Turntable isolation

So Millercarbon is a Townsend dealer.

If the use of Modern Technology and Engineering used for Isolation, is a route that is wished to be better understood, the Brand in the Link will be worthwhile learning about, in comparison to other Brands that have adopted Technology and Engineering to control vibration being transferred from the ambient surroundings of the listening environment.   

I have carried out quite a few configurations for methods to mount a TT, for both an Idler Drive and Direct Drive. When mass weight has been a concern, for me, the only option worthwhile considering has been to use a Floor Mounted Rack as a Support Structure (peace of mind and using common sense prevailed).

In the past and returned to as the Support Method at present, I have produced Racks from the Ground Up (Concrete Floor), using tiers of a variety of materials to mount a Rack on, and in conjunction with the Sub Rack Support, the task of producing different structures on the Top Shelf to support the Source, has been a shared importance.

This has been a progressive experience where there have been materials added to create the Overall Support Structure and materials removed as a result of the evaluation of the materials impression being made when used in a particular assembly of a Structure.

When a TT's weight has not been a concern, I have also run parallel with using a Rack as Support, the alternative Support where a Wall Mounted Support Structure has been used and also used the Wall Mounted Shelf, as a method to Anchor a Suspended Platform to. 

For me, in my environment, the Rack is the method I have been able to produce the most satisfying results with for the supporting of a TT.

@mikelavigne has made his thought known,

"with turntables, proper choice of shelf interfaces and footers are not predictable. turntables are mechanical, and there are too many variables. you simply must try things and listen. it’s all about the whole ’life’ and ’tonal balance’ thing. a 'dead sounding' or 'overly warm sounding' or 'clinical sounding' turntable is the last thing we want."

I agree with this and as a result of making proportions of my support structure available to others to loan, I can safely say there is not a ubiquitous solution, as the Environment the equipment is used in will be quite a contributing factor in how the TT is being impacted on.

My experiences are also showing to me that there a variety of elements to be considered when carrying out an investigation. The Rack or Wall Shelf will assist with producing a Support Structure that is perceived as being correct for the Turntable and Tonearm and potentially extends towards the Cartridge having an improved environment.

When carrying out investigations into under TT support, I have also learned the importance of carrying out under Source Material Support investigations as well.

In a nutshell, the LP when supported on a Material of a certain type in a certain environment and included as an element of the overall Support Structure, is able to be a notable inclusion for the improvements that can be perceived. As a certain material as a Platter Mat can be perceived undoubtedly for the better when in use in conjunction with other methods and allow the merits of other methods selected to produce a support that is 'standout', for the impact on the improvement that is perceived as being made.

My Preferences for a particular presentation, are not that of another's, which will mean that I have potentially carried out more trials that another might require, as their preferences might be discovered with lesser work put in.

There is also the other end of the Spectrum where a Purpose Produced device is the Support Method required that satisfies another's unique preference for a presentation and SQ. For me these are expenses I do not aspire to inherit.

As Panzerholz has been mentioned, I have evolved in my using Materials for a Structure toward Densified Wood and as a rsult of the impression made, have acquired a selection of Densified Wood Brands of which P'holz is one, and is also in use.

 For me, today, Densified Woods are offering a very positive impression, this impression made has been noticed for it being able to be transferred to other environments, when used as a basic material.

I can make these claims, as I have had my P'holz demonstrated in use on other systems as TT's Sub Plinth with Footer, and the positive impression made has been made known as evaluation form a Group attended Demonstration. As a result of this, I also have P'holz out on long-term loan to others and the reports returned are very good.

One individual has been quite taken, they now have a TT Plinth Produced from the material, which is mounted on a P'holz Sub Plinth assembly. There evaluation of the before methods used and the newly adopted methods are full of high-quality appraisal, to the point that the system sounds new and substantially jumped up in its perceived value, as a result of the performance on offer.

That is the result of one's initial investigation to adopting an unusual 'to them' material, as a method for improving a Mechanical Interface.

