turntable stand, steel, aluminum,shelves of ?

I just happen to own an isolation table that would seem to resemble what you are describing. I used to use it for my own front end and it did a fine job, but I can't say I did any critical comparisons to back up that impression. Regardless, mine is a steel and solid lead isolation table manufactured for use in a physics laboratory. I don't know if they are still around, but the manufacturer was Vibra-Stat I believe. It weighs around 300 lbs I'd guess, and comes apart into to pieces. There are four spring shock absorbers for legs, one in each corner. You can see a not-so-detailed picture of it from my system page here. If you try moving one of these around on your own I don't think you'll be doing much dancing, or anything else fun for that matter. You may even be dead earlier than Sunday. But I can see from your own system page that you are either a glutton for punishment in that regard, or have a bunch of Ooompa Loompas doing your bidding. Steel alone is very resonant, of course, but surrounding solid lead it is dead as Jimmy Hoffa. I'd imagine sand filling would have a similar effect. I've moved out of my studio space, where my old system page is from, and my beluga vibration stand is in storage, and will likely eventually be sold because of WAF which it seems has no bearing in your case. I recently had to move it, and I'll tell you it is not an event that I particularly miss.

Hope you make your Sunday deadline (pun intended...and I certainly hope you are not serious). Oh, and have fun Saturday night!

Marco

Marco,

Thanks for the reply. I'm hoping to get more positive replies from "gonners" regarding steel stands as compared to aluminum. Welding aluminum takes a seasoned craftsman, especially if you have concerns for perfectly smooth joints that can easily be covered with a powder coat finish. Steel is a snap to braze with almost perfect joints that need almost no secondary grinding.

Aluminum is easy and cost effective to extrude. Complex and visually attractive shapes are possible at almost no extra cost, the eye candy factor may eclipse the performance to some degree. I can understand why some manufacturers use aluminum for their stands, especially if they aren't filled with sand etc, since steel does have a more pronounced ring than aluminum

I've noticed that companies that produce stands for vibration control devices all use steel. I guess that performance is the only factor when you put an expensive lab device on a table as compared to a fancy turntable that will sit in your living room.

I plan on coupling the stand to the floor with oversized cones as the stand will support a vibration control platform to reduce vibration from affecting the turntable.

And Marco,I do have some Ooompa Loompas along with a chain hoist and an engine hoist and have, in the past, definitely needed them.

regards, Ken

The best sound I have heard from any of my turntables setups was achieved after placing it on a wall mounted welded steel shelf. You may want to check out Grand Prix Audio Brooklands wall shelf for ideas.

Cinder blocks on top of myrtlewood half-spheres work for me.