Is the KAB Fluid Damper worth it if...

06-24-08: Tvad
This is an interesting discussion regarding isolation and coupling with the turntable.

Hard cones are coupling devices. They don't inhibit transmission of vibration. Vibrapods are isolation devices akin to using sorbothane.

So, it's interesting that someone finds a mix of isolation and coupling to work for them.

That's exactly my intention and it's based on the Mapleshade model. I use the brass cones under the turntable to transfer vibration into the butcher block cutting board. To increase this function I would like to replace the Dayton cones with Mapleshade Heavyfeet and get a second cutting board and epoxy them together to increase the mass that absorbes the vibration (but for that money I decided to get a Cambridge 640p phono stage instead for now).

I put Vibrapods under the cutting board to isolate the entire structure from the stand and room, and perhaps to help dissipate the vibration that the cones transfer into the cutting board.

At least, that's my theory.

That's why I see the Isonoes as a sort of standalone solution, to dissipate the SL12x0's plinth vibrations and also isolate the table from in-room vibrations. If you use Mapleshade Heavyfeet instead, it's probably better to platform them onto a Mapleshade block or cutting board, and isolate the whole thing with Isoblocks between the board and the shelf.

Ok james i bought the butcher block and vibrapods...

It says you can put them under existing feet....think that is good idea or také off tt feet?

Michael

06-25-08: Radioheadokplayer
Ok james i bought the butcher block and vibrapods...

It says you can put them under existing feet....think that is good idea or také off tt feet?

You will get some improvement setting the turntable with OEM feet on the butcher block/Vibrapod assembly. You will get another jump in dynamics and clarity when you replace the OEM feet with *at least* Dayton brass cones from Parts Express ($20/set of 4 + shipping) or other feet such as Mapleshade heavyfeet. Adding the brass cones definitely is a noticeable improvement. My wife noticed both improvements easily.

Another alternative might be to replace the feet with Vibrapod *cones* with the turntable's foot thread sockets resting on the balls of the Vibrapod cones, but I haven't tried that setup yet.

Anyone try the mapleshade to see if worth extra $ over the dayton or vibrapod or others?

There are two mapleshade feet v3...one 2 feet high and one 1.5 high

The Mapleshade feet to get (if you get'em) are the Threaded Heavyfeet at $40 each, or $160/set for a Technics.

A-goners who have them like them a lot. I'm not sure if anyone has had the smaller Dayton cones and then upgraded for comparison. I am guessing that the Mapleshades would sound noticeably better than the Daytons. They almost certainly would sound different, as the heavier weight would change the mass loading, vibration paths, and resonant frequencies.

Ditto for the Isonoe footers. Some have Mapleshade cones; others have Isonoe footers at about the same price, but I don't know of anyone who has tried both.