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What is under your TT, cheap islolation?

I am looking for a way to isolate my turntable without using a shelf bolted to the wall. I am trying to save money while I re-configure the room. For now my turntable is on top of my stand but you have to tip toe around the room. I am wondering if a big rock iso platform (or DYI version) or some iso nodes under a butcher block would help with the bouncing turntable? I have two tables I am testing at the moment, one is a Thorens TD-160 & the other is a VPI HW19 MKII, both of them suspended. The floors are pretty sturdy, it is a dedicated room over my garage with serious supports built in to the floor.
fishwater
mdconnelly
133 posts
 
My turntable is on a built-in shelf that is OK but footfalls could be heard. Short of tying the kids up in the attic whenever I wanted to listen to music, I went to a local shop that installs granite kitchen countertops. After wading through their scrap yard, I picked up two slabs about 1.5" thick and had them trimmed to 18x22". They essentially gave away the scrap and only charged me for trimming and polishing (about $50 if I recall correctly). They look great and really do help to isolate the table.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I don't know why people continue to have problems with TT vibration. Mine went almost completely away about thirty years ago when I got an Empire TT which had two features of interest. (1) The platter and the arm moved together on soft springs. (2) The arm was mass-balanced around all axes, with VTF applied by a clock balance wheel spring.
I would expect that more modern and expensive TT would be better than the old Empire.

Now I have a Sony PS-X800 TT which has a linear tracking biotracer (servo'd) arm, and it also shrugs off vibration, and plays even badly warped LPs without any problem.
blue_strat
25 posts
 
Have had this experience with my Ariston 11-S, (like an old Linn) after I removed it from the wall. The other folks who responded are correct. It's the Floor. I put the TT on top of the Target turntable shelf,6 vibropods in the middle, and a black flakeboard shelf on the bottom. This vibropod sandwich rests on my stand. Results were good. I like the Granite Idea. Also, I installed 2 lollycolumms under the 40yr old woodfloor which really helped. Walking softly right in front of the stand also helps.
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
Markd51's comment about replacing the VPI's spring suspension with the Sorbothane pucks is well worth considering. I have a VPI HW-19 Mk4, and had lots of problems with "turntable bounce" due to the suspended flooring in my home. I tried lots of different isolation approaches, but finally found the solution when I installed the Sorbothane pucks. If you decide to install the pucks (and maybe the cones used with the VPI Scout, which I found to be a good addition), you will need to do some minor modification of the turntable's base. Drop me a private note if you'd like more info.
fishwater OP
178 posts
 
I have decided to build a sand box isolation base. I am starting on it tonight & will let everyone know how it works out.
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