Hallo everyone. I've just acquired my most recent tt/arm upgrade, and it's a keeper for life. As with all things audio, it's now time to tweak. I've been getting into the concept of footers to isolate and drain unwanted vibrations, and Equarack stuff fits my budget nicely (Wave Kinetics/Magico just too pricey). However I can't see how the concept works with a tt that has a separate motor pod, surely there are balance issues for a start that don't apply to large boxes like amps etc. My tt has three spiked feet which obv. can accommodate a footer each, but the motor pod is separate, triangular in plan, 5"-6" each side with slightly assymetric weight distribution. Any solutions to this conundrum?
I have had very good success using vibrapods to isolate motor noise on both VPI TNT and Aries motors. At the price, it's worth a try. YMMV.
I'm using StillPoints (3 of them) under my Aries 1 extended. Got them from the previous owner who explained that they made a day and night difference in the performance of the Aries. Haven't tried the table without the StillPoints, but it certainly sounds terrific with them.
Which of the TMC products is the one you are referring to. I didn't see anything on their site with the name "active pneumatic table". Just curious, thanks.
I am using a TMC active pneumatic table (similar to the one under the Rockport Sirius III) under my Rockport Capella 2, and the improvement in background blackness and instrument layering within the soundstage is great.
Used TMC active pneumatic tables can be had at eBay for around $1500, and I have seen them as low as $900. Add a couple hundred dollars for the compressor and you get yourself a great isolation system. The only problem is that you need to place the compressor in another room as it makes a lot of noise.
Spiritofmusic, if you are talking about the Trans-Fi, if you look in the manual he is quite straightforward about the fact that whatever surface the 'table is set up on becomes part of the machine itself.
The 'table probably does not need a suspension so much as it needs mass beneath it. If you are on a budget you may have to create a platform from scratch, but it needs to be dead and very stiff, else you will run into problems like the manufacturer himself talks about on his website.
The platform should in turn be mounted on something like a Sound Anchors equipment stand, perhaps resting on a set of Aurios Pro bearings. This sort of setup works quite effectively even if your table has no suspension at all (mine doesn't). Essentially, my 'table is impervious to any effects from the system being played loud (and I do like to crank it up). A massive and also dead platform that forms the plinth of the 'table is the key.
Another vote for brass Bearpaws from edensoundaudio.com A call to Dan will get you a discussion personalized to your needs that would also include his other more unique variations on the "footer" theme.
I have the passive Vibraplane which requires a few strokes from a bicycle pump every week to maintain it's height and level. It is untethered as you say, but I'm actually considering getting a couple of active Vibraplanes with a compressor for my amps which always remain properly inflated and level. As the Vibraplane slowly loses air, the passive model needs to be readjusted for level every few days. I think once the Minus K is set up, it no longer needs adjustment. I don't know of the sonic differences.
I once tried Mapleshade heavy brass footers and a 4" Maple block below my unsuspended table and found it made the table sound more lean and took away richness/body/weight.
I think this is very system and listening bias dependent and each solution may have its strengths and weakness for the individual listener. I started by buying an inexpensive Townshend Seismic Sink and directly comparing it to the Mapleshade solution on my SME 10 turntable. I preferred the air isolation to the mass coupling/energy draining approach of the footers/maple board. Encouraged by those results, I splurged on a used Vibraplane. Much better than the Seismic Sink. Then I loaded the Vibraplane with a steel plate weighing 136 lbs and than was even better.
Experimentation is the key in mind. It's the only way to know what works best for you in your particular system.
Or you could try a wall shelf. They work amazingly well. The knee-jerk reaction is often that you cannot fit a wall shelf into your decor, but you'd be surprised.
Check out Silent Running Audio (SRA). Their Ohio bases and platforms are custom made specifically for your component or turntable. Same $ or less than a Minus K.
I hear the Vibraplane is way better than the sandboxes some of us use. That is a good point about centering the mass on a spring-based system. I suppose there are more trade-offs between the Minus K and Vibraplane that you may have found while deciding which way to go. While I appreciate the quality of the pump supplied with the ELpF, I also like the idea of being untethered.
For an unsuspended table with an outboard motor, put the entire assembly on top of a single thick maple butcher block and elevate the butcher block from the rack with 5-6 soft industrial springs. Clamp your stock footers tightly up against the TT plinth to improve coupling down into the butcher block. The springs below the butcher block will provide decoupling, and can be easily moved around to level the turntable and air bearing toneaarm. I have a similar set-up with a VPI TNT and outboard motor and flywheel. The springs are clustered to deal with the lop-sided weight distribution. $200 does it and you won't look back.
Big Brass footers from EdenSound spiked into a very thick maple board will do it. Have Edensound make a platform for your motor and put it on the board too. Vibration will be minimalized.
I would recommend the Minus K or Vibraplane. I believe with teh Minus K, the object being placed on it needs to be centered for proper balancing and isolation. This is not an issue with Vibraplane.
The Vibraplane took my unsuspended table to a whole new level. I still have it under my new suspended table, but I plan to remove to see if the added isolation actually makes a difference with a turntable that already has great isolation.
If you use a Minus K or Vibraplane I don't see the separate motor being a problem at all as long as there is plenty of surface area. With footers you sometimes wind up with platter too high unless you also raise the motor. I have used Stillpoints in the past to good effect, but either of those two products I mention will be far ahead of even Stillpoints.
Buconero, would that I spent $150k. Not quite sure where I mentioned this in my thread. Actually v. tempted to go down the Minus K route. At this point the tt is the only device I need to isolate maximally, and the BM 8 platform at $2750 may be the ticket. Needfreestuff, thanks, will check out Edensound. Elizabeth, not sure a shelf between footers and component doesn't negate the effect of them, but tt and separate motor sure makes it difficult to use them directly.
If you are serious about 'isolation' there is only one way to go, but expensive at that. The solution? An electron microscope platform. The availability of such a device tells audio isolation is a sane practice, and necessary, you just need to find your 'cure' at a lower price. I have seen the electron platform at a medical research facility auction. I has impressed. It sold for $9700, as is. New it would cost about $30,000. But hey, if you spent $150,000 on your TT, whats another $30K. Enjoy the music.
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