Sandbox-style isolation

Hi all,

Isolated segments of a top plate come at a cost - that of maintaining the correct speed relationship between the drive system and the platter. You might get better isolation, but it doesn't come for free.

In Galibiers (and by inference Teres, Redpoint, and ???), every time the coupling between motor and platter has improved, so has the sound.

Now, just like rubber belts in some designs, the net result can be an improvement. I think what we're looking at here is: (a) how much vibration you're sinking, and (b) does any of the movement inherent in this isolation strategy get masked by any compliance in the belt.

The bottom line is that there are no absolutes and the entire system needs to be considered as an ecosystem. What works in one context will not necessarily work in another.

On a related subject (and one I feel more absolute about), from time to time I find myself working hard to convince customers to NOT site their drive system on a separate stand from their turntable.

Picture two sky scrapers independently swaying in the breeze, and I think you can visualize the nature of the problem. Since no two areas on a floor vibrate identically, the two stands will move out of sync with each other. The higher the stand (in relation to its width and depth), the more this is exacerbated.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it ;-)

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

Do you really believe that the top plate segments will move relative to each other enough to cause even tiny shifts in geometry of drive train

Yes.

Based on the argument that these two pieces won't move independently, one could argue that isolation of any sort wouldn't help because all of this movement is so minute.

Ultimately we are all patently mad and arguing over small things, but as long as we're having fun with it, let the debate rage on.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

"Any compliance sounds smeared and soft"

Lest the good folks misinterpret your comment, I'll embellish a bit.

The improvements rendered by reducing compliance result in both cleaner and more extended highs. There is nothing agressive sounding about the extended top end when you get this right.

Furthermore, the improvements are experienced as a richer, harmonic texture in instruments like acoustic bass. Bass texture is, after all about the upper frequency harmonics.

Again, it may well be that on some rigs, that isolating the motor can help in the way that a compliant belt can. Before you accuse me of heresy, hear me out.

In some AC motor experiments our little group of crazies has been undertaking, we positied that some of these drive systems might best be implemented with a compliant belt. There was too much vibration in the system.

Of course, we were looking at optimizing something that none of us would consider swapping out our rigs for, but the point is about trying to optmize given architecture.

There are no hard and fast rules. This was the source of my "ecosystem" comment and is the reason I'm not absolutist about one piece top shelves for the entire population of turntables.

I'm working on a source for some very stiff "L-brackets" which I used to source at an aluminum recycling yard. When I get the name for them, I'll publish it on both the shelf and stands FAQ section of my website as well as on the accessory page showing the sandbox made by Timber Nation.

Now, if you hang out at any electronic surplus houses, you might find some big honkin' heat sinks. I've come across some which are 6" x 8" and have some under my main sandbox.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier