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Home grown turntable platform/base?

I picked up a used Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable for the family room. We are not big into vinyl, mostly listen to digital, but my 16yo daughter has shown an interest in getting some records. I’m getting excited about her interest in vinyl and audio. What is a good platform material to use? Wood? Granite? Should I add sorbothane and/or spikes underneath? I’m not looking to spend a lot but feel I should have some decent isolation for it. The turntable currently sits on a hollow shelf. It’s where it has to be so I need to make this work.

Thanks for any input.
asahitoro
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,737 posts
 
Buy a sheet of 3/4" Baltic Birch plywood (about fifty bucks), and cut (or have cut at a cabinet building shop) two pieces to size. Put Green Glue, EAR Isodamp, ASC Wall Damp, or other constrained layer damping between the two pieces, and screw the pieces together. Put a set of springs, roller bearings, or other effective form of isolation under the platform (Townshend Seismic Pods are great, but not cheap). Enjoy.
bpoletti
1,551 posts
 
@bdp24    +1  

I might also suggest substituting THICK maple butcher block, 2 1/2" or greater, for the baltic birch.  It would require two of the butcher blocks to accomplish your goal, but it would work.  

Thin sorbothane sheets between the layers might also be effective, but with the weights involved, 30 Duro will probably not work as well as 40D or 50D.  More than 50D would probably not accomplish your goals as effectively.  
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
Good advice so far. If money's tight, Herbie's Audio Labs offer some good footer options that go with the other suggestion. Cheers,
Spencer
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