Mix ordinary mineral oil in with the sand, just barely enough so it starts to stick together. It will stay put and for years. Mines over 15 years and dust free. Look close you will see its between the granite and the concrete on the top rack, and under the Herron on the bottom. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367
Those are also a couple ideas for your turntable. The top piece of granite is sold as machinist plate, comes in lots of sizes. I would not get such a big one if doing it again, but not about to change it either! You should hear the image this thing floats! Detail, dynamics, outstanding.
A better solution than a big board, and certainly much better than cork, etc, would be four footers like what is under the Herron. Only I would make them round. I just never got around to it yet. But really its a matter of trial and error and testing. Its better to make three cheap easy versions and try them than put a lot of effort into one just because you think it will work.
One large board or shelf is in general not as good as four smaller ones. This is because most of the vibrations actually come from the component itself. A large board takes all that and starts to resonate and then that vibration goes right back up into the component coloring the sound. The exception is BDR Shelf, which being carbon fiber is dead quiet, dynamic as hell, and exceptionally neutral. But it is also very expensive!
I would suggest some test pieces of MDF in different thicknesses cut into circles or squares and several inches across. Level the sand, tamp them down and level, set the table on them and see how it sounds. You might also try similar size pieces of acrylic or stone such as marble, and of course various woods like teak or walnut, whatever.
If you do this one thing you will notice, once you have the pieces and before tamping them down, if you tap on them they will make a sound. Then what you notice is whatever sound they make when tapped, a little bit of that character goes into the music. That’s why a lot of guys like wood, it colors the sound similar to a lot of musical instruments also made of wood. Only they don’t realize they’re coloring the sound.
MDF you will discover is by far the most neutral of all the materials you can try, with the exception of BDR. This combined with its low cost and being easy to work with is why its used so much. But you may find you like something else better anyway. Way it goes....
Those are also a couple ideas for your turntable. The top piece of granite is sold as machinist plate, comes in lots of sizes. I would not get such a big one if doing it again, but not about to change it either! You should hear the image this thing floats! Detail, dynamics, outstanding.
A better solution than a big board, and certainly much better than cork, etc, would be four footers like what is under the Herron. Only I would make them round. I just never got around to it yet. But really its a matter of trial and error and testing. Its better to make three cheap easy versions and try them than put a lot of effort into one just because you think it will work.
One large board or shelf is in general not as good as four smaller ones. This is because most of the vibrations actually come from the component itself. A large board takes all that and starts to resonate and then that vibration goes right back up into the component coloring the sound. The exception is BDR Shelf, which being carbon fiber is dead quiet, dynamic as hell, and exceptionally neutral. But it is also very expensive!
I would suggest some test pieces of MDF in different thicknesses cut into circles or squares and several inches across. Level the sand, tamp them down and level, set the table on them and see how it sounds. You might also try similar size pieces of acrylic or stone such as marble, and of course various woods like teak or walnut, whatever.
If you do this one thing you will notice, once you have the pieces and before tamping them down, if you tap on them they will make a sound. Then what you notice is whatever sound they make when tapped, a little bit of that character goes into the music. That’s why a lot of guys like wood, it colors the sound similar to a lot of musical instruments also made of wood. Only they don’t realize they’re coloring the sound.
MDF you will discover is by far the most neutral of all the materials you can try, with the exception of BDR. This combined with its low cost and being easy to work with is why its used so much. But you may find you like something else better anyway. Way it goes....