What the *#$@ happened??

I learned when I had my Linn, the type of platform can have a major influence on the sound and there is no predicting which platform will suit your tastes best.  When I had the Linn on my Naim Fraim (rack) the standard glass shelf sounded best, but on the Target wall shelf, the glass was horrible and Corian sounded far better.  Just no way to predict the outcome of these things IMO.  

I use an UltraResolution Technologies platform (sadly, no longer produced to the best of my knowledge) under my turntable. It employs a high grade marble, laminated to a high grade steel via a 1/2" thick constrained damping layer. It weighs 85 pounds.

It is very dead- the resonances of the two outer layers rob energy from each other and are damped by the constrained layer. Its one of the very few platforms that, once installed, improved the presentation of the system in every way.

I've not found a wood platform that could do that. Wood has resonances, so while it might be very dense, if nothing is done to deal with the resonance, its a guarantee that it will be talking to the turntable sooner or later. That is why you hear so many different experiences with regards to wood platforms! I'm not saying wood can't be used and I am saying that measures have to be taken to deal with the resonances inherent in the material. If this is not done essentially you are tinkering with tonalities and other artifacts rather than really creating neutrality.

All right, finally getting some where. Came across a diy isolation table, and wow, it really really works, and costs pennies. No more mass loading for me, maple and granite be gone. I’ll be using this simple effective device until I can pick up a/some Minus-K BM8....s. 
Here’s a link in case you’re curious........http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/turntable-isolation-platforms.224619/

I tried one of those Mapleshade maple platform  with their brass footers under my Well Tempered Turntable and it really drained the life out of the system. I sold it to a friend to be put under his Clear Audio TT. It worked fine for him. He likes it. I also use two Mapleshade platforms under my floor standing speaker and they did wonders for the sound. Go figure.

shawn, is the DIY isolation table you refer to a slightly inflated inner tube under a plywood shelf? If so, I’m with ya. I first saw it suggested by Frank Van Alstine about thirty years ago! Max Townshend offered a (discontinued) commercial product incorporating a tube, called the Seismic Sink (there is one on Audiogon right now). If you add a trio of roller bearings between the shelf and the turntable (or CD player, tube pre-amp, etc.), you really have good isolation down to around 3Hz. To do better than that you have to get a $2500 Minus K table or equivalent.