Wool Felt Footers?


I am curious whether any of you have tried using thick wool felt as footers, or as a vibration damping layer under equipment.  I view the material as performing a similar function as the Owens Corning 703/704 material that AV Room Services, Ltd. uses in their Equipment Vibration Protectors, or EVP footers (link).

According to AI:

"Yes, wool felt is an effective vibration damping material due to its unique structure and properties. It absorbs vibrations, reduces noise, and is suitable for various applications, including automotive and industrial uses. 

Wool felt’s porous structure and the way its fibers interlock allow it to absorb and dissipate vibration energy, converting it into heat.  The same properties that make it a good vibration damper also make it a good sound insulator. It can effectively reduce noise transmission..."

What I have tried so far is placing a one-inch thick layer of dense wool felt completely beneath the platforms that are supporting a heavy Aries Cerat Helene DAC (90+ lbs. including the brass damping discs on the top) .  The one-inch thick felt is attached to and positioned directly beneath a Zoethecus Z-slab (constrained layer platform), which supports a Black Diamond Racing shelf (carbon fiber) on which the Helene DAC sits.  Right now the footers supporting the DAC are platinum silicone hemispheres but I may try other options, including footers made from the one-inch thick felt.

mitch2

Showing 2 responses by hjdca

The felt furnature pads footers that you get on amazon to put under furnature for wood floors work surprisingly well for vibration dampening.  For pennies, it is at least a first level improvement, and it is easier to slide your equipment around.  

fyi, I have a concrete floor at ground level with wood floor covering it.  I am running Adona Altair Racks with Herbie’s wide footers and felt pads.  I am also running GAIA I footers with felt pads under my speakers.  I also think felt pads under each piece of equipment can help.   Here are some crude vibration tests I ran when I put the rack together.   I am cranking the volume to ear splitting levels with a bass heavy song without even a miniscule disturbance in the water.  you can see the levels by the meters in the preamp shown in the pictures.