Turntable - On the Wall or to the Floor?

Thanks Bdgregory. Yes, this has always been my understanding as well, but there is a large community of audiophiles and manufacturers who support the use of wood, such as maple, for its natural dampening properties. This then translates to a better sound signature. If you use thick layers of wood then you also take care of vibration.

One analogy is about how a tall maple tree can stay erect during a severe wind storm? It is because the tree absorbs a lot of the energy and dampens it.

Another popular material being used is slate. In my mind the best solution would be to put the TT on the wall for vibration, and then use a slab of something under the table for dampening.

I'm not an engineer and I only care about the sound...and, I don't want my tonearm bouncing off the surface.

Thanks everyone! Sounds like the wall.

You know that's funny that you mention this method. Years back, I remember reading an article...I think it was Stereophile...he talked about such a method, saying that the best possible isolation would be suspending the table in space. Did you read that back then?

Anyway, this won't work for me because the look here is old farm house. I'd probably get divorced and have to move out...wait...then I'd have a new space and...hah...hah!

Good suggestions and thanks. The wall is the easiest solution for me.

This thread was originally started because I was told by a manufacturer of wood platforms not to put it on concrete or a bearing wall because the sound is inferior compared to wood..so try to make the floor work!

Thanks Frank, I was going to replace the stock shelf for the Target with a maple shelf. That's what started this thread, after I called the manufacturer who told me to try to use the floor.

Your point is taken, and it's probably best to pick a material that is neutral to your particular system.

The manufacturer of the TT that I'm considering, likes a platform called the Sandbox. I'm not sure if the weight of that plus the TT wouldn't be over-the-top for the Target. I'll check out the Ginkgo.

The walls are very solid (1920), and the wall studs have really aged over the years...like drilling into hardwood. Then there's the plaster. I have a curio cabinet with light glass shelves on the other side of the wall. There are some tiny glass figurines on the shelf. When I open the cabinet door you can hear them rattle. However, not until I jump to about 6" off the floor can I hear anything...and I'm no lightweight.

My new concern is that the TT plus dampening slab will be heavier than the Target shelf can handle which is 88 lbs.

I have been to Timbernation's site, they're the ones who sell the Sandbox TT platform that I mentioned earlier.

I was thinking about using that platform but it's too much for the Target shelf. A maple shelf substituting for the target stock shelf may work if the combined weight is under the max. Or, I could use the Sanbox but would have to come up with my own wall mount design.

Thanks

Wow...that is interesting...remove anything attached to the wall accept the TT. Well there goes my favorite painting and my wife's surface mounted curio cabinet on the other side...bye...bye. Seriously, if stuff is just attached to the plaster, like a painting, do you think that's a transfer issue?

In essence the wall becomes the stand. This suggests that audio stands with doors are probably susceptible to the same problem.

Have you done anything to stop the shelves/doors from vibrating and did this help?

Ken

I talked to my dealer, and he recommended that I get a slab of slate for my particular turntable. He said that it has excellent dampening qualities and is a good match (synergy) for it. He's experimented with a lot of different materials, so it sounds like it's a good place for me to start and perhaps be done.

He also mentioned that it need not be very thick, and I plan to use it as a substitute for the stock Target shelf. The stock feet that come with my table are Stillpoints.