2. analog
  3. 1263778430

Best TT plinth material, cost no object

It is said that the best material with which to build a loudspeaker cabinet is LEAD, the second best is concrete and the third is Aluminum. Only the third has been adapted by the industry, for obvious reasons.

Internal and extraneous vibrations need to be dampened or eliminated if sound smearing is to be reduced,

Now to the turntable; remove it from the influence of vibrations, internal vibrations not withstanding, and the vinyl should sound better.

Not all of us can put the turntable outside on the sidewalk where only the elements can affect the sound, but can we make the plinth so HEAVY that we can come close to removing the turntable from the sound room entirely?

Can a lead plinth, not too practical, get us as close as possible to putting the turntable outside, on the concrete walk?

Your thoughts, Ken
kftool
schipo
1,268 posts
 
there is no real one answer to that question. I would say that if you place most TT designers in one room they would all most likely have their favorites and prejudices.
mosin
410 posts
 
Yours is an interesting question, and if you find someone who gives you a definitive answer, you have found one of the many charlatans in high-end audio. If you find anyone who seems to know too much about this hobby, you have found a liar.

That said, I use slate in my turntable, and it is great. Why? It is simply because I designed the rest of the components to work with it. Then again, I have attended shows where I heard various turntables, some without plinths as we know them, that had an absolutely stellar sound. Still, there are materials to be used with care. Lead is one, mdf is another.

I'm reminded of what an industry insider told me when I first started the journey of making turntables, "No one really knows about audio, regardless of his stature or experience." It is an unending quest for a nirvana that may not exist.

Go with your best judgment based on research and common sense. It's the best you can hope for.

.
c1ferrari
464 posts
 
Can't get anything past Albert, Ken!

Regards,
Sam
hifitime
715 posts
 
Door from a bank vault.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Next to the sidewalk, best it go into an adjacent room. One of the neglected issues related to TT's is the acoustic energy the is flying around the listening room. It always is impacting the arm and cartridge, no matter what the plinth material is. Once you have it in another room, best to put it on a cost no object base. What is that? About $30K for an electron microscope base, then serious listening can begin.
More to discover