Nude Turntable Project

Just thought I'd mention Dupont Corian, as an excellent, easy to work, non-resonant, very dense material, that can be built up into whatever thickness desired: (http://casf.com.au/?src=globalnav) I've personally used it in a variety of resonance defeating projects, with great success. I like granite too, but Corian can be worked like wood, machined like aluminum, comes in a wide variety of colors and takes a very glossy polish.

Henry, thanks for continuing to update us with your trials. Material choice can be tricky and I believe there are some misconceptions about benefits.

Years ago I read advice to try a marble cutting board for placement under a turntable. I'm not sure how marble measures up against granite but when I checked out the recommended marble I found a knuckle rap produced an audible reaction, almost a ringing.

I've read that Corian includes chips of aluminum and it too can ring, pitch being dependent on how much aluminum.

Brass of course is also utilized to produce church and tower bells so I think shape and thickness must be critical there too.

I've also read that slate, being a sedimentary material, is actually layered so good at dissipating energy, whereas stones such as granite and marble, being more solid, do not reduce energy as well but simply transfer it.

They may not be as dense but I go back to thinking of certain hardwoods which have been traditionally selected in instrument making. At least their energy transfer (vibrations) are sympathetic with musical tones.

@Mr P- There are, "metallic" Corian colors available, that(in order to be, "metallics) contain aluminum flakes. No other Corian contains aluminum(or any other metal). I've been using Corian for a couple decades and there is no resonance or ringing, at all. Regardless of how it's suspended/mounted, however one attempts to get it to ring or resonate, it will not. It's dead within the audio spectrum. If struck; One thud will be all you'll get. Free samples are readily available from distributors, that the OP can experiment with.

Henry, At the risk of beating a dead horse and mixing metaphors (because the horse has left the barn), have you ever seen the finish on the Saskia and other turntables made and sold by Mosin (Win Tinnon)? He (and OMA, as well) obtain a beautiful smooth black finish on slate by means of treating the material with certain finishes. Also, they start with Pennsylvania slate, which has a unique near-black color to begin with. I borrowed Mosin's ideas in finishing off my own slate plinths (made for Lenco, Denon DP80, and SP10 Mk3).

Corian might be ideal. What about the material used by Kenwood which people call faux marble. It's ARCB - Anti-Resonance Compression Base. It makes up the plinth of the KD500, 600, and is used in the L-07D.
Contrary to popular belief, it's a mixture of ground limestone and polyester resin. I imagine you could add liquid acrylic pigment for the color of choice.

I think this could be sculpted like clay or put in a mold. You might find the best solution is a combination of materials - resonances tend to cancel.