Townshend platform under digital component or amplifier ?


I would appreciate suggestions from those who use and understand the importance of isolation as to where best to employ a Townshend platform which has a yellow rating so is suitable for components.  Please don't recommend spikes which are a mistake from the 80's    My speakers are DIY open baffle currently on Isoacoustics Gaia which I'm not that impressed with. Springs are the way to go but will have to be DIY due to a difficult layout.

The obvious thing would be to experiment, sure, but my rack is DIY with threaded rods which when adjusted will upset my cable management so where would I get the best reward?

lemonhaze

You can't isolate speakers because you can't isolate sound. Assuming your speakers are on the floor, if you have a resonant floor and the speaker excites it then you have to dampen the floor with carpeting and/or stiffen the floor. 

Subwoofers that are not balanced have to use spikes or they will start walking. Balanced force subs you could put on roller skates and they would not move. 

Putting isolation platforms, most of which do not work, under anything except turntables is a silly proposition based on lay instinct which is usually badly mistaken. But, it looks cool and that's really what it is all about. The two isolation platforms that actually work are the MinusK and the Vibraplane if you need one for your turntable. 

Good for you building your own speakers! Check out the new DEQX Pre 8 digital preamp. It has a 4 way digital crossover in it, totally programable for xover points and slopes. Could be the best thing to happen for DIY speaker builders, instant perfect crossovers. 

A local audiophile with Gaia pods, Townshend platforms, and other isolation tweaks has recently tried double yellow dot squash balls under some equipment with good effects. This is a much less expensive experiment than the platforms. Maybe too crude for you, but once they're half squashed, they're barely visible.

@hilde45,  yes good old squash balls which I have tried long ago and work surprisingly well. I found that depending on the load they carry the performance varies. If you're lucky and the combination ends up with a low enough resonant frequency then all well but if the component is too light then weight needs to be added which is a bit hit and miss.  I recently placed some unlikely looking and inexpensive Vibrapods model 1 under my 'The Truth' line stage and am now enjoying a much cleaner sound particularly the removal of some annoying sibilance. They come in 3 different weight ranges.

I was hoping to save lots of juggling of shelves by someone's experience claiming that digital components would provide the most benefit for example. Well will just have to try the platform under different components. My feeling is CD or DAC may provide more improvement than amp because of the sensitivity to vibration of the clocks. When time permits I will find springs that will resonate at about 3 to 4Hz like Townshend's do for my speakers. Not difficult to DIY.  No spikes for me🙄

@akg_ca, Thanks for the links. I enjoy Beekhuyzen, he's a bit dry buy no BS. This subject is almost as misunderstood as acoustics and cables LOL

To your question, I would suggest under the most sensitive of your electronics.

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Townsend Seismic Speaker Platforms had a very noticeable improvement in all SQ attributes.  Excellent build quality.  I do not use their component platforms.  I am sure the technology will produce similar results.  I use Symposium Svelte Shelves in combination with Roller Block Jrs on electronics.  Large effect on front end digital equipment.  Noticeable but subtle effect on amplification.  I use only the shelf on the TT. Look at Symposium as an alternative.   I am sure either way you will realize SQ improvements   

 

I have Townshend podium under my TAD ME1 speakers, a platform under my Aesthetix Calypso preamp, and pods under my Luxman L-509X all clearly beneficial sonic improvement.  

I have all Townshend everything. Allegri preamp, Cables and Seismics...I put 4 pods of appropriate weight bearing under my Rowland Monoblocks, sub and all other components. Seismic rack corners, a platform under my turntable and platforms under my speakers. Fantastic. 

FWIW... 

I use these under all my electronics and turntable:

To be fair, I'm not sure about the audible impact of the additional isolation by these rubber and cork pads but I figure it can't hurt.

OTOH, I also use these under my subwoofer which have had an amazing impact.

Happy listening.

Hey guys, I appreciate all the responses received. I tried the Platform sized for my heavy Wadia DAC which was an improvement but found more reward placed under the Oppo. There is a 10Kg weight difference so I added that amount to the top of the player which brings it to the middle of the recommended range.

I had the Oppo on Isoacoustics so listened with them removed and this reaffirmed my impression that they were helping only a little, certainly nowhere near the Townshend Platform performance. The sound was immediately more relaxed and detailed as would be expected from a lower noise floor. My 7m x 5m room is well treated acoustically so we were hearing more of the venue. Great fun. Impressed.

 

Isolation can only exist in the absence of matter. With that said there would be no sound.. Here is an improvement that doesn’t rely on fiction. TomD