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homemade turntable vibration isolation platform

Out of a couple years of frustration, I irrationally tried to create my own turntable suspended platform to cure two problems. First, footfall would often jar the stylus enough to skip and my music seemed muddy/blurry. The floor bounced enough to make us have to tip toe through the living room. It was getting where I would hate to even play a record. I went searching for tweeks. Ideas abound. Ropes from ceiling, etc. But I live in a yurt. Everything moves, including ceiling beams. Floor works like trampoline (almost). Out of complete desperation, I drilled holes in the top of my component cabinet (double 3/4" plywood) and suspended my turntable on another piece of plywood by bungees from four posts. I got lucky!! It worked fantastically. One could almost jump up and down in the room (my wife tried). AND, a solid bass appeared, soundstage grew a third larger, the clarity was enhanced exponentially. Pure luck I cured my years of frustration and got an indescribable upgrade sound quality besides. After 6 tries I've recreated a free standing unit that works as well. Just had to share.....  


allears4u
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Right. And it needs to be tuned according to both the frequency and amplitude of the vibration you're trying to filter out, as well as the mass and fundamental resonance of the device you're using. 

Normally the #1 most important source of vibration is the component itself. Even amps and DACs with no moving parts generate significant vibrations. Acoustic vibration is usually #2 with vibrations from floors a distant #3, unless of course you live in a yurt, in which case its #1 with a bullet.

If the OP wants to take this to the next level, adding mass will further lower the fundamental resonant frequency of the rack with a further increase in bass response and imaging. But again, this will require tuning to find the right combination of mass and bungee cords.

Essentially what you are doing allears4u is building a giant Linn type suspension for your turntable. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

millercarbon
Right. And it needs to be tuned according to both the frequency and amplitude of the vibration you’re trying to filter out, as well as the mass and fundamental resonance of the device you’re using.

>>>>Huh? No it doesn’t.
allears4u OP
147 posts
 
That's why I say I got lucky. Without any special knowledge, out of abject desperation, I built this suspended platform. I realized just how lucky after I tried to replicate it in a different form. Footfall problems even got magnified in one attempt. Lost clarity.  Once right, the platform actual will slightly swing or sway after I place record and stylus. One thing that still stuns me is how sound stage size added a quarter in size above the one I had grown accustomed to before. And I do mean, above, that is, audibly higher in the room. AND, the whole is less tube like and natural.  I think my Sunfire sub HRS-10 was really blurring everything. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Clever and effective. The best frequency is between 2 and 3 Hz. You can tune it by adding mass. If you get it right you should be able to jump up and down indiscriminately. The improvement in sound is also no surprise. If you get a SOTA , SME or Basis you can put the turntable anywhere on anything and it will do just fine. IMHO an isolated turntable is a must.
 
allears4u OP
147 posts
 
As for mass...a 2 pound record weight rides along to keep things solid. Deer skin platter mat. Cambridge Audio phono pre amp. The analog fever on the cheap. Leveling is perfect due to easily adjustable toggles on mid weight bungees through posts.  =Found out the hard way, the bungees must not touch plinth. Added Iso feet under free standing frame.   
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