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Springs under turntable

I picked up a set of springs for $35 on Amazon. I intended to use them under a preamp but one thing led to another and I tried them under the turntable. Now, this is no mean feat. It’s a Garrard 401 in a 60pound 50mm slate plinth. The spring device is interesting. It’s sold under the Nobsound brand and is made up of two 45mm wide solid billets of aluminum endcaps with recesses to fit up to seven small springs. It’s very well made. You can add or remove springs depending on the weight distribution. I had to do this with a level and it only took a few minutes. They look good. I did not fit them for floor isolation as I have concrete. I played a few tracks before fitting, and played the same tracks after fitting. Improvement in bass definition, speed, air, inner detail, more space around instruments, nicer timbre and color. Pleasant surprise for little money.
128x128noromance
redlenses03
100 posts
 
I ended up using Symposium Rollerblock Jr’s in place of the springs. It was a revelation!

Use both, that’s what I’ve been using for awhile now with great results.

I had custom roller blocks made locally based on well known existing designs. The latest version from Ingress were not designed yet/available at the time I made mine but these are basically what I had made . These look to be of excellent quality and the mirror finish is a bit better than mine (which is important).

My sandwich is 4 springs on the shelf/platform > .75 mdf > 3 roller blocks (open face) > .5 marble (polished side down) > component. I have been wanted to try a symposium svelt shelf or equiv in place of the marble, but haven’t got around to that.

Its key that the total weight compresses the spring close to its max load.


rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
@frogman When you say a Target shelf, do you mean the brand?

I have found that for the springs to correctly isolate the loaded mass, that substrate needs to be unyielding, well as much as possible.
In a situation where the structure under the springs is prone to vibrate due to materials, geometry, etc. I have no doubt at all that it could be accentuated by the springs the effect like cars and trucks creating corrugations in a road, where the specific frequency is made worse.

I have absolutely no doubt that what you claim happened.

Using springs for isolation requires planning and some knowledge.
mahgister, yeah tuning with mass, great idea - just like derekw_hawaii suggests. If you can't get the perfect springs, get the perfect load.

And I suggest, try to shore up the substrate under the springs?
neonknight
398 posts
 
Friend of mine 
neonknight
398 posts
 
Friend of mine says

Different is easy. Better? Not so much.

Might apply to many of the observations I read above. Engineering a comprehensive spring suspension is not as simple as balancing a turntable on some pods.
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,196 posts
 
I keep indeed my springs isolated from the floor(in my case my desk) with my "sandwiches( quartz feet, 2 grannite plates with sorbothane duro 70 in betwween and cork plate and bamboo plate)..


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