I use a laser pointer to check for vibration and aiming my speakers. Tape a pointer on a component and aim across room to see if indeed there is any vibration present. The further you aim the beam the more it magnifies any vibration. With speakers I aim one pointer at zero angle to the tweeter and one at 90 degrees. My speakers are on wheels so I can see if larger drivers influence movement. Works well and cheap. Results may suprise you..
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.
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Much of what I have read is easy to relate to my own experience. Trying out Materials for Supporting Structures in various configurations and the usage of different materials as separators/footers is the method that brings the Sonic produced to an attractive place. As stated on this forum quite a few times to date, my most recent material used within a Structure, is Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board such as Panzerholz or Permali |
Interesting low cost experiment ! Thank you for the suggestion ... |
@ernstmach ”I use a laser pointer to check for vibration…”
That is brilliant. Great idea. Although I will not be taping anything to my speakers. However, I have on my list of things to get include a seismometer. I plan on using that for everything from monitoring seismic activity of the earth, trucks and cars.. and the results of sound. But I have other reasons to get one… they are over $1K. |
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