2. digital
  3. 1113281742

How do you deal with vibration?

Greetings all,

Many of us work very hard to keep vibration out of our equipment. I was hoping we could share our experiences with each other. I was wondering what other DIY methods people are using?

I personally have had good luck with shipping open cell foam under plywood. I find that about 60-70 percent compression works best. I place the foam underneath some plywood (Using spruce 3/4 inch). Then I place the component on the plywood. However, I think this more isolates the component from outside vibration. I don't think it does much to drain internal vibrations, especially in a CD transport.

Also I can not find open cell foam in town any more. I am ashamed to say that I actually went to Wal-mart to buy some. Now they don't carry it any more. So I was wondering where else I can get some?

I am currently thinking about building a Sandbox for my CD player and amp. Then putting the sand box on top of some sort of isolation material (open cell foam or cork rubber etc.) My thoughts are the foam or cork or etc should help keep the vibrations from getting into the equipment and the box should drain the internal vibrations.

Also, what are peoples experience with different woods. I live in BC so I can get most wood fairly cheap. I imagine every wood has it's own sonic signature due to it's resonant frequency. What works best? Solid maple, birch ply, MDF, walnut, mahogany etc...?\

Anyways, feel free to through ideas and experience (both good and bad) out there. It would be good to know what works and what doesn't.

Happy tweaking,
Nick
nickway
twl
3,251 posts
 
I've decided that everything is imagined, even that I'm imagining.

So therefore, since everything in "reality" is imagined, it matters not whether we are imagining it or not, because everything we know is imagined. Even double-blind testing is no answer, because we could be imagining that we are doing double-blind testing, and imagining the results, and imagining that we are typing the results on the page.

Now that we've established that since I'm imagining my audio system, and that my system sounds better when I buy a new component, or put some cones under it, or use different cables, then it is quite ok that I'm imagining that it sounds better.

And there's really no cost to anything because we are only imagining that we are paying for anything anyway. So, buy anything you want no matter what the cost, because the money is imaginary, so spend to your heart's content.

See, it actually is simple.
You can never "prove" anything, because no matter what you do, you could be imagining it.
rsbeck
887 posts
 
This only becomes a problem if one needs to live in a provable universe.

I'd rather take the Algonquin Round Table, United Nations, or ecumenical council approach.

We all weigh in, let the questioning poster sort it out.
rsbeck
887 posts
 
Newbee --

Excellent overview of the two different mind-sets and their attendant concerns.

>>The original post here concerned how do people deal with vibration, not whether it is meaningful to do so.<<

True, but when a topic like this comes up, others lurk or peruse the thread as well. I think it is useful for people who come to this forum because they are interested in audio to know that there are people here with different philosophies and approaches. Otherwise, it would give the false appearance of a concensus around things like expensive cabling, vibration control, etc.

I think we're a better forum if people interested in audio know that there isn't any such concensus among audiophiles, that these topics are controversial at best, and that there is a place in this forum for skepticism, that it isn't a "church" for believers only. I think the "church" approach would make this forum weaker, less inclusive, more limited in its appeal.

I don't think we want that.

At least, I don't.
nickway OP
168 posts
 
Hello Jadem6,

Thanks for your help with this. It was good to discuss it with you. I am hopefully going to make a few platforms this weekend. It's always nice to get advice for someone who has experimented before (plus you have a resolving of enough system to be able to get a good idea what works.)

And don't worry, I don't take offense to my system being called middle of the road. I know where my system stands. Audio/music is my passion and all that stops me from having the system of my dreams is a few zero's at the end of my paycheck.

I could go work a job I hate and exploit people to make more money, and while it my be legally acceptable I don't think it's morally acceptable. So I purchase what I can afford, which lately is not much (I got married two years ago and bought my first house 1 year ago.) Maybe one day I will own a $15k+ system but not any time soon (unless I win the lottery). For now I am going to continue to enjoy what I have and upgraded it as I can afford too.

Happy listening,
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Jadem6...No offense. And well-written comments. I drive a Honda CRV instead of an Acura, because it does everything I need and leaves me with enough money to fly my airplane. Same deal with audio. I could afford the most expensive gear (well almost) but I could never justify it.

This thread is about a general technical issue, vibration, and its possible effect on equipment, which would logically affect all levels of audio equipment. If anything, cheap stuff, with no designed-in vibration control would be most sensitive.

I know that vibration control is very important for LP turntables, and for tube amps. Some people have suggested that electronics are also affected, an idea that seems unlikely to me. However, rather than talk back and forth and work ourselves into a fit about this I prefer to simply make some measurements and find out what is really going on. There are many audio characteristics, like "soundstage", "transparency", "imaging", that I cannot measure and neither can anyone else. But some things, like sensitivity to vibration are easy to measure, so why not do it. If my findings do not please you feel free to make your own measurements.
More to discover