Practicality of footers to isolate turntables.

Hello Dan,

I have the passive Vibraplane which requires a few strokes from a bicycle pump every week to maintain it's height and level. It is untethered as you say, but I'm actually considering getting a couple of active Vibraplanes with a compressor for my amps which always remain properly inflated and level. As the Vibraplane slowly loses air, the passive model needs to be readjusted for level every few days. I think once the Minus K is set up, it no longer needs adjustment. I don't know of the sonic differences.

I once tried Mapleshade heavy brass footers and a 4" Maple block below my unsuspended table and found it made the table sound more lean and took away richness/body/weight.

I think this is very system and listening bias dependent and each solution may have its strengths and weakness for the individual listener. I started by buying an inexpensive Townshend Seismic Sink and directly comparing it to the Mapleshade solution on my SME 10 turntable. I preferred the air isolation to the mass coupling/energy draining approach of the footers/maple board. Encouraged by those results, I splurged on a used Vibraplane. Much better than the Seismic Sink. Then I loaded the Vibraplane with a steel plate weighing 136 lbs and than was even better.

Experimentation is the key in mind. It's the only way to know what works best for you in your particular system.

I also am using the Edansound Bearpaws (big brass spikes) and found them a very worthwhile addition.

Another vote for brass Bearpaws from edensoundaudio.com
A call to Dan will get you a discussion personalized to your needs that would also include his other more unique variations on the "footer" theme.

Spiritofmusic, if you are talking about the Trans-Fi, if you look in the manual he is quite straightforward about the fact that whatever surface the 'table is set up on becomes part of the machine itself.

The 'table probably does not need a suspension so much as it needs mass beneath it. If you are on a budget you may have to create a platform from scratch, but it needs to be dead and very stiff, else you will run into problems like the manufacturer himself talks about on his website.

The platform should in turn be mounted on something like a Sound Anchors equipment stand, perhaps resting on a set of Aurios Pro bearings. This sort of setup works quite effectively even if your table has no suspension at all (mine doesn't). Essentially, my 'table is impervious to any effects from the system being played loud (and I do like to crank it up). A massive and also dead platform that forms the plinth of the 'table is the key.

Good Luck!

I am using a TMC active pneumatic table (similar to the one under the Rockport Sirius III) under my Rockport Capella 2, and the improvement in background blackness and instrument layering within the soundstage is great.

Used TMC active pneumatic tables can be had at eBay for around $1500, and I have seen them as low as $900. Add a couple hundred dollars for the compressor and you get yourself a great isolation system. The only problem is that you need to place the compressor in another room as it makes a lot of noise.