Mapleshade Isolation: Does Nothing?


Okay guys. I built a Mapleshade-style isolation platform out of a 3” thick maple butcher block and Mapleshade footers (also Isoblocks). This was originally to isolate a SET amp, but after moving to solid state amps and trying to get into vinyl, I used it to try mounting a MoFi StudioDeck, figuring this would benefit the most from the Mapleshade-style isolation system.

Turntable -> Mapleshade Heavyfooters (3, not threaded) -> Butcher Block -> Mapleshade Iso Blocks -> Pangea audio rack (spiked through carpet).

When using headphones and turning up the gain on my preamp, I can clearly hear the sound of lightly dragging a fingernail across the butcher block. I can also clearly hear it when going across the rack shelf the butcher block in sitting on. So, the vibration is being transmitted up through the Iso blocks, through the butcher block, up through the Heavyfooters, up through Derlin platter, and into the needle.

Placing the turntable directly on the butcher block using its built-in spring loaded feet, vibrations are still transmitted but are much attenuated. So, this experiment leads me to believe that the Mapleshade system does JACK ALL. Am I doing something wrong that could lead to this result? Am I misunderstanding something basic about how this system is supposed to work?
madavid0
@uberwaltz,

While, for me, it is hard to quite figure out if @geoffkait is "funnin'" us or not, there may be something to this "transparent".

If one defines transparent in terms of being more open....I think he may be correct.
Very interesting thread...

I was introduced by my dealer to chuck the entire MAPLESHADE rig above in favour of his NAIM FRAME bespoke custom clone audio rack system: his professionally made bespoke custom-made clone of the NAIM cup-and-cone conduit rack system including bespoke glass shelves a la NAIM FRAIM.....the latter website:


AKG_CA, who is the dealer that sells the Naim clone?  Do you know whether or not he'll ship me one?


I used a butcher block of maple under my turntable for a few days. Sounded awful. Now I follow Barry Diament’s advice and have 3 metal half spherical cups with a ball bearing in each in an equilateral triangle under a board the turntable rests on. This provides real isolation and decoupling. Materials were around $10. Results are very good. Google his name to find out more information. It’s not a product being sold. Something you can easily put together from your local hardware store. I’ve never tried any maple shades products.
@matteos, another convert to roller bearings! Ingress Engineering in Canada is making some really fine ones, cheaper and better than the Symposium Acoustics Rollerblocks.