active and is the only difference with industrial vs medical the mass load? Would a cheap passive platform be an upgrade over say a Symposium or BDR Shelf?
ducatirider
Minus-k and Halcyonics are comparable in vertical-isolation performance and both are superior to the Vibraplane. The Minus-k systems are passive and have resonant frequencies (0.5 Hz) that are an order of magnitude lower than pneumatic isolators. Once set up, a Minus-k table needs no maintenance. In contrast, the Halcyonics units are active and require 110 V; they are also much more expensive. The extra $$ buy you somewhat better horizontal isolation compared to Minus-k; however, it's not clear that this offers much benefit in audio applications.

I have Minus-k systems in my laboratory for an atomic-force microscope and a surface-plasmon imaging apparatus. The effectiveness of the isolators can be readily measured with those instruments. What motivated me to buy Minus-k units for the lab was the obvious sonic benefit of mounting my turntable on a Minus-k BM-8 isolator at home. In my view this remains the most cost-effective upgrade I've ever done.
 
Sdlevene - could you speak to reasons for choosing the particular Minus-k model that you did, versus, say, the BM-6 or BM-10? Thanks in advance.
 
Jtimothya,

The BM-8 is their highest-performance isolator for loads in the 100-lb range and has the additional advantage of a low profile (about 4 in. high). I replaced the standard top plate with a 28x20x0.75-in slab of polished granite to support my VPI TNT 'table. The sum of these masses (minus the mass of the original top plate) comes just within the maximum load rating of the BM-8.
Is resonant frequency an indicator of superior sound quality and why? If the table has a natural resonance (a rarely published spec) and the platform has a resonace that was a fundamental then I can see all modal hell breaking loose. Do these platform manufacturers publish resonance amplitudes? I would think amplitude would have more bearing than frequency. or not?