Wall mount shelf is cheapest, surest method. Investing in isolation bases or adding weight might not deliver desired results.
Turntable isolation
I have my TT (Rega P7) on top of my audio cabinet. The cabinet is an Ethan Allen Townhouse component cabinet with a marble top. I noticed this weekend that when I touch the doors to my audio equipment I can hear a light thump via the cartridge. Even when I lightly tap the door the sound travels through the cabinet woodwork, through the marble to the cartridge. How can I isolate the TT from the rest of the cabinet?
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In most homes/rooms, turntables are more stable on a low solid piece of furniture closer to the ground. This minimizes vibrations and effects. Can you put the table on a separate low stand or table next to the taller component stand? I keep all my components including table low to the ground on a rock solid oak wood coffee table (about 80 pounds weight). The table also sits on teh concrete house foundation which is thinly carpeted. Vibrations transmitted via the furniture is a total non issue. A wall shelf as mentioned could be another option as mentioned. How well that works would be a function more of the room and wall construction and how rigid that is. I do have a table in my second system sitting somewhat high up inside a tall and solidly constructed Ethan Allen audio cabinet (see my 2 Channel Family Room A/V System listing here on Agon). This system resides on teh second floor with typical modern wood joist based flooring found in most homes. This setup has less stability than the concrete foundation on the floor below. This works out OK in my case with the less finicky Dual table used there but is not as solid a setup overall. Yet it serves the purpose for that system. They key is to have the table sit on the most rigid foundation overall as possible, however that might be best accomplished in your case. |
I'm thinking about doing the same thing with my Thoerens TD125. I just called a local granite counter top dealer and they said they can sell me a 24" x 24" x 2" piece of granite for about $35. Anyone see any issues? I know in the manufacturing world they use granite slabs lifted by air, water, oil, etc to get truely flat and vibration free surfaces. |
06-14-10: Drewmb1That's what I use under my Technics DD, except I use keyboard getl pads that run the width of the cutting board. On the top side a set of PartsExpress brass cones are screwed into the bottom of the turntable with their adjustable points removed. This leaves a concave surface on the underside of the brass cones. This assembly is then placed on top of Vibrapod Cones. The steel balls of the Vibrapod Cones fit right into the truncated brass cones' concave surfaces. |
This magnetic levitation stand looks interesting: http://grantfidelity.com/site/WMP-1A_MKII_magnetic_levitation_platform |
Dear Listens2tubes, I recommend trying first the balls and then putting butcher block or granite on top to see which sounds best. Mine sounded totally dead on top of my gel pads. I listened like that for a year thinking I really had it together. One day I thought why not try my unused butcher block. It was the difference between night and day. Which is preferable? Which ever sound works best for the owner. In my case I believed I needed a new turntable until I went to a rigid surface over an absorptive one. Now I'm thrilled. Sincerely, |