Vibration Control for Lightweight Tube Components

I'm pleased to report that my problem with resonance between my rack unit and the preamp has been resolved. Using the IKEA bamboo cutting board with the Moongels underneath was the solution. So, a big thank you to adg101 for sharing this cheap tweak with me.

I'm using a 17"x11" bamboo board with 4 Moongels at the corners, and 2 in the center. The pine shelf has been completely dampened and this bamboo shelf with the preamp is now isolated.
I have the Bright Star IsoNode's under the preamp chassis and the sonics are really outstanding.

I use Peter Erskine's "Dream Flight" as one of my reference CDs and this jazz quartet sounds so live, that I feel like I'm in the same room with them. The presentation is more forward and I've never heard such inner detail from my system.
However, symphonic music is sounding too lean for my taste; clearly the bamboo is causing a different timbre than the pine shelf. The detail in the orchestra is just right and the layering between instrument sections is very realistic. Strings are smooth, but lack the warmth I am used to hearing.
I guess this is what a transparent, neutral system sounds like.

Thanks to everybody who participated in this thread.

R_f_sayles, I am not currently using points under my equipment, however have often thought to try some. Would the brass types be best?  Might also look into the Bright Star IsoNodes. 

Lowrider, thanks for your thread, I enjoyed the participation! 

I think the bamboo is causing too much of a "live" sound. The mids are sounding lean from my Gallo's which have previously had a lush presentation.
 Would maple be a better platform, possibly warmer?

Vibrapods.

Lowrider57, I would caution that the sound is new to you, give it a while. That’s not to say ultimately that it may not need adjusting to suit your tastes. I’ve found when smearing and distortions or confusion are first removed, there is a sense that things went leaner because so much more is resolved and no longer a fuzzy clutter. You should not have to have vibration in your gear and what comes with it to have the midrange warmth you desire. Yet, here is where Hi-Fi gets tricky. When you change one thing, it may well cause you to have to tweak others to get the balance or Gestalt of your sound back where you want it.

Before calling the bamboo the issue of leanness though I would suggest that you try some small wood blocks contacting between the bamboo and the chassis of your components. This will prove out if dampening the component box gives you back some of that midrange body, but it will also drain of cabinet bound energy as well.

Try anything, whatever you have on hand. I like myrtle wood blocks but, any wood will sound somewhat the same. I also like the bamboo yet, some like the maple ( many have only tried maple), though I tried both and went back to bamboo. But that’s me, and my kit, I can’t say it will ultimately work for you. Thickness also has an effect on the tone, so I’m afraid you may have to experiment there as well. A strategy might be to buy or borrow a marble wood board and try it under different components. Different gear may well like different isolation boards. My two turntables like thin (5/8-3/4") bamboo, my mono block amps prefer heavy (2 1/2") maple or bamboo, and my CD player seems to prefer a BDR Black Diamond Racing Reference board to perform best, so go figure.

At this point the good news is, you have successfully acquired isolation from the vibration, so that’s one step in the right direction. Now, don’t be afraid to just experiment.