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Shelf Material

I have tried so many different shelf materials, and some are better than others, but I feel like I am just spraying bullets that always miss the bulls-eye. So far, I cannot live with the brightness of glass, the ringing of marble or granite, the sluggishness of acrylic, the muddiness of mdf etc. Light and rigid seems better than heavy and dense - in that I can live with the downsides more easily. I use heavily constructed welded steel racks - spiked to the floor and upward spikes supporting the shelves - and I reckon this is right. I like the way bladder products get rid of the resonances that plague shelves, but find that the way they slow down the pace of the music is hard to accept. Does anyone have some answers on this?
redkiwi
sol322
426 posts
 
Redkiwi: Any updates on your findings? I had a computer breakdown and lost this thread. Guys EXCELLENT information and posting!!!!! Has triggered new areas to explore. I did some attempts to hanging equipment but wasn't as committed to audio at that time compared to now. I have now my amp on an airbladder sandwiched between two MDF pieces and noticed bass gain and definition. After reading this definitely I'll revisit the suspension alternative
redkiwi OP
1,092 posts
 
Sol322, I am in two minds over the suspension thing. It isolates a shelf from a rack pretty well, but whatever you use to suspend the shelf has a sound of its own, a bit like a plucked string. I did have success with the Neuance shelf as well as damped Corian. The Neuance shelf is very promising, but with just one in the system, it is competing with the sound of four other shelves and so it is a little difficult to tell. So I am going to jump in the deep end and buy a set of Neuance shelves and play around with how best to support them. The Neuance is very light and rigid, yet damped and WAY outperforms MDF. You can get details at www.neuanceaudio.com.
jim
418 posts
 
Redkiwi, for butcher block material check Professional Cutlery Direct at www.cutlery.com. The only blocks in the current catlogue are 16x16, but they can probably hook you up with any size you want ro have something cut to your specs. I would think that the "end cut" blocks would to the best job. If it doesn't work for audio purposes, you still have a nice cutting board.
subaruguru
1,376 posts
 
I bought a Neuance shelf, but have been too lazy to install it, so simply "stored" it on TOP of my Rotel CDP (which sits on an inner tube). I'll be damned if the top octave isn't cleaner!! Okay...no controlled A/B yet, but this appears to be a remarkable, VERY well made, and overly-well packaged product. After the holidays I hope to try it UNDER the CDP. I don't mean to have tongue stuck too deeply in cheek here, but I've been too busy LISTENING to music for once, instead of screwing with the gear. Appears that the Neuance is vetting cabinet vibrations off the Rotel, I suppose?
jim
418 posts
 
Subaruguru, just think of how good it will sound if you getyour hands on a few clamps. Tongue firmly in cheek.
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