Turntable placement and isolation


Hello,
I have a Clearaudio Concept turntable which was so far placed on a rack behind the two front floor standing speakers. I am currently changing the layout of my 2 channel system, removed the audio rack from that imaging-sensitive location and placed all electronics on the carpeted floor between/behind the speakers. Each component, except the turntable, is currently placed on a maple plywood (1 inch thick) which sits on the thick carpet. The floor is a wooden suspended floor. I am also trying out HRS platforms for isolating the electronics. I need some help/advise on the turntable placement on the floor. What are your thoughts on putting a turntable on a platform on the carpeted floor? Is this going to seriously degrade the sound? What could be used to isolate the turntable from the carpeted ground such that there are no footfall issues? I would really appreciate your feedback.
Thanks.
indranilsen

Showing 8 responses by indranilsen

@antigrunge2- Did you mean wall mounted turntable shelf? It is an option that I am also thinking about. Any solution other than a tall tack would work for me.
Thanks.
@needfreestuff- In my two channel system I am using Aerial Acoustics Model 7T as the front loudspeakers, Bricasti M25 stereo amplifier, Bricasti M25 DAC/source controller. For the source, I am using Oppo UDP 205 (rarely used) as a universal player and Clearaudio Concept as the turntable. I am using mostly Nordost cables, Heimdall 2 & Frey 2 in my system. I also use Audio Sensibility Signature speaker cable and digital coaxial cable. I use two dedicated 10 guage circuits, Furutech GTX D NCF(R) receptacles and Nordost distribution boxes. There is no power conditioner in my system. My room has GIK acoustics bass traps at the corners and at the 1st reflection points on the side walls/ceiling.
Thanks.
@newbee- Thanks. The two options that I am currently working on are
1. Using mass/spring combination. Might try HRS/Townshend products to see if this concept works.
2. Wall mounting with some isolation stands placed on the wall-mount shelf
I really hope that one of these two options works out for me. Otherwise I have to consider moving the turntable and the phono pre-amp to an adjacent room which would be a lot harder option.

@pjr810- My music room is over the basement and hence I have very limited option of doing any invasive work on the floor.
Thanks.
@newbee- Thanks for your feedback. I have a 2 inch thick maple butcher block which I would use to test the carpet scenario and report back. None of my components are going to be near the corners because of the exact reason that you mentioned. They are somewhat going to be close to the front wall. Components will start 18 inches away from the front wall at the center and they will be placed in two or max three rows ending near the speakers. The turntable position if on the floor would be on the third row after all components, starting from the front wall. So it will be centered between the two speakers and positioned slightly ahead of them. Thanks.
@millercarbon- Thanks for your feedback. Your system looks nothing short of spectacular and it is very advanced. I guess I am just a beginner...
I am a believer when it comes to isolation and seismic vibration control. I spent some time with springs and roller blocks to build my DIY platform for all of my components but couldn’t complete the project. The mass-spring low pass filter concept does work but the key challenge is to figure out the optimal combination of load and the natural frequency of the springs which will bring the resonance of the component and platform together to 3-4 cycles. The other challenge was to find a surface which will not ring. Many suggests marble, granite, etc for adding the mass but in my experience these natural stones without any damping always tend to ring. Then you get to handle the damping of these surfaces as well. It is at that point I kind of decided not to spend any more time on this research and may be look for a commercial product which is always going to be very expensive. 
So please keep in the loop with your spring isolation work.
On a separate note, did you notice any imaging degradation when you introduced the taller rack behind the speakers?
Thanks
@mijostyn- I agree with you on moving the turntable and other electronics to a different room as possibly the best solution but it is going to be a lot of work for me. So it is an option but I am really hoping that something else would work out and I don't have to move everything to the next room....
In the mean time I have tried putting the turntable on a 2 inch thick maple block placed on the carpet and it didn't do anything to stop the footfall issue.
Thanks.
@wolf_garcia & @cd318- Thanks for your feedback. Could you tell me the dimensions of this audiophile table? A picture would even be better if possible. I am trying to avoid placing any large rack/table between or behind the front loud speakers to enhance the imaging and hence curious about the dimensions.Thanks.