Vibration Theory - Isolate or Drain?

The best approach is to isolate AND drain. Isolation is not highly effective for frequencies under 10 or 20 Hz anyhow, so residual energy in the system can be dealt with by draining or damping.

"All of these are filters of sorts and there is no such thing as a perfect filter anymore than isolation is perfect or even possible except in the absence of matter. "

Hmmmm....that would probably explain the proliferation of vibration isolation devices for audio applications in the past 12 years.

LOL

Perhaps you don't acknowledge or are dismissing the transfer of seismic/structural vibration to the component. I mean, that's really the whole point of isolation. isn't it?

The problem is all frequencies are coming up from the floor to the component, not just selected frequencies. Of particular importance, obviously, are frequencies in the range 8-15 Hz, the resonant frequencies of such things as tonearms, cartridges, CD laser assemblies, things of that nature. Higher frequencies excite other elements such as capacitors, internal wiring, chassis, and so on. So, there's no need to "know what you are isolating within the equipment." Follow?

I'm not referring to damping the capacitor, I'm referring to isolating the component from structureborne vibration. So I suppose one could say your argument is a bit of a strawman, if you know what I mean.

Furthermore, most of the energy in the component is actually generated by the structureborne vibration, you know, the seismic kind, not by the component itself. Not even by airborne vibration. So I guess we'll have to agree to disagee.