Need advice concerning audio cabinet shelves


I read many discussions  concerning isolation using various materials and tweaks. My cabinet is open on all sides and has 3 hardened glass shelves that are 20”x60”. On the top shelf is a TV, the middle shelf consists of a Dac, music server and a cable box. The bottom shelf has a DVD player, a tube integrated amp and a power conditioner. Under each component is a 1” hardwood cutting board with attached rubber footings plus DH cones between the components and the hardwood board. 
I’m wondering if the hardwood boards and DH cones are enough isolation from the glass shelves.
I’m considering placing a 20”x60”x1” hardwood shelf (possibly maple) on top of each glass shelf to replace the individual boards or replacing the glass shelves entirely with thicker maple shelves.
Any comments or recommendations would greatly be appreciated.
128x128ronrags

Showing 1 response by mijostyn

@onhwy61 , I'll go one step further. The only problem with glass is that it is very hard and will make a loud rattle against any hardware if not seated perfectly and felt or rubber pads are not used at the points of contact. The only piece of equipment that is certainly vibration sensitive is the poorly suspended turntable. You could make an argument for disc transports but that is it. Electrons could not care less about vibration at audio frequencies. If they did F22 Raptors would be crashing all over the place and Apollo would have never made it to the moon. For those of you not familiar with the F22 it is entirely dependent on computers for flight control. No computers means time to hit the ejector switch as 20 billion dollars of your money heads careening to earth.

Having said all that I am not a fan of glass shelves or knock down racks of any type. In comparison to a solid built in cabinet they are all flimsy. What happens if you bump against your rack with the turntable playing?
You could run into a proper cabinet and even an LP 12 wouldn't skip.
Heavy is certainly better but it will not protect you like solid location in space. I have seen many turntables skip on granite.  Carbon fiber? In airplanes, bicycles and bows certainly but for shelves? Who needs a shelf to be light? If you like the look you can get faux carbon fiber and save a lot of money. Wood is pretty and well damped. Plywood is stiffer, lighter and stronger than MDF. It is much easier to work in wood and do custom things than other materials. Unfortunately, most commercially available wood racks and cabinets are Knockdown designs which can not be made as sturdily as a permanently glued together job. Support your local cabinet maker. 

This isolation business has gotten way out of hand. Mechanical isolation applies to mechanical devices. Electrons could care less.
  
Now I'll duck and let the mythology fanboys have at it. Get out your Schumann Resonators and dance to the Be Bop Tango.