Isolation by nature of materials used is a storage medium. Why would one, find it desireable to have unwanted energy stored in or around their electro-mechanical devices? I think having this unwanted energy present would reduce the efficiency of the device, in, under or surrounded by the isolation vessel. Also, now the surrounding storage vessel, not infinite in its capacity will release stored collected energy over a unpredictable amount of time and with unpredictable amplitude. This unpredictable storage and release behavior becomes even more problomatic when some of this stored energy will be released back into the very device it is trying to isolate.The sonic signature of the storage vessel will be blended with the intrinsic sound of the nearby electro-mechanical device..Whats worse than having the influences of one unpredictable storage medium? How about two or several or lets retune our whole system with a multitude of unpredictability.Tom
To couple or decouple? That is the question.
This is one of my favorite subjects and pet peeves.Is this just a matter of semantics or a misrepresentation of the principles applied in the set-up of equipment. My experience tells me that coupling is what you work for. This is the principle that is expoused in the early Linn literature. The mechanical connection that doesn't introduce or take away any information. This seems important with componets with transducers primarily turntables and speakers. Different materials, like sorbothane, are used to attenuate frequencies but are used in conjunction with metal cups to physically couple to your stand, shelf, floor, etc. Coupling also allows mechanical/acoustical energy to travel away from a componet. The designers at Mission in the early 80's were right on to this. Questions or comments please.