Shelf Material

Hi Redkiwi. Found your opening remarks very interesting. I'm trying to struggle through with an old Rotel 855 while mulling new digital front end options, and am trying to reduce high frequency roughness now apparent in my new otherwise-highly-resolving system. I'm using an air bladder suspension under the CDP, and am not aware of any change in PRT, as you suggest is possible/probable. Before I try reusing my old cones, or sorbothane feet, etc., and struggle to hear changes, do any of you guys have suggestions for improving CDP isolation (esp HF grain) WITHOUT compromising rhythm?...and indeed is it true that non-rigid setups (like airbladders) risk timing anomolies? Thanks. Ernie

High Young's modulus and low mass.... hmmm...doesn't that describe sitka spruce, universally used for piano soundboards?...and guitars, etc.? Whereas I'm tending to agree with these requirements, the additional critical requirement is that this wonder-shelf also drain or absorb energy (as heat), rather than reradiate it like a musical instrument, no? Caterham's analysis and resultant highly-evolved product seems attractive. I just spoke with a friend (Ken Parker) who is a custom luthier, and currently produces carbon-fiber covered wooden-body guitars as well. His whole life is currently wrapped up in making 3 lb ultra-stiff $3000 musical instruments that "sing" loudly even before making use of their piezo pickups. I mentioned to him all these suspension/isolation/damping options, and his initial thoughts are to try clamping the hell out a CDP by mass-loading the top and then thin-skin binding it (sorbothane sheet or 1/8" gum rubber you can buy cheap) to a 3" granite base that you can buy from machine shops (who use them as precision flat surfaces, discarding them after they get nicked or chipped).......... Yet again that old bumper sticker "Think Globally, Act Locally" comes to mind: what about damping/tuning the interior and suspension parts of CDPs and transports...y'know, getting right into the heart of it? A guy in CT (Virtual Mode) uses a Rotel 855 he damps internally as his reference CDP for the design oh his well-respected passive attenuators!...claims most CDP problems are mechanical, not DAC related. I'm tempted to send him my 855 for tweaking before replacing it with a Bel Canto DAC/DVD setup, etc. Yet Caterham speaks of not upsetting the original voicing of a product by such internal damping in lieu of vetting its vibrations through his shelf, which, with additional hard cones, further isolates the component from externally-generated vibratory spuriae, as well. Christ, I don't really know where to start here...still using that 5 buck wheel barrow inner tube from Home Depot! Redkiwi--the deal with maple butcherblock is that the individual strips of wood are glued together in opposing-grain arrays to provide mechanical integrity--no warping, and controlled expansion/contraction. I suppose it won't ring like spruce, of course, but don't see why it would be better than cheap MDF in this regard. It's VERY hard, and will require carbide tools to cut, dulling them readily because of the glue in the joints, as well. It's beautiful and lasts forever, though, so you'll get furniture-grade shelves as a bonus...... Anyone familiar with Virtual Mode's $200 CDP mods? Thanks for these thoughtful and educational posts, guys. Ernie

I'm going to try one of Caterham's Neuance shelves under my CDP as soon as it gets here, and hope it clarifies the top octave without changing spectral balance. Mark (Redkiwi)...I'm not sure how a suspension would be very different from an air bladder re horizontal microdisplacement. You like it though, eh? Does it jiggle clockwise or downunderwise? Cheers! Ernie

I bought a Neuance shelf, but have been too lazy to install it, so simply "stored" it on TOP of my Rotel CDP (which sits on an inner tube). I'll be damned if the top octave isn't cleaner!! Okay...no controlled A/B yet, but this appears to be a remarkable, VERY well made, and overly-well packaged product. After the holidays I hope to try it UNDER the CDP. I don't mean to have tongue stuck too deeply in cheek here, but I've been too busy LISTENING to music for once, instead of screwing with the gear. Appears that the Neuance is vetting cabinet vibrations off the Rotel, I suppose?