Turntable stand, steel, aluminum,shelves of ?

I took a different approach: Get phono front end isolated from listening area and use mass on the air suspension stand.

I use an Arcici stand loaded with mass: Basis 2500 signature with extra platform, MSB 1" laminated steel/alum./lead beneath it on the airhead. I've tried various woods, acrylic, marble etc combinations always hearing a bit of coloration. The MSB added no sound or coloration to the music. The Arcici design allows you to mass load the top of the Airhead by suspending 4 acrylic shelves via threaded rods. I have my VPI SDS, Aesthetix Io 2 PS Signature and PS Audio PS600 on the shelves. This approach produced wonderfu music. I thought this was great until I took the next step.

This whole setup is between two interior studded walls (29" deep with front and back access via doors) separating the living room (listening area) and dinning room from the family room. This perfectly isolated all my phono equipment allowed me to bring separate dedicated ac lines. 21' pair interconnects go to the mono amps behind each speaker. Now it really sounds fantastic.

have fun,
GerryM5

KFTool,

I do have the Io Signature with volume controls at latest production revs. I love it. My system is posted at http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/1616.html. My music tastes are Classical, Jazz, Blues, female vocals, not much rock. The Aesthetix's musical voice (IHO) suits this perfectly perfectly. It's always difficult to communicate one's own enjoyment to another because there so many factors influencing it. Here's what I like about the Aesthetix - it has a very natural sound in all respects: Focus without edginess; Macro and micro dynamics; Warmth without bloom; Natural performance height and width on all types of music; Works very well with my Koetsu Oynix Platinum Signature's low output with being noisey. Bottom line its the I have ever heard in my system.

Negatives are, costs, sapce, and number of tubes (if you're a NOS type).

enjoy the music,
GerryM5