Do equipment stands have an impact on electronics?


Mechanical grounding or isolation from vibration has been a hot topic as of late.  Many know from experience that footers, stands and other vibration technologies impact things that vibrate a lot like speakers, subs or even listening rooms (my recent experience with an "Energy room").  The question is does it have merit when it comes to electronics and if so why?  Are there plausible explanations for their effect on electronics or suggested measurement paradigms to document such an effect?
agear

audiopoint
47 posts
11-04-2016 7:58pm
Kait says - “That’s because the entire house is shaking due to the microseismic activity, traffic, etc. This is precisely why audiophiles found out a long time ago that all efforts to build a rigid, solid foundation for their gear are for naught compared to isolating the gear.”

To which Audiopoint replied,

"We cannot hear or feel our houses shaking therefore have no idea as to the validity of microseismic activity wreaking havoc on our sound systems."

Oh, brother! I never said said you could hear or feel it. You cannot hear or feel RFI/ EMI either. Just because you cannot hear of feel low frequency vibration isn’t really evidence of anything. Just because you have no idea as to the validity of microseismic activity (effects) is not really of importance to me.

Then Audiopoint wrote,

"Star Sound Platforms are rigid and so are the majority of racking designs sold in this Industry. The minority involves spring isolation. You were one of a couple manufacturing racks built on spring concepts so if your rack was that good, where is it now?"

Oh, brother! I never designed or sold racks. Are you confused? I have explained many times why solid platforms and racks can only be partial solutions. Have you been asleep? As I’ve said almost all seismic isolation devices are based on springs, specifically on the mass on spring concept. A concept, by the way, that apparently has been lost on you.

then Audiopoint wrote,

"I have never encountered springs in a recording facility, never encountered springs in musical instruments, never noticed them in sound rooms or studios and never saw them on lathe foundations when cutting masters for vinyl. The only time I experienced springs in audio and/or racking was from two or three companies (copycats included) involved in developing high end audio vibration management systems and I am not stating anything here related to performance so do not go off the deep end again. We are just wondering where all the Industry support has gone."

I never made racks. I cannot explain why more folks don’t use isolation although - as I’ve already pointed out - a great many already do. You haven’t forgotten already hVe you? 10,000 Vibraplnes. Just because you never encounter vibration isolation products actually doesn’t concern me, or surprise me.

then Audiopoint wrote,

"Kait states - “I can’t wait to see what you little monkeys will say next.”
Help me Geoff Kait, my house is shaking from “inaudible seismic activity” and disrupting the sound and quality of my hi-fi system and robbing me of musical quality...

NAH, JUST JOKING - Although my house does shake from sound pressure level with a percussion and rhythm section that sounds like a concert environment and I am experiencing the joy of listening to music. No Walkabout and headphones here - a real sound room, a live sounding system and larger than life stage with lots of attack, sustain and decay combined with lots of space and airiness in between."

Can you try to hold down the snarky comments and stick to the discussion? By the way, where is the seismologist who was supposed to save your bacon from the fire? You are not doing your company any favors by all of your ignorant and snarky carrying on. You actually have not addressed seismic vibration at all.

then Audiopoint wrote,

"There is something about a live concert, recording studio or listening to music in my home that makes me feel good. I need to feel the quiet of the room so one can hear the finger noise on the strings and neck during a cello solo. I require lots of air, depth of feel, attack, sustain and decays - you know that live experience of air moving along with the all important ‘physical body feel’ of emotion and participation. I would rather feel a kick drum in my chest compared to just hearing one in my ears but that is how I enjoy music and that is how we engineer our products to perform at Star Sound. To me, feeling the emotion is as important as hearing every note - they are one in the same."

Oh, brother! Can you please hold down the self serving blather?

Then Audiopoint wrote,

"Kait asks - “I realize I’ve probably asked you this question before but now that you’ve taken case of the vibrations produced by motors, transformers, etc. In the component and vibrations that might wind up there due to acoustic forces how did you address the seismic vibrations? It appears you’re ignoring them. Am I missing something?”

To which Audiopoint replied,

"We have always ignored them."

That’s pretty much what I surmised based on your previous comments and Tom’s.

Then Audiopoint wrote,

"The Great Kait cannot come up with any evidence whatsoever that inaudible seismic activity affects sound reproduction “in real time”. It takes equipment costing millions of dollars to “SHOW” seismic frequencies that are well below that of human hearing."

Oh, brother! Actually I have provided evidence, But you have consistently ignored it. Where’s that seismologist?

The final comment of Audiopoint I will address is,

"We never considered Earth’s crust motion or seismic forces to be part of our technology, research or approach to product development as we are focused on improving the ’audible’ musical instrument and recording/playback sciences."

Exactly!! That’s precisely why I have been saying yours is only a partial solution. 

cheers


Audiopoint wrote,

"The Great Kait cannot come up with any evidence whatsoever that inaudible seismic activity affects sound reproduction “in real time”. It takes equipment costing millions of dollars to “SHOW” seismic frequencies that are well below that of human hearing."

Uh, I’m pretty sure you cannot hear capacitors vibrate or the vibration produced on the electronics by acoustic waves in the room. Besides, seismic vibrations go up into frequencies that ARE audible. Not only that but ordinary vibrations, the ones you guys concern yourselves with are also inaudible and cannot be felt. Things like election tubes, transformed, capacitors, you cannot feel them vibrate. Hel-loo! So your argument is just plain silly on many levels. The very low frequency vibrations and the higher frequency ones produce distortions in wires, cables, printed circuit boards,,etc. THAT ARE AUDIBLE. Don’t be such a silly goose.

audiopoint also wrote,

"Ligo is an amazing system but does not relate to audio reproduction as the Audio and Recording Sciences relate to human hearing - we will provide a more detailed explanation forthcoming."

I’m on the edge of my seat. You guys keep saying that. Is this going to be someone who understands vibration isolation?

then Audiopoint wrote,

"I am a sound engineer - if I cannot hear it, we cannot improve or relate to it, so we put our money and research into improving what we can hear and what we do know."

I can certainly appreciate that you guys cannot relate to it. Most audiophiles can easily relate to it. I have no idea what your problem is. And from what I can tell you guys have not grasped a single thing I’ve said. Oh, well, C’est la vie.

cheerios

Geoff everything touches the Earth and is along for the ride. I know of only one operational device that doesn't and only Bill Gates can pay the cost of entry. Tom 
theaudiotweak
1,399 posts
11-05-2016 6:10pm
Geoff everything touches the Earth and is along for the ride. I know of only one operational device that doesn’t and only Bill Gates can pay the cost of entry. Tom

Geez, I give up. Carry on. Smoke if ya got em. None are so blind as those who will not see.