ISOLATION IS THE NUMBER ONE MISCONCEPTION IN AUDIO
Springs, discs, pucks, squish balls, pads, cones, spheres, and all the materials have retailed in audio since the late 1980s.
All these devices are coupling products according to the empirical laws.
Isolation does not exist on Earth in the presence of gravity. Audiophiles are a small group of believers who insist it does.
How many believe a wood shelf isolates resonance? How many believe their equipment should float in space, free from all earthly vibrations? How many believe isolation is the goal leading to the holy grail of sound quality?
Do you know electricity is the root cause of vibration?
DECOUPLING – AUDIO’S SECOND ULTIMATE MISCONCEPTION
Coupling and decoupling are the most popular marketing strategies used today. Two names have taken the modern-day helm leaving many methods and theorems of vibration management behind.
The only significant difference between the two is that coupling science is based on the laws of vibration, motion, and gravity and is accepted science.
Anyone can argue that absolute mechanical isolation and decoupling cannot exist in the presence of gravity.
Decoupling is a great advertising tool in the marketing gambit for repackaging and selling old stuff.
The product designs and the packaging looks fancier today but still use coupling as their function regardless of storyboarding. The products sold long before the term ‘de-coupling’ hit the marketplace. The word decoupling has yet to gain scientific proof other than the Sound Industry’s love for marketing.
SOUND IS VIBRATION
Killing vibration is stupidity. Eliminating it is impossible. Fearing it makes for sales expansion. Using it as a tool to improve sound reproduction makes more sense.
We should rethink our minimalist understanding of vibration and realize we live in a world where everything vibrates!
Thank you for your time.
Robert Maicks
Sound Engineer, Vibration Management Consultant