Turntable stand, steel, aluminum,shelves of ?

I took a different approach: Get phono front end isolated from listening area and use mass on the air suspension stand.

I use an Arcici stand loaded with mass: Basis 2500 signature with extra platform, MSB 1" laminated steel/alum./lead beneath it on the airhead. I've tried various woods, acrylic, marble etc combinations always hearing a bit of coloration. The MSB added no sound or coloration to the music. The Arcici design allows you to mass load the top of the Airhead by suspending 4 acrylic shelves via threaded rods. I have my VPI SDS, Aesthetix Io 2 PS Signature and PS Audio PS600 on the shelves. This approach produced wonderfu music. I thought this was great until I took the next step.

This whole setup is between two interior studded walls (29" deep with front and back access via doors) separating the living room (listening area) and dinning room from the family room. This perfectly isolated all my phono equipment allowed me to bring separate dedicated ac lines. 21' pair interconnects go to the mono amps behind each speaker. Now it really sounds fantastic.

have fun,
GerryM5

Gerrym5,

You have taken the best course in eliminating all the problems associated with having your turntable in the same room as your speakers, unless you're running Quads and low powered amps and love folk, chamber or any other venue that has no timber shaking qualities. Did I mention living in a condominium for 60 and overs or a nursing home. When I started my music room 15 years ago , vinyl wasn't in the picture, after all cd was perfect sound forever.

Things have changed, Vinyl will be the preferred 2 channel source. While I can extend my music room out back and have a bunker like space for vinyl, it won't happen. Therefore the path I've chosen is the only one that is reasonable.

It is obvious that your situation solves many probolems for you, congratulations.

Do I understand that you have a 2 channel Asthetics phono preamp with dual volume controls? If so , I feel that it is just what I may need for my phono situation. I would appreciate a dialogue on it's merits before I spend the big bucks to buy it.

Regards and I await your reply, Ken

Salectric, do you use the buttons under the Gavia spikes?

I have built a stand utilizing sandboxes with hard maple shelves. I first tried my Gavia (just arrived Wednesday!) directly on the maple the sound seemed to muffled so I put the buttons under the spikes and did make an improvement. It is possible that I made this swap too soon as the table only had 2 or 3 hours on it at the time. I may also try a sheet of aluminum on top of the maple shelf to see if that makes a difference.

Point here is that it is possible to tune what ever you end up building as long as you haven't backed into a corner. I.e., with the sandboxes dampening things, I could experiment with either stone or metal shelves. I'm not saying that this is the only way to go, just offering food for thought. Keep your options open if you're building your own rack.

Dan, I don't use the buttons under my Gavia because I don't use the spikes. I have the turntable base sitting directly on whatever plinth I am using at the time. Same thing for the motor pod.

At various times I've tried the spikes Thom supplied, and I have also tried AudioPoint spikes. But each time I have preferred the sound without any spikes.

I am sure you will enjoy getting to know your new table. For such a simple looking device, there are lots of things you can do to tweak the sound to get it the way you like.

I had the privilege of visiting another new Gavia owner a couple days ago, and I heard the same Gavia/Triplanar combo. It sounded great! And the black anodizing looks terrific.

Dave

Interesting idea about no spikes, Dave. And thanks for the tip on the battery!

This afternoon I picked up a sheet of 16 guage steel and .032 aluminum and placed these on top of the maple with the spikes into the metal. Really improved the attack on piano notes, bells and cymbols.

It occured to me that this is alot like tube rolling. Different configurations can change the sound, then you have to decide if you like the change or not.