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Spring Theory

In difference to all the talk re: springs, I thought I should try them out in my system.  I tried to find a cheap way for my experiment, and found Nobsound springs to place under my components.  I have an all Ayre system...Unniversal silver disc player, amp, preamp.  All these pieces are anchored to their bench with the use of Audio Point solid brass cones.  The Nobsound devices are well made.   I have read the springs were detached, but the 4 units I got had the springs strongly affixed to anti-slide rubber or similar material on both the bottom and top of the units. The first trial was under the CD player.  At first listen, I immediately preferred the springs, but in my experience, any change would elicit a positive experience in my system, so I sat down to just enjoy the music.  The obvious difference was the positive increase in highs which seemed to provide more definition, air, separation of instruments....all good stuff.  In their favor this increase in the high end brought absolutely no increase in fuzz, haze, resonance, etc.  When returning to the Audio Points, after a bit more listening, I found the reduced high end was not a detriment to the overall sound.. it was like a change in venue, but with the same performers.  One of the CD's I used was Dolly Treasures the CD cut 2 ----Today I Started Loving You Again. Dolly's voice can be harsh on some systems....both the Audio Points and springs reproduced it with clarity....until the middle of the song after a key change and a male voice accompanies her.  At this point, there is a blurring of the voices....maybe a 1/2 degree or less of fidelity.  My preamp has 2 outputs....I use one to connect to my main amp, the other to my headphone amp.  When both outputs are connected at once, there is a very minor decrease in fidelity.  When I discovered that and spoke to Ayre, they told me they are aware, so now I disconnect either of the amps.  I suspect when the duet on Dolly's began and the additional mike was switched in the board, the results followed....all the instruments...drums (dead center) etc. remained the same.  Anyway, my takeaway from this experiment was that both Audio Points and Nobsound are excellent at what they do...the AudioPoints provide a more "golden" sound.   I returned the Nobsound because they weren't a definite improvement,,,,,, and are damned ugly in place..   I do recommend them for their excellent performance.
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Showing 3 responses by millercarbon

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
This all goes to show vibration control is a lot more complex than we think. No one thing is a perfect solution. Even springs need to be tuned and damped to get the most out of them. Even then, like noromance pointed out you can use different things in combination. This might even be best, in some situations at least. Why? Because nothing is perfect, or neutral, every solution imparts its own signature in one way or another. 

For example, when checking out my new Origin Live Sovereign turntable I was at first a bit surprised to find two of the feet were some sort of plastic type material, while the third was some kind of metal. Also there was very thin cork on the bottom, but not on the bottom of all of them. Surprised at first. But this kind of thing doesn't just happen. Took me all of three seconds to realize Mark Baker must have tried and compared different materials in order to come up with this combination.

Springs are one of the better areas where we can experiment like this and learn a lot about vibration control for cheap. All it takes is time, and a little inquisitiveness and creativity. Ear plugs. Who'd a thunk? Good one.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
There are a lot of variations on the Nobsound springs. Mine were machined aluminum that came completely disassembled, with springs in one bag, aluminum pucks and rubber adhesive pads all separate. But some use plastic, acrylic, etc and with different pads. The one thing they have in common, being springs they must be tuned to the load.

The OP clearly didn’t do this and so sorry nice try fuzztone but you can’t pre-empt this one it was user error. Complete with the audio description that I spotted fits to a "T" exactly the sound I knew to expect from his mistake.

Amazing how when you know this stuff it is possible to predict these things so easily. Almost like I know what I’m doing.

All springs need to be compressed at least 1/3 to about 2/3 to work properly. Within that range small adjustments allow tuning that when done properly easily bests all other non-spring solutions other than Soundsmith, which are damped. It is the fact Nobsound aren’t damped that makes tuning so important.

It is a shame the OP didn’t bother to do a search and read any of the dozens of comments from people explaining this. Especially since he went and posted his opinion that will now serve to mislead others who aren’t paying attention. Springs will be written off by him and half a dozen others who could have had better sound but listened to the wrong advice.

Editorial standards (the lack thereof) strikes again. DYODD.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Springs are highly sensitive to tuning for load. Didn't see any mention of changing the number of springs to get them right. As shipped they come with way too many springs for a CDP. Most CDP only 3-4 of the 7 are needed. Too many and the sound is tilted up. Which your #1 impression fits with what would happen if you had too many springs. So question is, how much time did you spend comparing different spring loadings?
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