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HRS M3X isolation base or Minus-K?

Hi All,

I'm looking for some input about these two platforms under a non-suspended turntable. Anyone have experience with both?

I have a Brinkmann Oasis on the way, for which HRS makes a custom platform. I could buy a Minus-K MB100-8 at roughly the same cost.

Minus-Ks are a known quantity to me because I've used them under two non-suspended decks with great results. I have no experience with the M3X. Either platform will sit on an Adona rack, spiked to a concrete floor.

Minus-K does a great job of isolating from external resonance, especially in the vertical plane, but does nothing for self-noise from the turntable. I found that an additional shelf is needed between the turntable and top-plate of the Minus-K, both to damp this source of resonance and to add enough weight to reach the upper range-limit of the suspension for best performance. An Adona multi-element shelf (granite bonded to MDF) resting upon Vibrapods works very well. (Vibrapods, believe it or not, were better than anything else I tried, including myriad combinations of sorbothane disks, Herbie's Big Fat Dots, etc.)

My sense is that the multiple damping layers of the HRS would address this self-noise better than the Minus-K in combination with an Adona shelf and Vibrapods, but I'm not sure. On the other hand, the HRS almost certainly will not be as effective against external resonance as the Minus-K.

I'm kind of tempted to go with the HRS because Brinkmann recommends it, and because HRS told me in an email, "We know the Oasis table very well. Our custom designs...are based on direct experience with this turntable. Our chief engineer is currently using this table as one of his test turntables."

It's a conundrum.

I welcome any suggestions but I'm especially interested in direct experience comparing these two platforms.

Thanks,
Bill
wrm57
sbrown
148 posts
 
Bill, to get back to your original post, the two other brands I would put on the short list are SRA and Critical Mass. I know people locally who have both and they are both very good even though we’ve never done a back to back comparison.

The guys that use the SRA stuff, I’ve never heard there systems without it so I don’t have a good delta to go by. One has a SRA rack with the component bases and the other just has the bases. I think they are both using the Ohio class bases. The guy with just the bases added subs to his system last year. For logistical reasons, he had to place his tube amp on top of one of the subs. He stuck the SRA between the amp and sub and has never had an issue. I think that speaks to how well those isolate from external vibration. I think they also do a good job from component generated vibration.

I was familiar with the other friends system before he got the Critical Mass stuff. The difference there was profound. The noise floor dropped like a rock and the amount of resolution he got was amazing. If I could afford it, I would have this is my system.

Regards,

Scott
wrm57 OP
1,088 posts
 
Hi Scott, thanks for the response. Both brands are unfamiliar to me. I'll look into them.

--Bill
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Sbrown wrote,

"The guy with just the bases added subs to his system last year. For logistical reasons, he had to place his tube amp on top of one of the subs. He stuck the SRA between the amp and sub and has never had an issue."

I think I probably would have tried to come up with a little bit better location. He never had an issue that he was aware of, anyway.
sbrown
148 posts
 
I whole heartily agree that the location was less than optimal. I posted it because it’s a testament to how effective the Silent Running bases are at isolating a component. I wouldn’t try that with a chunk of maple masquerading as an isolation device.
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
If you are open to more suggestions, I would add Vibraplane to the list. I have three active units under my turntable and each amp. They are extremely effective.
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