concrete (cinder) block tower with wood chopping block for turntable stand

I agree with the efficacy of high mass for turntable stands. My DIY stand uses a section of sixteen inch diameter white oak log as a central pedestal. Three large lag screws in the bottom of the section of log serve as feet and allow leveling of the stand. A piece of maple butcher block serves as the table. Log and butcher block were sanded very smooth, stained with Minwax special walnut stain and given many coats of varnish. I had to get a friend who is a competitive weight lifter to help me get the stand from my workshop to the listening room. The stand works quite well with my unsuspended Clearaudio Performance DC turntable and looks quite nice.

I am not condoning this proposed method as a ideal Structure.

I do not see where there is a ubiquitous method to produce a structure that offers a support that stands out for the impact it has on a System and especially the Source. It is good to see one contributor has produced similar and has reported on the value of it in use. I again suggest a Phenolic Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board to be tried out as a Sub Plinth/Sub Sub Plinth.

I see the proposed method as affordable and a good place to commence with an investigation into producing a Structure, any changes that may be discovered to be worth making, will mean, if the Blocks are to be selected for exchanging there will be little concern for the initial cost of the items.

Some decisions to make changes are costly, especially when certain Footer Types are be exchanged out for others, there is concerns, when swapping out items with high prices to perform a identical role.  

I have a history of using Concrete Blocks and Sand Filled Boxes, I have good recollections of these in use, but have found methods which have produced a sonic that has superseded these, which has resulted in certain methods being no longer in use.

Additionally, I have tried out and remain using other Stone materials. I have also  been through numerous types of Board Materials and Sheet Material with a wide variance in their Densities, of which I have a few types that I will always have at hand ready for use.

Again for Vinyl as a Source, In conjunction with the above, I have a selection of Platter Mats, of which Four different materials are always at hand and being considered for how they can fine tune the sonic.

I have never used a Bespoke State of the Art Design Supporting structure for a Source. I know of some models and up to £5K can be spent.

I don't know whether my efforts fall far short, are parity or surpass such a device.

I do know for approx' a 1/4 of this cost across many years of learning, I have a supporting structure that works very well for me in my listening environment.

Tomorrow, I will be visiting a Home of a infrequent attendee of my local HiFi Group, and will be demo'd a 'New to Me' System. 

I will be taking along a few electronic devices, as well as  Two Tier Densified Wood Sub Plinth, with a AT-616 Footers as separators. I am really looking forward to day out, as well as witnessing the system owner hear their Source mounted on this assembly.    

DIY with these dirt cheap sturdy material is always doable and practical IF you are ALONE.  Seriously.  I wanted to try that twenty five years ago but I got married thirty years ago.

Anything that is Skeletal in appearance, will be a harder sell to others if not wearing a pleasing aesthetic Jacket.

There is a honesty to such a structure as under discussion, and if wanted to be a keeper, the very basic appearance, can very easily be concealed. It is really down to how much cost os wanted, and whether meeting such a cost, will then create a situation where the cost, will enter into the area where other options are also able to be considered, and certainly be a sellable item when no longer used.   

@kingharold , if it's mass & weight in wood, I can recommend locust (rubinia), any variety...and given the thought I just might give it a go..*G*

I end up with short but large diameter chunks and some slab (3"+) 'drops' that have to be moved with a hand truck...

Laughs @ carbide....even dried, it's worse than the monoblock from hell...

Pre-drill or strip the head of fasteners....Snaps lag screws where the threads end if you don't.   Only recourse is to grind it flush.