Isolation Sand Boxes


I built some MDF sand boxes and filled them with 15 lbs of sand. Why do they make my CD player sound quieter?
buckingham
On a more serious note, and assuming you have placed the CD player on the sand (be careful with that) or a non-resonant platform on the sand, my observation is that Glen does win. You are doing a superior job of isolating the CDP from its environment and in damping the vibrations eminating from the CDP itself. When I placed my SACD player on an Isobase (an isolation platform manufactured by one of our NJ Audio Society members which uses a small, silicone and air filled innertube in a base with a lead and sand mixture) I would swear to you that the player's volume level increased 2 db. Lowered noise floor, who knows? But very effective.
You will undoubtedly change the sound by putting a CD player on a sand-box. Whether or not it is an improvement depends on how bad the previous support was. Now that you have discovered how important vibration control is, you will hopefully look at some alternatives to sand-boxes.
Hey guys, a nice end to my hectic day! You guys crack me up :)
Thanks for all the comments. A 3/4" MDF platform sits on top of the sand. The sand box sits on a rack (lots of MDF and solid woods). I decided that I liked it better without the sand box... The sand box just sucked the life right out of the player! Kinda weird... I might try the BD cones, maybe #4's and some lead shot on top of the player.
Hi Buckingham. Yes the sand boxes do such the life out. Personally, I believe you are right to try the #4s than the #3s, but my preference with BD Cones was 2 #4s and 1 #3. Another option, which is possibly better with a timber and MDF rack, is the large DH Cones, or the Walker Valid Points. But at that price you might be better to begin looking at a proper rack and the Neuance shelves. You ain't heard nothing till you have heard that.
I agree that the CD player does not sound good on the sand box, the amps do though. Though the sandbox does work well (with digital) when used with BD racing cones or even much better the Walker Valid Points