Minus k Technology BM-8 Isolation Platform


Just wondering if anyone out there is using one of these to isolate their turntable. It is a passive design using what the company calls negative stiffness isolators.  Very clever design. You really have to see a picture of the isolator    https://www.minusk.com/products/bm8-vibration-isolation-platforms-bench-tops-isolators.html
It looks to me given the specification that you could isolate any turntable with one of these as well if not better than SME, Basis and SOTA  do with their designs. It is not much to look at and at $3000 it is not exactly cheap but it would be a miracle for someone with foot fall and feed back problems. I personally think equipment racks are unattractive and will not have one in my living room. My equipment is hidden in an antique armoire. I'm thinking about replacing my old suspended turntable with a new one and this platform would give me a lot more flexibility and choice.  Just wondering if they really work👩‍🦳
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looscannon

Showing 1 response by geoffkait

My independent very low-profile 1” tall, small effective surface area tempered steel springs are inherently more stable (higher lateral stability) than air bladders and larger springs and have a much more ideal geometry. Since they’re independent the springs can be positioned so they support equal loads when the component’s mass is distributed non uniformly (as long as the bottom of the component is a smooth surface.) High-mounted heavy platters can create instability for some iso stands due to high center of gravity. Ditto speakers. This problem of high COG can be solved by employing a large dimension plate under the component so the independent springs can be positioned in a very wide pattern, thereby increasing lateral stability. 🤗

I eschew using relative soft materials (Wood, Brass, Aluminum, carbon fiber) in conjunction with mass-on-spring iso systems, and recommend extremely hard materials to support the iso stand as well as the component on the stand. E.g., NASA grade ceramic DH (Diamond Hardness) Cones for extremely rapid evacuation of energy from the isolation system.

Note that a mass on spring iso system works TWO ways - prevents the transmission low frequency vibration from the floor to the component AND reduces vibration induced on the top plate by the component itself or acoustic (mechanical) waves in the air. My small independent springs provide 2 Hz performance in the vertical direction 🔝 and most rotational directions. 🔄

For the advanced student there is the dual-layer heavy mass on spring platform, comprised of three heavy granite or bluestone slabs, the top two slabs separated by springs, thr bottom slab acts as bass. The number of springs for each layer pre-calculated based on total mass. With this design sub Hertz performance can be achieved for most front end components. Cost for such a device is surprisingly low. 🤗

Geoff Kait
machina dynamica
advanced audio conceits