Maple or Granite

I have another variation of Dgarretson/Cmk ideas combined but with spikes or isolation bearings between the maple on top and the granite on the bottom, and TT directly on the maple. That will keep the design coupled. I have mono block tube power amps on an oak suspended floor adjacent to their floor standing full range speakers in this composition and it sounds great. I would only caution that springs or racquet balls create a additional suspension (uncoupling) if the Voyd TT is suspended, that’s usually bad news. If it is not, what is the logic behind adding a suspension to a non suspended TT? It may well defeat the sound qualities of a rigid design. Why not buy a suspended table in that case? Which I realize is not your consideration, I’m speaking rhetorically. Gentlemen, I mean no offense, I only wish to raise some questions to help us (maybe) all better understand the task at hand. Best of luck in any case.

Happy Listening!

I think it depends on your sonic preferences, equipment and setup.

I use a ~4" sandbox for my table. I first tried hard maple butcher block under my 'table. It was cut almost 3" thick and glued edge grain up. Dull, sluggish, boring. A granite slab is working better for me. But then, to give an idea of my sonic preferences, I also don't care for most every NOS tube I've ever tried. I want clear, neutral details with my music. I've heard from some that a 3/4-1" slab of aluminum is even better. Someday I'll give that a try.

My amp sits below my 'table. Also on a bed of sand and a granite slab. Here the granite is just to match the top shelf. I use Symposium roller blocks under my amp so it doesn't matter as much what the surface is.

I have tried both under my turntable. I found the granite to be cold, sharp and lifeless to the point of unlistenable. Maple on the other hand was warm and lifelike and and a vast improvement to my audio system.

Heavy springs between two platforms is a variation of the Promethean platform. Ideally the TT suspension would be unsprung so as to improve coupling between the TT and the top platform layer. The spring layer below decouples from earth, and the platform and plinth above couples the motor/stylus to a more substantial & absorbent mass than is available in the stock TT chassis/plinth.

I heard improvement with this system using both sprung & unsprung TTs. One could experiment by trying the Voyd on its spring suspension & also with its suspension clamped down. I tried both set-ups with my VPI TNT and preferred rigid coupling inside the VPI suspension towers in lieu of the stock sorbethane.

I found that although a sandbox is a good dump for vibration from a TT, a sandbox does pass vibration from earth to the TT and from the rack underneath acting as an antennae for acoustic waves propagated by the speakers. So I elevated my sandbox on springs with a maple layer below the springs. Even with a very solid rack on a cement floor this system improves coherance. Others I know have heard similar improvements with Raven and VPI Scout TTs.

In any event for $35 it's an easy experiment.

I'm a big fan of Neuance platforms by Greater Ranges. I have my TT on a Mana Rack with a Neuance platform. Before I got a Gran Prix Monaco Rack I also had my cd player on one. I've used any number of materials and nothing did what the Neuance platforms did. I've heard much more expensive stuff and not heard any appreciable difference, and nothing else (maple, other woods, cones, acrylic, cast concrete, granite -- rough and polished -- and combinations of these) did nearly as much. Especially on the TT.

But if you can spend the $$$, the Gran Prix stuff is pretty amazing.

R