wall rack and different shelf materials under TT


Yesterday I swapped a 3/4"x16"x16" walnut cutting board (very nicely custom made and priced from ebay memeber hardwood-lumber-co, not affiliated) under my Pro-ject Xpression III table with an Ortofon MC-3 turbo, speedbox and tube phono box II. The natural unoiled walnut matches my rack better than maple, even though the maple can run more dense, but just a bit more. I used to have a 1/4"x15"x15" porcelain tile piece under my table and the first impressions follow:

- walnut: more relaxed and little warmer sound, bass a little more subdued like when you put a pillow in a bass drum in the drum kit.

- porcelain: more accurate, a little brighter and a touch more bass slam.

I am going to do further listening with both to see which one wins out. There are the factory isolation cones under my turntable and the wall rack is steel bolted to the house studs. I also just got some Electro-Harmonix golds that I am going to roll into the tube phono box II.

Will keep everyone posted...

BTW, I got a 3/4"x10"x16" maple and cherry cutting board for the kitchen and total was $57 including shipping.
sbrownnw
I don't know if all turntables respond to the shelf materials, but my Linn was extremely sensitive to it. I used it on a wallshelf and I found that a 1/2" Corian shelf sounded better than both the Neuance platform or the standard wood. Even my Linn dealer was surprised at how different it sounded with different shelf materials. It's nice to be able to tune the table to your tastes.
An alternate: Totally Bamboo "Big Kahuna" 18 x 24" cutting board, 2 1/4" thick.

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/totally-bamboo/big-kahuna-bamboo-chopping-block-cutting-board-p15445?gc

An ebay "big kahuna cutting board" search will turn one up, free shipping.

There are other vendors, no association.

Weighs about 20lbs. Mine is an older offering without the provided feet. Bedded in a sand box, sand is double-bagged in six zip-lock bags. With a Pio "Exclusive" PL-70L-11 a tightening of bass response is noticed.

Peace,
My rack has a 4" thick maple top shelf that used to really effected my old Wilson Benesch Full Circle's low end response and brought out the highs. It was a lot cleaner than on the floor but lacked a little emotion and softness, which I like.

My new Well Tempered Labs Amadeus with its squash ball feet doesnt really seem to care what its on all that much, as long as its level of course, ha.
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