2. amps-preamps
  3. 187030-3976

As An Experiment I Stuck A Few Things Under My Pre-Amp And Am Now On A Quest

My system is built out, got the pieces I want in place, and struggled a bit with how it sounds. With certain recordings it was sublime and with others it could be a bit sterile or mechanical sounding. These are all solid state components in a Salamander cabinet, and up to this point I have never been a fan of isolation devices with SS gear. Now with tube components I did use spike type devices under amps and preamps, so I have had a bit of experience.

Last night I rounded up a few wayward isolation devices I had from previous systems and thought I would experiment a bit. The pre-amp contains the DAC also, so I thought I would start here. Put in some Wagner type pads, and got a different sound with some improved focus but the bass was lean and a bit odd. But things changed. I tried some magnetic pods I had, no change with them.

Then as a whim I cut two sections of foam pool noodle I had laying around and put it under the front and back of the preamp. I oriented them lengthwise. Something fantastic happened here! I got spooky precise focus to instruments, the bass response became impactful, the sound is more relaxed...perhaps a bit too smooth but I will take this over that mechanical presentation any day. This is sounding very nice.

So, after dinner I decide to cut a third one and perhaps the bass gets better. I put it in and all the gains are gone, it sounds worse than the first set of Wagner pads I put in. The bass literally vanishes and the soundstage collapses. Pull it out and things are good again. I listen to disc after disc last night and am pleased with the sound. I am spinning vinyl this morning and still feel the same way.

So now I have a plan of action. On one hand I am content to leave the noodles in place and roll with that for awhile. It would be nice to have a permanent solution though. It seems like I am looking for a compliant solution. I remember Brightstar used to build a little shelf that housed a bike inner tube in it, and I think Townshend Audio also had a bladder type platform.

It would be interesting to know what products folks have used that functioned in a similar manner.

Thanks for sharing any thoughts or experiences.

neonknight
soix
8,869 posts
 

Maybe try these…

https://www.amazon.com/Vibrapod-Isolator-Isolation-Feet-Model/dp/B003P4SOVU/ref=asc_df_B003P4SOVU/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309708743736&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15751280846624015565&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004289&hvtargid=pla-569252082410&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60510342446&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=309708743736&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15751280846624015565&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004289&hvtargid=pla-569252082410

Or these…

https://www.ginkgoaudio.com/product-category/vcs/cloud22/

ghdprentice
6,492 posts
 

OP,

 

Just out of interest did you adjust the weight capacity of the NobSprings such that the components on them compressed them half way? They must be adjusted to each component.

Yes, a fascinating and informative investigation. That is why there are dozens of different products on the market… elastomer pucks, half domes, wood blocks, Black Racing cones and carbon composite shelves, many different spring formula… etc. I remember I used these small platforms with bicycle inner tubes in them about 40 years ago. I got tired of reinflating them each week.

neonknight OP
343 posts
 

@ghdprentice 

 

Yes I did. Varied them down to 3 and 4 springs per puck. Used varied placement of 3 pick arrangements due to the uneven weight of the component. Not quite the solution I needed. 

mattw73
59 posts
 

When I was younger I tried cheap isolation devices and never really noticed any difference outside of using various budget options underneath turntables. I bought some eastern world garbage off Amazon later in life when aesthetics started to mean something to me..as i bought them because I thought they looked cool. 

Couple years ago when I had some bookshelves on stands in my living room I could hear some resonances when I turned the volume up. Once I noticed those resonances I couldn't ignore them and I found it to be quite aggravating.

A retail store had sent me something in the mail about a big sale and I saw the Iso-Acoustic pucks. 60 day trial period so I figured what the heck..even though they were much more expensive then anything I had ever considered before. 

When I plucked out the little sorbathene balls off the stands and put the pucks between the speakers and the stands I really didn't know what to expect, and I can honestly say I wasn't expecting much. The difference was audible right away. I read were people said they could tell the difference in the bass but for me it was much more in the midrange and overall clarity. I could turn the volume up much higher without the speakers losing any composure. I could see the subtle difference when comparing sweeps on REW but to my ears it was huge. 

I now use pucks of various sizes under everything. One of my amps that I have on the floor I put one of those SubDudes under it. I think that's what they are called. My point being is that once a non believer I strongly feel isolation devices can make a difference depending on your situation. Obviously there are better and more expensive (and cheaper) options out there to choose from. I'd say give a well regarded brand a try before saying they don't do anything for electronics and speakers. Especially if you use tube gear. Just my opinion anyway. 

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,961 posts
 

Isolation devices are not often so good ...

Springs are complex to tune and better used with damping load and way better when we use two set of springs one set UNDER and one set above the speaker under damping load ... the damping load may be tune with a few grams approximation by ears ...I did it ...

Coupling and decoupling work very well but ONLY with a sandwich mix of plates , I use oak, granite,sorbothane,bamboo, cork plates , all together with astounding results ... Cost : peanuts ...

Sorbothane alone, springs alone or metal feet alone are not so good at all ...These PARTIAL solutions are deceptive and hide the problem ...

Most people as it is the case with the acoustic control of a room or with the electrical high noise floor of a house , or with EMI interference , most people had no idea how vibrations/resonance plague all audio system because they never adress the problem really and at best bought some feet made of a singular material composition ...It is not enough and deceptive solution ...

When vibration are under control the impact is huge not small at all , including timbre experience, imaging and even soundstage in my experience ...

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