Vibration Control


Why do solid state audio electronics with no moving parts need or benefit from vibration control? 
 

It makes perfect sense that turntables, CD transports, R2R tape decks, loudspeakers & tubed electronics (w/ potentially micro phonic tubes) might all benefit from various methods of vibration control or mitigation but I don’t see why anything else would. Any thoughts??

jonwolfpell

@inagroove    +1    Vibration control products can be very hit or miss making many  skeptical or just lazily calling them snake oil. 

Electricity establishes vibration on all circuits, capacitors, transformers, transistors, resistors, and parts. You cannot stop vibrations from taking place if using electricity or man-made power sources. 

Sound is Vibration. You will never destroy, isolate, decouple, or terminate vibrations, particularly in a vibrating musical environment. Once you get past that reality, the fears of vibration become less of a concern as the initial vibrations provide the dynamics and harmonic layers we seek as listeners. 

In audio, vibration has become more of a fear than understanding. You are in a musical environment where sound is present. The speakers vibrate, electronics, equipment racking, structural angles and surfaces, and everything else, including the room develop resonance caused by vibrations. 

Resonance clogs all signal pathways such as electrical, electro-mechanical, and acoustic. Mechanical grounding establishes a path for resonance to evacuate the equipment in real time to Earth’s ground. Equipment Operational Efficiency is the result. Effortless operation, volume increases, and increased musical qualities are easily heard when operational efficiency is presented. 

Having an independent third party do thermal imaging testing is one way to prove this hypothesis yields scientific merits. Solid-state, valves, or hybrids display a difference in operation via temperature reduction. The tests will be published when finally completed supported by written opinions from leading engineers. The costs incurred for testing of this type are quite high. 

Financial outlay is one of the primary reasons the Audio Industry does not provide independent testing. It is easier to advertise, tell a story, or mimic your own versus investing in third-party physical tests based on physics.

Electricity establishes vibrations. Vibrations create resonance. Resonance build-up negatively affects ‘all’ equipment performance.

Robert

Live-Vibe Audio

 

I’m not sure I follow all of that but so far, no one has explained how physical vibrational energy gets transformed into electrical energy in a solid state device w/ no moving parts. 
 

If this truly can happen, think about the effects it might have on the electronics in a high speed fighter jet or space rocket. 

What's the harm in trying something that has a return policy? Are you afraid you might hear differences but being unable to measure it, you'll have a nervous breakdown?

If this truly can happen, think about the effects it might have on the electronics in a high speed fighter jet or space rocket. 

The folk who design high speed fighter jets and space rockets take into account the effects of vibration in every way possible to ensure reliability. Everything is overbuilt to ensure proper functioning, but then, they aren't listening to their stereos while flying, are they? Take any piece of SS gear and try to play it on a space shuttle or F-16 fighter jet and get back to me on that.

All the best,
Nonoise

Maybe this is useful, from an AI.

 

Vibration reduction and control in high-end audio systems can improve sound quality by minimizing the negative effects of unwanted vibrations on the performance of audio components. Vibration can cause various issues, such as audible noise, distortion, and reduced resolution, which can degrade the overall listening experience. By implementing vibration reduction measures, the system can deliver clearer, more accurate, and more detailed sound. Here are some mechanisms by which vibration reduction improves sound quality:

1. Reducing audible noise: Vibrations can create noise that is picked up by the audio components, leading to a low-frequency hum or rattle. By controlling vibrations, the system reduces the introduction of these unwanted sounds, resulting in a cleaner and more enjoyable audio signal.
2. Minimizing distortion: Vibrations can cause microphonic effects, where the mechanical vibrations are converted into electrical signals, leading to added distortion in the audio output. By reducing vibrations, the system lowers the occurrence of microphonic distortion, allowing for a more precise and accurate sound reproduction.
3. Enhancing resolution and detail: Vibrations can blur the fine details in an audio signal, making it harder to discern subtle nuances in the music. By controlling vibrations, the system preserves the resolution and detail of the audio signal, enabling a more engaging and immersive listening experience.
4. Improving imaging and soundstage: Vibrations can affect the stability of audio components, leading to a less focused and precise soundstage. By reducing vibrations, the system maintains the positioning and separation of audio elements, creating a more coherent and realistic soundstage.
5. Preserving the performance of delicate components: High-end audio systems often include delicate components, such as turntable cartridges or ribbon tweeters, that are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of vibrations. By implementing vibration control measures, the system ensures that these sensitive components perform optimally, delivering the best possible sound quality.

Examples of vibration reduction methods in high-end audio systems include:

* Turntable isolation: Using isolation platforms, feet, or pucks to reduce the transfer of vibrations from the turntable to the surroundings, ensuring a stable and quiet platform for vinyl playback.
* Component supports and racks: Specialized audio furniture designed to minimize the transfer of vibrations between components and the supporting surfaces, often featuring materials like isolation spikes, cones, or pucks.
* Vibration damping materials: Using constrained layer damping or other vibration-absorbing materials within audio components or enclosures to reduce the resonance and vibration within the components themselves.
* Suspension systems: Implementing suspension systems for speakers, such as spike footers, to decouple the speaker from the floor, reducing the transfer of vibrations from the speaker to the listening environment.
* Air-bearing or magnetic-bearing turntables: Utilizing air-bearing or magnetic-bearing technology in turntables to minimize physical contact and thus reduce the impact of vibrations on the turntable’s performance.

In summary, vibration reduction and control in high-end audio systems improve sound quality by reducing audible noise, minimizing distortion, enhancing resolution and detail, improving imaging and soundstage, and preserving the performance of delicate components. Various methods, such as isolation, damping materials, and suspension systems, can be employed to achieve these benefits.