@nhmanmtb

back 12-14 years ago i purchased 4 turntables from Steve Dobbins, Xact Audio. three were vintage tt’s (Technics SP-10 Mk2, Mk3, and a Garrard 301) with tweaking and plinths built by Steve, and one was his Kodo ’The Beat’. all used Stillpoint footers. at that time i tried other footers, but nothing else worked. it seemed that Steve had voiced his plinth’s for the Stillpoints.

with turntables, proper choice of shelf interfaces and footers are not predictable. turntables are mechanical, and there are too many variables. you simply must try things and listen. it’s all about the whole ’life’ and ’tonal balance’ thing. a 'dead sounding' or 'overly warm sounding' or 'clinical sounding' turntable is the last thing we want.

if your turntable designer likes a particular footer take that very seriously.

about the only thing that is consistent is the benefit of a solid floor, concrete slab typically preferred.

mijostyn

I rode Massabesic many times. Lots of fun. I could ride off road from my house to Pawtuckaway State Park so that was my go to place. I moved from NH about 10 years ago and miss it a lot.

I think I will take the advice of seeing how it works out with what I have before tweaking.

I trust the designer to use the right footers, so I am good with what is being provided.

This the ultimate isolation both vertically and laterally. Nothing else comes close. There are painfully few other options that really work. Most of it is just wishful thinking.

@mijostyn

i use the Taiko Tana active resonance control system under my NVS turntable. this system is based on the Table Stable/Herzan TS active isolation systems.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/tana-150-140-active-anti-vibration-platforms/

these active systems don’t work for every turntable, just like the passive Minus K platforms don’t work for all turntables either.

but when either approach work, i agree they are awesome.

Hi millercarbon! Glad to have you back!

@nhmanmtb , I rode mountain bikes for decades here in New Hampshire. Our favorite was always Massabesic. My kids would do the logroll over and over again laughing hysterically. 

Your best bet is to order a MinusK platform tuned for 150 lb and put it directly under the turntable. This the ultimate isolation both vertically and laterally. Nothing else comes close. There are painfully few other options that really work. Most of it is just wishful thinking.  

Had a chance to look up your footers. A set of four Pods will run you half the cost of the LSP-2. There is a money back guarantee. If there is one for the LSP2 then you could compare. 

mostly mixing different passive isolation devices is not the best idea. think of adding an additional suspension below your current automobile suspension. the result would be unpredictable. therefore it’s likely that the best result is to not add anything between your Alto-Extremo LSP-2 footers and the solid top shelf.

if you are looking for alternatives to the Alto-Extremo LSP-2 footers, then that is a different conversation altogether.

you have already told us that you have a slab floor and solid heavy wood rack with a solid thick top shelf. so that top shelf should have sufficient mass and solidity to be a good base for those footers and the 150 pound mass of your turntable.

at best you could experiment with adding some sort of sold shelf layer like 1/2" steel or maybe panzerholtz (Taiko Daiza) just to add mass. but it might overdamp your sound.

my guess is it’s most likely you are good to go as you are now. if you share which turntable you are buying that might raise other comments.

btw; a big congrats on getting a new 150 pound turntable. 😁

Got it. Could be the platform itself may be a point of experimentation before footers or other spacers. Some are using steel slabs or slate etc...

@ghdprentice 

+1

solypsa - It will be a solid plinth. The rack will be on a concrete slab.

@nhmanmtb is your turntable a solid plinth or suspended design? Is the Timbernation rack going on a floating or slab floor?

+1ghdprentice

Look @ E.A.R. isolation feet/footers.

Years ago when I used them (3 different types) there were weight spec's available online, but I don't see them with current ads.

Here's the company and Parts Connection has a couple of models in stock.

DeKay

Given the weight I guess I would see why you would want to get this right the first time.

However, my personal rule is to set up and get to know a piece of equipment completely before experimenting with additional vibration control. You want a baseline of what it does first. Or you might introduce an “improvement” that actualy isn’t and never know.

I would put on at least a couple hundred hours before adding stuff.

Anyway, that is what I would do.