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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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

theaudiotweak
She received her masters of Geophysical Engineering almost 40 years ago.

She has authored and presented 14 papers on different aspects of interpretation and understanding compressional waves to the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) International meetings, European Association of Exploration Geophysicists (EAEG) meetings, Australian Association of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) meetings, SEG Summer Research Workshop and to SEG chapter meetings. Many of these papers were invited and some were awarded best paper. In addition, she taught a three-day course on seismic interpretation requested by the SEG. She has also worked as a Geotechnical Engineer in the housing industry.

Recently she discovered the largest ever deposit of helium gas in North America ..well except for you, Your Highness.
Have a wonderful day, Tom

There’s really no need to call me Your Highness, although it does have a nice ring to it.

I guess you might have been taking your nap when I pointed out on this thread much to Mapman’s dismay that trying to win an argument by bringing up credentials is nothing more than everyone’s favorite logical fallacy, the Appeal to Authority. Didn’t you consult with your seismologist that p wave and s waves have nothing at all to do with the Earth crust motion I’ve been referring to? You know, the things you’ve been ranting about incoherently for the past month. LOL

The funniest comment today by far, when you quoted fhe seismologist who saw your video of the martini glass with no sloshing around, "That’s what I would expect from your products." Please, spare me! Did you explain to her you’ve been ignoring seismic vibration for thirty years? LOL

I've discovered the largest deposit of natural gas in North America. It's right here on this thread! 

have a nice day
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,479 posts
 
It’ll be a cold day in hell that gk succumbs to that appeal to authority deal. 😉

Btw im guessing seismic vibrations/waves to her and geologists in general infer those where the earths plate tectonics are the source. Not including man made sources.

Just saying. As it relates to hifi what matters mainly is whether the source can be identified and controlled or eliminated if needed. But it can’t hurt to all be speaking the same language.

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

mapman
"It’ll be a cold day in hell that gk succumbs to that appeal to authority deal." 😉

Thus spake the geologist. Who, according to my calculations, has zero to say on the subject. I’m guessing seismology wasn’t his major.

Mapman thinks for a minute, then pulls the trigger,

"Btw im guessing seismic vibrations/waves to her and geologists in general infer those where the earths plate tectonics are the source. Not including man made sources."

That’s fascinating. You thought of that all by yourself? 

Then, perhaps against his better judgement, Mapman pulls the trigger again,

"Just saying. As it relates to hifi what matters mainly is whether the source can be identified and controlled or eliminated if needed. But it can’t hurt to all be speaking the same language."

Whatever. 😩 


mapman's avatar
mapman
22,479 posts
 
You said it.  

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,966 posts
 

The guys who have $2000-$3000 microscope isolation tables (first reported on in TAS about twenty years ago, now made by Newport, MinusK, and others) have them only under their turntables. One under every component in a system would be a whole lotta dough, as well overkill imo. The suspension of a turntable seriously affects the sound of LP’s, and a serious isolation table for them is justified.

Geoff is again correct (and correct in correcting me!) in the matter of affected frequencies. I used a 5Hz figure for seismic activity only because it is vibrations below that frequency that cannot be provided isolation from except by herculean effort. Spikes and cones are effective down to maybe 10Hz, Sorbothane and Navcom about the same (see the chart on the Townshend Audio site for exact figures).

Roller bearing devices provide isolation down to about 5Hz in the horizontal/lateral plane, but coupling (the exact opposite of isolation) in the vertical. Audiophile recording engineer Barry Diament (from whom I learned of the bearings) postulates that vibration travels largely across the surface of the floor (the lateral plane), and roller bearing are very effective at isolation in that plane. But vibrations also travel vertically, and roller bearings act as couplers in that plane. The combination of roller bearings and either metal or air springs (which decouple in the vertical plane, providing isolation) provide isolation in all three axis down to perhaps 3Hz, about as good as you can do outside of the $2000-$3000 Newport and MinusK tables, and the Townshend Seismic Pods at about half that. I’ll let Geoff speak in behalf of his own springs!

Barry uses roller bearings of his own design (manufactured locally for him only for his own use, not for sale) under his Maggie 3.7 speakers, and both the bearings and air springs (an under-inflated inner tube between two pieces marble or granite, I believe) under every piece of his recording and playback electronics.

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