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Isolation Feet for Laptop

It seems fairly common knowledge that vibration is a form of distortion in many electric components, not just for turntables and speakers. Isolation feet seem to work well in most applications.

I searched around and I didn't find any information to suggest that folks are using isolation feet on laptops or desktops, despite increased streaming usage. In a great many cases, there are indeed heavy vibrations coming from within the computer.  Whether it is the fan for the CPU or even GPU to the all the various chips/transformers, etc or even power supplies and batteries. If adding isolation feet to a streamer, DAC or power supply makes sense, then wouldn't it also make sense to apply isolation feet to your laptop; if you use it for music?

Well, I am going to find out. :)

I ordered some IsoAcoustics Orea Series Audio Equipment Isolators with a max weight of 16 pounds. The laptop weighs about 6.7 pounds, so it shouldn't be that much strain, even with all the cables creating some measure of down force as they dangle over the edge.

My expectation is that the DAC will be able to perform slightly better due to reduced vibration across the USB port and power filter. The DAC is a USB stick (Dragonfly Cobalt) so it has a very rigid hard connection to the laptop; so vibration is very easily transferred.

Has anyone else tried this?

128x128guakus
guakus's avatar
guakus OP
351 posts
 

@oldtechguy 

Yeah, I did the same.  I took my entire CD collection and used EAC to turn them into FLAC. I also took some of my tapes and records and turned them into high-resolution WAV files.

I actually saw someone add stone slabs to the bottom of their speakers.  It made a lot of sense.  Back when I sold speakers, there was a group of folks who built acoustic platforms for speakers. They used layers of marble, rubber and wood.  They claimed it extended and amplified bass response. Back in the early 90s, I had no idea if they were right or wrong, but I couldn't afford their solution either way.

Today, I could probably buy the raw materials and make it myself. 🤔 Although, marble isn't cheap.

jonwatches1
125 posts
 

@guakus  So, I will go out on a limb and say that loudspeakers vary in quality - both in components and engineering.  I mean, they don’t all sound the same.

I would think the audible difference between a well chosen $500 vs $5,000 speaker might be greater than that same $4,500 spent instead on cabling and mechanical isolation equipment.  But I am just a guy with two ears. I still like your sense of humor

Have a great day

guakus's avatar
guakus OP
351 posts
 

@jonwatches1 

I won't argue that speakers will sound different from one than the other.  Nor will I argue that an expensive speaker won't sound better than a cheaper speaker.

What I will argue is that a cheaper speaker can't be made to sound good/better. Indeed, that seems to be the prevalent argument aimed at my setup, "You aren't allowed to have good sound quality because your speakers (equipment) aren't expensive enough."  Despite the fact that the back end for these speakers are collectively more expensive than most of the people's speakers on this forum.

It's quite simple.  I found a sound I liked, and I tweaked and amplified it.

 

rockysantoro's avatar
rockysantoro
144 posts
 

I also am using IsoAcoustic Orea's to eliminate vibrations. The laptop is resting on a Mapleshade oak platform,with the Orea's supporting the platform. The sound improvement was noticeable right away.

guakus's avatar
guakus OP
351 posts
 

@rockysantoro 

Excellent, it's encouraging to know I am on the right track. :)

I am eagerly awaiting the Twonshend Air Platform.  Of what I have read, Isoacoustics and Townshend have very comparable results.

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