@millercarbon , I started my spring journey a couple of weeks ago and now have most of my system on various springs. I have experimented with different sizes and stiffness of individual springs instead of going the Nobsound route. Although, it didn't always turn out as I envisioned with regards to which springs worked best with which components and speakers, I now have two heavy monoblocks, two heavy subs, and my two heavy main speakers all on appropriately sized springs, as well as most of my front end electronic components (but I need another set of low load springs to finish with my entire system). I hear the sonic changes/improvements that you described in your post below, which is why I am curious about the comment by @mijostyn .
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.
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indrenilsen and mitch2, Rubber bands under cables work about as well as springs under components. I stretched a rubber band around a Cable Elevator so the cable sits on the rubber band. Its hard get a good camera angle to show this but that's what's going on here. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 Tried first under speaker cables, then power cords and interconnects. Was expecting improvement under speaker cables and was not disappointed. Wasn't expecting nearly so much under power cords and interconnect and so was surprised when it was just about equally effective. Everyone has rubber bands just sitting around. Give em a try and see. |
Mitch, if you hear a difference you are blessed. Set up your system any way you want. Millercarbon, I have done that experiment with a tube phono stage, an oscilloscope and a test record. There was no difference to either my ears or the oscilloscope trace at any frequency. As for my speakers? My subs weight 250 lb each and I have 4 of them. My speakers are 7"11" tall and my ceiling is 8" so putting anything under them is a non starter. The subs are so heavy and stiff that they do not vibrate. I have Vinyl and CD sets on display right on top of them. Trying to isolate a subwoofer is beyond silliness. When bass is produced by a powerful system capable of going flat down to 18 Hz the entire house vibrates isolated or not. Put on a 30 Hz test tone and turn up the volume. If you have a decent system everything in the house will start buzzing. Any movement of the subwoofer itself creates distortion. Mine don't move because they are so heavy and they are spiked to the floor. The stuff on top of them doesn't even move including my Mo Fi Beatles set. But turn em up and the entire house buzzes. If you think you hear an improvement in your bass by putting your speakers on springs it is purely psychological or perhaps your speakers sound better just because they are up higher. So get yourself a nice looking set of speaker stands. But, subwoofers to perform their best need to be right on the floor up against a wall or in a corner. They gain up to 6 dB in efficiency this way and eliminate the first reflection entirely, improving bass throughout the room. Millercarbon, with all the neat improvements you have made you must have one heck of a system. |
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