Any thoughts on a solid hickory platform under my tt

oleschool OP
119 posts
07-02-2016 7:41pm
Geoff
As opposed to leaving the original feet to platform then your springs ? I think the springs would also be interesting under my sub . Again will the carpet and padding pose a problem for the springs? My sub is 38lbs

if the original feet are not springy they can be left on. Two springy things used together interfere w/ each other. Like a car going down the road with two shock absorbers for each wheel connected in series, it would be a very bumpy ride. Same goes for springs on carpet. If it were me I would use spikes capable of piercing the carpet/pad to support a maple board, then place the springs on the board.

oleschool,
Been following this thread reading the expected mix of suggestions.

I replaced  the footers on my VPI Classic with the Mapleshade brass footers. The table is on a 4" maple slab with the rubber/cork blocks supporting the slab.

The Mapleshade philosophy is  correct/incorrect as the rest of the recommendations, but I chose it because of another concern.

The stock footers IMO ruin the look of the table. The stock footers look cheesy and cheapen the appearance of an otherwise sharp looking table design. I paid with my hard cash, so I expect my gear to sound AND look good.  

Sonic improvements are subtle and subjective, but can be noticed 
if you can A/B a music passage for 15 seconds with the stock setup  then IMMEDIATELY place footers and the  40 pound slab underneath the table and play that same passage. In other words, 
its kinda  tough to really hear dramatic results. I THINK there is some sort of added overall "realness" to both ends of the sonic spectrum particularly tightening up of the bass notes of an upright jazz bass or kick drum in a rock tune. Pricey, but so is anything in this hobby.

What did you end up doing?

oleschool,

I regret, the remark I made earlier, "I know what I'm talking about". I should have said, I know what I'm hearing in my system based on trying various things with my wall mount set-up:

VPI Classic 3 Sig SE
3" maple platform
Symposium Ultra
Stillpoints Ultra SS
Edensound Terestone footers
Machina Dynamica Super Stiff Springs
MANA Acoustics wall mounting system, (has extreme flexibility, can swap in and out various aftermarket footers such as Stillpoints, Edensound, spikes, etc....)

a combination of all the above, switched in and out.

I do consider the springs a "must have" for a wall mounting system.

I've personally always found that with tts especially, "life made easier" by having the flexibility to level the tt without all of the hassle of, in the case of the springs, finding the exact positioning underneath the tt for the correct level to be achieved.

It could be argued either way as to what is best, a platform under the tt or just the springs. Much more flexibility using a platform. I've made my choice and I'm very happy with it.

I was just making a rough calculation, in my head, regarding the money I've invested in audio over the last 30 years. For what it's worth:

Components/cables vs. Isolation = pretty much 50/50
Acoustic treatments, much less but have a MAJOR effect, way beyond their relative price points. The effect on musical satisfaction is out of this world when done right.

Music vs. equipment, right now, probably 60/40, leaning towards equipment. This will surely change in the opposite direction.

Happy listening all.

Also, to show I'm a believer in Geoffkait's springs, in addition to my tt set-up. I've incorporated them in my amp/power conditioner/rack set-up.

I am using a Solid Steel 5.2 rack, dedicated to my amp and my Hydra. I use a 3" maple platform with 3 Mapleshade carpet piercing footers, then I've drilled 1/8" deep mating holes for another 1& 1/2" maple platform to accommodate the (4) Super Stiff Springs. This is my support structure for the Solis Steel rack. (Still, within my rack, I have a platform for these components and high quality footers.)

Upon making these changes to accommodate the (SSPs), my system evolved tremendously!

I'm thinking about doing a similar thing with my dual subs.