Maple or Granite

Over the years, I have expriemented with various layerings; granite , maple, MDF , marble & thin lead ,etc.

The most significant challenge for me dealt with the discovery that certian reflections / vibration returned from the platforms affecting whatever electronics that sat on that platform. Not that all colorations sounded bad to my ears , but distortation is the muck of audio-swampland.

I found the coupling either dry , bolted , glued and/or the compound used in gluing had and equal impact . Thus, the whole sheebang and the apparent random-ness of what sounded "good vs bad " started to drive me "audio-insane (AI)" , until, I bought the resonance dampers The Stillpoints.

The Stillpoints sit beneath my unsuspended turntable that sits above a 4hx15wX18d" custom-made platform of seasoned mapleblock. No AI anymore -- just music.

The motto of my story : A platform is just a platform for troubles until its isolated from the electronics above.

Interesting, Crem1. My box of Stillpoints are being delivered today. This issue of what the shelf material is and how it affects the sound does seem like a never ending trail. I really like the look of my Dakota Mahogany granite shelves, so I ordered the Stillpoints in hopes they would make the matter moot. If they work as well as the roller blocks I'm going to be done with this piece.

I wonder how the $100-ea. Stillpoints compare to the $8-ea. Vibrapod Cones? You can also replace the steel balls in the Vibrapod cones with tungsten, ceramic, or otherh materials of the same diameter.

Try the $7 springs, then the $8 Cones, then the $100 Stillpoints.

Here is a Link to some great old links on AudioGon about system shelves or platforms. Much of this ground just keeps being discovered and rehashed endlessly. Hope you all find this of some value.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ymisc&1188482076&openflup&6&4#6

Happy Listening!