2. analog
  3. 159752-2199

Springs under turntable

I picked up a set of springs for $35 on Amazon. I intended to use them under a preamp but one thing led to another and I tried them under the turntable. Now, this is no mean feat. It’s a Garrard 401 in a 60pound 50mm slate plinth. The spring device is interesting. It’s sold under the Nobsound brand and is made up of two 45mm wide solid billets of aluminum endcaps with recesses to fit up to seven small springs. It’s very well made. You can add or remove springs depending on the weight distribution. I had to do this with a level and it only took a few minutes. They look good. I did not fit them for floor isolation as I have concrete. I played a few tracks before fitting, and played the same tracks after fitting. Improvement in bass definition, speed, air, inner detail, more space around instruments, nicer timbre and color. Pleasant surprise for little money.
noromance
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,578 posts
 
i dont own a turntable...

But i know first hand how vibrations can kill sound...

My speakers are on my desk and all my other gear parts...

My "sandwiches" of different materials were good (quartz/granite/ bamboo/ sorbothane/ cork) but not enough it seems, adding springs under the speakers(i keep the sandwiches under the spring tough, makes an audible clarity increased...

A turntable is so sensible, like a little seismograph, than imagining driving it without special precautions against vibrations is illusory and vouching for disaster S.Q.


rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
+1 indranilsen - Solid-tech & Townshend were pioneers, and are now being copied, probably cheap Chinese knock offs.

Next level is AMG toppers, or similar technology TMD dampers for the cabinets, in conjunction with isolation for speakers.

My next big thing is quasi-zero stiffness on my stand mounts.
There's no real shortcut here, it's going to require engineering and more math study to get this correct, and look pretty.

My previous employer has used isolation under turntables for over 30 years, and still manufactures mass loaded shelves with springs.
Happy experimenting, I am enjoying the sounds too!
chasda's avatar
chasda
67 posts
 
I bought those springs months ago. I put them under my TT and did not hear any significant difference. I did notice my TT became a little unstable and would skip if I accidentally bumped into my cabinet. Since I owned them at this point, I experimented and tried them on other equipment. My only noticeable difference was on my sub woofer, everything seemed a little clearer and the bass is tighter. That's where I left them.
jperry
2,479 posts
 
Interesting discussion on damping and isolation.

I am going to buy some Nobusound springs to experiment with on some components 

Currently my Garrard 301 plinth is on Nordost SortFut footers and sits on a Vibraplane. The combination of the SortFut draining mechanical vibration from the turntable into the massive Vibraplane combined with external vibration isolation from the Vibraplane, results in a great presentation.

The Vibraplane is on a heavy wooden rack which sits on engineered wood over concrete foundation
bigwave1's avatar
bigwave1
249 posts
 
Does anyone know if Nobsound fixed the manufacturing defects in the spring assembly production? 
More to discover