Cones/Bearings for CD player

Don't mess with all the cones, roller balls, and other BS.
I built magnetic levitation pods and they kick ass! The only contact with earth (besides a small amount of side pressure) would be from the cables that connect to the cd player. This kills nearly ALL earth born vibrations!! The sound is improved in the following ways: Bass is deeper and cleaner. Soundstage is much more airer. The music just sounds so much more REAL when you can "float" the cd player or transport above the shelf. All materials can be bought locally. See my instructions on the PS Audio web site and happy building!!

Darrell: I read your project notes with great interest, but do not think that things would stay afloat during one of our CA earthquakes. Plus it only addresses vibration entering into the equipment and does not drain any off. I have had better results in my setup by doing both, though I am certain that your method is excellent for isolating the gear and might sound best on a unit with an outboard power supply that does not suffer much from internal vibraton.

Stay afloat during earthquakes?? I think I'd be more worried about getting killed by falling objects!!!! As far as draining off vibrations you're correct. The best way to completely isolate would be to float only the actual laser and motor spindle assembly. I'm working on that now with some super powerful tiny magnets. Check on the PS audio website from time to time as they are also interested in my idea.

Darrell: You get used to it after a while and just concern yourself, immediately, with your household members, including pets (though I am sure that "Tim the TireGuy" is concerned about another member:-) and then the gear. This is quickly followed by concern for other close ones in the vicinity, (not much different from tornadoes in Iowa, where I grew up). I had a 5 LB DAC topple from its cone points following a sonic boom (the last space shuttle landing) and decided to go with a more secure method. Oh, and I love the levitaion/isolation idea on the laser/spindle assembly, but I have to admit that the thinking about it fuels a major headache.

Another vote for the Neuance shelf as an isolation AND drainage sink. Worked wonders under my CDP: cleaning up and integrating the top octaves better than cones, and WITHOUT the temporal smearing of air bladders. Music seems simply more coherent, thus reducing digititis, IMHO. Good Luck.