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Isolation stands: snakeoil?

I understand that turntables are uniquely effected by vibrations due thier sensitivity to that kind of energy. But here’s the thing: most turntables, especially decent ones, have vibration control measures built into them via footers and various construction techniques. So, the question is: are turntable stands / shelves with isolation features actually beneficial or are they just horrendously overpriced accessories for audiophiles?
madavid0
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
If they’re based on mass-on-spring you’re good. Or negative stiffness. That’s what the big boys use. Everything else is a big compromise. There is no harm in using damping for the top plate and isolation.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Sceptic A: ''one thing is sure, my dear, nothing is for sure!''

Sceptic B: ''Are you sure about that?''

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,629 posts
 
@nandric,

Amen brother!

OP and many others are stuck in this loop instead of giving it a try. That’s why we are coming across more and more posters like this 😉
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
In order to get to the bottom of turntable isolation stands, one needs look to..............."the bottom".

Bottom meaning what are they standing, sitting, resting on?

Lets assume we have two rooms

1) Two identical turntable stands, 2) two same audio kits and 3) two same rooms (3- highly unlikely but used to reinforce the example)

Now one room has a concrete floor, the other is a suspended wood floor.

Findings will be either this <--------- or ---------> that.

Just saying. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

some of these forum threads can go 30, 60, 70 + posts, + pages, before the dreaded loop mentioned above is realized.

********

Audiophiles have been known to go to great lengths to deal with the suspended floor issue.
This paves the way to higher prices (and mark up) by the stand makers.


madavid0 OP
214 posts
 
Okay here’s what’s going on. I have a MoFi StudioDeck which has sprung feet built in. The turntable is sitting on the top shelf of a Pangea Vulcan rack which was selected for being cheap as opposed to being especially well regarded for audio performance ($150 with extra shelf). I have not bothered to to perfectly level the rack’s feet so there is some play / wobble if disturbed. I have leveled the turntable obviously.

The rack and turntable are sitting outside of my listening room. A set of balanced interconnects run from the pre in the rack, under the room door, across the floor and into my amps which shot between my speakers.

Since the turntable is placed outside of the listening room, I expect it will only pick up highly attenuated sound from the speakers (sound passing through walls / cracks around door edges, etc). Obviously it can still be effected by floor-borne vibrations, street noise, air conditioner noise, etc and so on. Also, having my system outside of my listening room is annoying.
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