Vibration Control for Lightweight Tube Components


I'm looking for suggestions to isolate a lightweight tube preamp from vibration and resonance. Not acoustic vibration, but physical vibration from the stereo rack. When I touch the shelf the preamp sits upon, the sound can be heard thru the speakers.

I am using a heavy furniture grade stereo rack for my components, all using Herbie's Tenderfeet for isolation, including my TT. The preamp only weighs 7 lbs. and has Herbie's tube dampers applied, but needs to be decoupled from the heavy wood shelf. I've tried the Tenderfeet and Vibrapods under the preamp, but neither provided isolation from vibration.

So, what are owners of lightweight tube preamps and amps using for vibration control? (there is a limited amount of space between the shelves).
128x128lowrider57
Besides isolation from room vibration from below, you must effectively wick the energy out of the component cabinet as well. adg101 had the cheap isolation aspect nailed! IKEA bamboo chopping/cutting boards are a no-brainer!

Bamboo composite board is rather sophisticated in its combination of polymer/grass density layering and is light, stiff, 18% more rigid than hard rock maple, and will be less likely to store low frequency energy. Not to mention, green and cheap.

The moongels may well do the trick over an audiophile BrightStar Isonodes or other gel gumdrop type footer. These are great below the board, but you will want to couple (wood blocks(to chassis/not under feet), point, etc) the cabinet/chassis of the component to draw either internal energy or airborne acoustic energy from the sheet steel box.

Mass loading on top of a component is advised, if possible for its dampening and absorption properties. Something I have found most effective for this, I no longer know where to source. They were paperweights, leather bags filled with lead shot, used to hold down large architectural roll size drawings. Perhaps diving ballast bags would do the trick and be most cost effective.

Once you eliminate the smearing that these vibrations cause with, cheap DIY solutions, I believe there is no doubt you will be well rewarded, perhaps amazed by the results. Your system background will become way blacker as well. I’ve employed these methods for years on my digital course, tubed preamp, and tubed phonostage with excellent results. I realize your Atma pre offers very little room on top to try to mass load, is it the UV-1 UltraViolet?

Happy Listening!
With a preamp that light, just like a small phonostage, or DAC, what-have-you, you need to be aware of not "loading" the preamp chassis with a heavy mains cable dangling from it, causing an energy path from whatever the cable is also in contact with. Again this is where those shot filled bags could be placed above and below the mains before it enters the preamp to "unload" its effect.


"Geoff---When you say "I can do it cheaper and better" and "My springs are the lightest in the business", may I take that to mean you market such a product? Can you direct me to a site, or provide contact/product info?"

I've been in the business of isolation and vibration control for 20 years as well as many other things.  Currently I offer small steel springs of different spring rates for isolating anything from one pound to 250 pounds. These springs are very low profile so can even be used on submarines.  ;-)

Geoff Kait
machinadynamica.com





@geoffkait , interesting.
"OUR NEW PRODUCT!! - Super compressible MINI ISOLATORS - VERY LOW RATE SPRINGS FOR ISOLATING REALLY LIGHT THINGS."

Are these springs heavy enough to stand on their own? Will a board placed on top with a component be stable?
@geoffkait
Every post you write should be signed like this:
"Geoff Kait
machinadynamica.com"

Anything less is a lack of disclosure and doing a disservice to this community. You've been around long enough and involved in enough controversy to know better. 

It's a shame this has to be brought up again. 
Cheers,
Spencer