Springs for homemade isolation stand

As I've learned-garnered information from others who are certainly more wise, and experienced than I am, the consensus seems to be that any type of tweak platform-material placed between the Turntable, and Rack-Stand will make a difference audibly.

Now whether that difference will be beneficial, or detrimental may vary in every single instance-application.

Hypothetical instances would be that perhaps one person notes a great improvement using a Sand Filled Base, or a Base with Air Bladders, with no detriment to clear mids, and highs. Another-others may find that the Sand Base-Air Base has perhaps ruined-or I should for a better term "Diminished" these above mentioned qualities of their Table.

There's so many things one can try without necessarily breaking the bank. If the Table isn't quite so heavy, maybe just two sheets of MDF with a cheap piece of fine bubble Bubble Wrap in between may make a notable improvement for isolation. Tennis Balls, Ball Bearings, Maple Butcher Block Bases, etc etc.

From an engineering standpoint, it seems to me that many table, and stand manufacturers seem to get a synergistic benefit-improvement with the use of sandwiching dissimilar materials. Things like Cork, Sorbothane Sheets, MDF-Stone, the material list is almost endless.

And then the final aspect can be appearance, and beauty.

Most high end systems are usually displayed-used in one's best room of the house. One crazy example might be taking a brand new VPI TNT-HRX Table, and have it sitting on four $2 Cinder Blocks from the Home Supply Yard. While the the Cinder Block may make an audible improvement, it certainly won't do much to compliment the beauty-aesthetics of a $10,000.00+ Turntable System. Mark

Along the same vein as Markd51, you might also consider installing 3 feminine hygiene pads under each component, the rack, and each speaker.

Although it's pretty much a crapshoot for sonic improvements, the pads not only provide a clean and complimentarily contrast to most components, they also make the room smell like a cool summer breeze (a real benefit for lovers of smelly hot tube gear).

Of course this is assuming you use new pads, otherwise all bets are off.

-IMO

To funny Stehno! When I was a kid, I ran around the house with a tampon, and a cigarette lighter, threatening everyone in the house that I was going to blow the place up! lol All the women were blushing, and my uncle just about fell on the floor, dying of laughter! Ahh, the crazy thing you do when you're a kid.

Yes though, I agree, a person with a little ingenuity, and thought, can devise very marvelous devices with next to no cash outlay.

I still haven't made my own Home Depot Sand base as of yet, but plan on doing so in the future. I figure for $20 worth of materials, and a bit of time, there's not much to lose if the project is a disaster. Mark

Darren a simple & proven solution is bubble wrap. Get the pink / red colored antistatic type (for longevity) place a sheet flat between the entire slab and your rack top. The sealed bubbles act as isolating springs & can hold the weight because you're using an entire sheet

I might try the bubble wrap. I am using Stillpoints under my turntable. The sound improved w. deeper bass & improved clarity. I just feel that a good isolation stand improves a system substantially. I don't want to spend hence the idea of using springs. If any of you have seen the Machina Dynamica or the Minus K they use springs to isolate. Sounded interesting if I could make my own. I agree about the dissimilar material idea & even the car tube. The bubble wrap sounds interesting in a cost perspective. I will pick some up & post my results once I get it done. My turntable w. the base from the Sound Anchor stand is over 200 lbs at least. Now to find some friends to help lift it.