Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

I lined the entire subwoofer with epoxy'd lead shot. Another lining of felt was applied to the lead shot.

A couple of thoughts:

Slaw, vibrations are not necessarily reflected back to the components as in the case of your sand boxes. The energy turns to heat and is dissipated as such; perhaps no all of it, but I would imagine a substantial amount of it does. The issue of wether vibrations are reflected back, drained, stored or dissipated and how each possibility affects the sound of our systems is still, I think, not fully understood. Richarkrebs' comment about using the correct epoxy to glue lead is fascinating and goes to my contention that wether we want to admit it or not, a lot of what we do with "vibration control" and how it's effects are perceived is completely system dependent and often no more than a type of "tone control". While I can understand how vibrations can affect the performance of transducers in absolute terms, it seems to me that as concerns electronics and cables it is NOT possible to "overdamp"; other than in the context of a given system. When the perceived effect of damping (or of not damping) is negative it's an indication of tonal inaccuracy in that component or somewhere else in the system. How can eliminating spurious vibrations be a bad thing? I addition, tonal issues affect how we perceive rhythm and timing and even soundstaging. As great as our audio systems sound, they are still far from truly accurate; as in the sound of live music which is why these perceived effects are relevant.

Frogman.

I agree 100%. IMO it is impossible to over damp, if our objective is to keep the piece of gear or part "still" and there are very few pieces of the audio chain that aren't meant to be still.
It is however very easy to incorrectly apply materials in an attempt to damp that just shift the movement signature of the piece, often making it move for longer after the initial excitation.

The method of bonding the damping material to the structure is critical in this. I experimented with hardener and adhesive ratios on my TT build to find the best hardness of the epoxy. It appears that the optimum is when the adhesive is more or less equal in hardness to the parent material AND when the absolute minimum amount of glue is used.

We probably don't know 20% of the variables in audio and most likely never will.
I had occasion few years ago to watch one of the acknowledged
best symphony space designers work on a multi-million upgrade to a hall, he said at the end of the day its cut and paste.

Hi all.

I really want to respond to each & every post made since my last one. However, I feel I need to preface any remarks I make from now on. Here is that preface:

(1) I've tried to make my journey as open as possible. Over the years, I've read & DO read others' postings, and while I don't doubt their relevance, I wonder if (my) postings of late have any real (relevance) to you all. I say this because it seems to me they have "divided responses", and are taken out of context.

(2) I'm a passionate Audiophile! I believe there is most likely no doubt about this. This passion is the essence of all of my postings.

(3) I do realize that I lack basic social skills that are prevalent in my posts. This lack of social skills should (I hope) not be taken as a lack of respect for, or a lack of the fact that I realize what others may be saying in regards to my posts and (my not taking their opinions to heart).

(4) I, unlike several here, opted to make most, if not all, of my current system, ( in the past), a part of those posts. I currently have deleted it. I believe that this was/is important!

(5) I've had other posts recently that have come under intense scrutiny.

My goal as of late has been to bring forth subjects that others dare to talk about and in all honesty, IMO, (this site has needed some influx of pointed questions) that have enough relevance in order to bring out some "member thinking".

My latest post regarding the affect or non-affect of differing materials on the audio signal has intrigued me.

Frogman's latest post regarding this, leaves me wondering if he really understands or has ever had personal experience in testing differing materials. I have always respected his even, controlled, knowledgeable opinion, as I've referenced in earlier posts, also, (in my personal emails to him, I've referenced this fact as well), but I have to wonder regarding his latest post, (that seems to cover every aspect, whether it's pro or con, on this subject), he seems to want to make his point, regardless of whichever side one comes from!) IMO, he's covering ALL bases.

I feel it is now necessary to make this a pointed question as follows:

(1) Frogman references my DIY sandboxes and there lack of, IMO, their ability to deal with vibrations. Frogman states that the vibrations are most likely to be dispersed as (heat). This either, may be fact or most likely be fact or may not apply at all... the FACT is that in (my) personal tests that I tried to describe, I was not at all impressed and in the context of my tests that I decribed, my DIY sandboxes failed. I have to ask Frogman the following... please enlighten me/us all, the projects you've undertaken/experienced, in which your comments would have greater relevance? A simple question?

(2) Frogman's post regarding Richardkrebs' use of epoxy in the context of (his) project... this is really what I was trying to express... that, it's all in how we use materials in a certain project and how those materials respond in the (way we use them), that ultimately makes (the difference) in the (context of our own system).... Am I, so, out of the social conscience, that my earlier remarks are taken any other way? If so, I really want someone to explain this to me. Please.

(3) I tried to ask/inquire of others regarding their projects in order to gain (insight), but I don't feel I really received any helpful answers. I thought my questions were relevant and my willingness to provide my past projects' information would have garnered a response from those who were "like minded". I seem to have failed here as well.

(4) Frogman says that , and I'm paraphrasing, that he feels that it's not possible to "overdamp" electronics or cables. I completely disagree!. It really seems that even Goeffkait's project reveals this, moreover, my years of applying various amounts of differing materials on my, and in some cases, inside of my audio equipment, has left me with the complete opposite result from Frogman's comment/results. I'd like to know more about Frogman's testing/history that has led him to make these statements and that others' follow.

(5) Frogman's question: "How can eliminating spurious vibrations be a bad thing?" Here's how. In my system, over years of testing various materials, in various components, I find that statement to be more than "half-hazard" and one that really isn't worthy of Frogman's apparent knowledge and intellect....

In one of my past subwoofer experiments... A Mirage ,single 12" woofer box, using a small amount of lead shot on the top revealed good results. (The best results were upon using brass cones on the bottom.) I found that increasing the amount of lead shot, muddied the bass, the bass was less musical. (Probably, twenty years ago). I'm currently performing similar projects, (that result in the same effect) now! This was, as I said, early on and have conducted more relevant tests but since we are starting from (zero), this is my first response/question to you.

So, Frogman, while I DO respect you, I still have to wonder, based on the above items, how you draw your conclusions and what history/projects you've performed that have led you to those conclusions? Thanks.