A Copernican View of the Turntable System

Hi Halcro,

I don't know if this is on point, but I am currently experimenting with a type of plinth. My reasoning is simple.

I noticed that using the Precision Pneumatic Footers directly beneath the naked SP10 greatly improves its performance (here, I use the term 'improve' to denote an increased ability to deliver more detail from vinyl) and I have reasoned that this occurs because this approach removes returning vibration that affects all grounded components. This use of footers seems to me to be the greatest aspect of the TT set up that was originally suggested to me by Raul.

Well, my thinking is that the improvement in grounding (or the limitations of its impact through pneumatic intervention) might be able to do a similar job on the tonearm. Hence, I decided to build a floating plinth that will couple tonearm and TT in a potentially optimised way. For me, if it improves the subsequent analogue performance, the case for a plinth (albeit, a floating one) is proven. If it performs at a lower level, the case for a totally decoupled tonearm and TT is proven: at least to my satisfaction.

I should reiterate that I am wholly in the camp of decoupled set ups and that I am currently enjoying a level of analogue that I have simply never experienced before. Still, an open mind leads me to want to settle this matter to my own satisfaction and I recall that that was all that was being asked of the plinth-free and decoupling sceptics. Surely, at the end of the day, music lovers are the real winners if either solution is found to be the better option under equivalent conditions.

As always...

I can recommend floating the motor/platter in Jello. Dont knock it until you have tried it.
I found raspberry rather nice under the platter, but preferred melon fusion under the arm ( its a unipivot so it has eccentric taste ). My only concern is that I felt wild cherry opened up the bottom end on hard rock, but have settled for the more rounded and harmonically complete raspberry.
For my vintage Tannoys I found feather and down pillows fluffed up the sound just right. The trick is to place them asymmetrically to break up unwanted resonances.
For the amps, hydrogel works a treat. I used breast implants for a full and ripe sound. If you want the best the Tibreeze brand are excellent. These have a titanium coating but were discontinued in 2004 and are hard to find.
I'm still working on the cable solution at the moment.

I'm still working on the cable solution at the moment

My personal choice for isolation from ground hum is using cold coins below them. Best sound is from Krugerrands, 3 coins stacked, US Gold $ is next best, I can imagine that they have similar results below Direct Drives. YMMW of course

Hi Dgob,
Unless you have the turntable and armpods located on a solid wall-hung shelf.....structure-borne feedback is likely to be a problem.
Every suspended floor (even concrete ones) will suffer from this to some extent.
If I had to locate my TT on a floor-mounted rack....I would ensure that it was on an isolating platform like a Vibraplane of Minus K. Not sure about Dover's Jello however :-)
Your 'floating' plinth idea sounds like an attempt at similar isolation.
It should work to some degree depending on the severity of your structure-borne feedback problem?
Please let us know how you go with it?

Regards

Halcro -
Have to concur with the wall hung shelf. This is one of the best bang for the buck upgrades for TT's of all persuasions in my view and well worth the time and effort. Biggest difference I noticed was a cleaner and more transparent bottom end.