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A black hole went into my Marantz SA-10!

I always use a Herbies black hole II CD disc damper. It somehow got lost inside the transport. The tray is shallow as is, so it didn't take much for it to get knocked, and in it went! So I freaked out. I looked inside behind the tray with a bright LED flashlight. I didn't see it. Everything works. Tray goes in and out without any snagging. No skipping. I'm not not very mechanical and have no idea which screws to loosen and don't want to mess with it. It happened about 30 hours of listening ago. I use the Herbies black hole CD disc damper for 6 years. When I had my Sony 5400 ES it did make a difference and was repeatable. My GF agreed. I never did the AB comparison on the Marantz. Maybe the transport on it is not tweakable since they built it themselves. I know Steve Nugent here is a big believer in some kind of damping. Anyway its playing.
128x128blueranger
blueranger's avatar
blueranger OP
719 posts
 
Thanks Nonoise for the detailed explanation of removing the top. Detailed and made simple. 
  Also thanks Tom. Ive read about dampening here. Putting a VPI brick on the Marantz was a plus. I also have 4 small bean bags with chrome steel ball bearings on top. 
zipost's avatar
zipost
199 posts
 
Hi Blueranger... since you have experience in using the disc.  I was thinking about using the disc for my CD player myself.    Any that you tried in the past, if so what do you recommend?  I have a Cdp Dynastation Dynavox Mk4, which has a Sony laser lens.  Please advise?  
blueranger's avatar
blueranger OP
719 posts
 
Tom. I just looked at a pic of your SA-15s2b and the top of the back looks like mine. I will try the procedure that Nonoise kindly layer out. I'm ordering a 6 inch by 6 foot piece of that dampening material you mentioned. Did your preamp benefit also? Amp? Pbono preamp?
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,965 posts
 
Another excellent metal enclosure damping material is EAR Isodamp SD125, available from Michael Percy Audio.
blueranger's avatar
blueranger OP
719 posts
 
Zipost. 25 years ago I tried the Mod Squad compact disc damper with those pesky little white rings. Errrr don't get me started. That glue is a devil to get off. I remember it made a small difference or worse. 15 years ago I Tried Herbies Grunge Buster rubber/vinyl mat. I don't remember the exact material. It was an improvement but not as much as the Black Hole. With it there was a noticeable difference in the Sony 5400ES. I hope that helps. Hey did anyone piggy back 2 CDs back in the day. I read about that in Laura Dearborns book Goid Sound. I was leary about trying that.
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