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DIY speaker isolation base for a wood floor

A definite sonic improvement in tightening up the bass. 
1. Start with 4 aluminum cones. I used some old Mod Squad Tip Toes.
2. 16x16 slab of granite.
3. 1/8 cork.
4. 1/2 inch neoprene rubber.
5. 1/8 cork.
6. Top with another 16x16 slab of granite.
7. Enclosed with a wood cradle to hide the mechanism.
  The granite is from scraps from a shop and was cheap. The added 1/4 inch of neoprene to 1/2 inch thickness did help. Let me hear your thoughts.
128x128blueranger
clearthink
1,421 posts
 

audiozenology"Clearthink, I am not going to stand for your continued, however veiled, personal attacks on me, as well as your literal stalking of me.You appear to engage near exclusively with me as evidenced by 23 of the 30 posts you made in 2 weeks being directly to me"

You do not seem to understand that everyone is free to contribute hear within the rules, policies, and standards of this group as set forth by the moderators and that means that those who may disagree with you or who wish to correct you’re errors, misunderstandings, or misstatements are free to do so and I am sorry if this has hurt you’re feelings as appears to be the case. Of course you are free to contact the moderators but you are not free to limit, restrict, or discourage me or others from contributing and you are not free to threaten me or others in any way whatsoever.

There are many experts in this group, which is why you're claim "I am not "average", I am Superhuman!! My words have far more value than anyone else's!" is not going to help you hear. 

There are things you seem to struggle to understand such as induction and isolation in particular and these things are not always intuitive so there is no need for you to be defensive about this topics.
Post removed 
clearthink
1,421 posts
 

audiozenology"I expect the cork does not provide much isolation / absorption either. I expect the cork does not provide much isolation / absorption either.

Cork is an excellent isolator and one thing you should explore, study, and research is that it is possible to "over damp" the components in a Music Reproduction System there is a lot of research on this.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I agree cork is a wonderful audiophile material, I use pure natural cork for my Quark! product for damping capacitors, printed circuit boards and transformers. I eschew the composite glued up stuff which is probably what people are mostly using, assuming anyone is using cork which they probably aren’t. 
audiozenology
362 posts
 
  • Wood floor. Assume somewhat springy? ... then usually better to isolate.
  • Neoprene rubber of that surface area likely provides next to no isolation in the bass frequencies, and probably not much absorption. It is too stiff.
  • I expect the cork does not provide much isolation / absorption either. You have a large surface area and relatively low weight per surface area. That impacts the spring constant. Too stiff and you don’t isolate bass frequencies. You can get at least a bit of an idea by looking at how much it compresses when the speaker is on top. If it looks like it compresses little, then assume not much bass isolation. The problem with cork is to compress it enough to get a good spring constant for isolation, you will get to the point where cell walls collapse. w.r.t. Sound, cork is normally used for insulation, not absorption. It does not have the hysteretic losses needed for absorption unless used right in its sweet spot where it is quite good. Problem is ensuring you are using it properly.
  • The big granite pieces may be better transferring energy into the stiff joists of the floor. Added bracing under the floor where the speakers are can help too.
  • Replacing the cork/neoprene with well chosen sorbothane pucks/squares will be quite a bit better. Need to take into account speaker/platform weight, sorbothane type, and surface area. Thicker will provide more dampening. Let me know the weight of your speakers and I can give you some direction on the hardness / surface area of Sorbothane to use.
  • Springs will provide more isolation, but again, they must be carefully selected to get the frequency below the audible region.
  • Best would be a combo of springs and sorbothane to both isolate, and then damp speaker motion. Best of both worlds.

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