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How do you deal with vibration?

Greetings all,

Many of us work very hard to keep vibration out of our equipment. I was hoping we could share our experiences with each other. I was wondering what other DIY methods people are using?

I personally have had good luck with shipping open cell foam under plywood. I find that about 60-70 percent compression works best. I place the foam underneath some plywood (Using spruce 3/4 inch). Then I place the component on the plywood. However, I think this more isolates the component from outside vibration. I don't think it does much to drain internal vibrations, especially in a CD transport.

Also I can not find open cell foam in town any more. I am ashamed to say that I actually went to Wal-mart to buy some. Now they don't carry it any more. So I was wondering where else I can get some?

I am currently thinking about building a Sandbox for my CD player and amp. Then putting the sand box on top of some sort of isolation material (open cell foam or cork rubber etc.) My thoughts are the foam or cork or etc should help keep the vibrations from getting into the equipment and the box should drain the internal vibrations.

Also, what are peoples experience with different woods. I live in BC so I can get most wood fairly cheap. I imagine every wood has it's own sonic signature due to it's resonant frequency. What works best? Solid maple, birch ply, MDF, walnut, mahogany etc...?\

Anyways, feel free to through ideas and experience (both good and bad) out there. It would be good to know what works and what doesn't.

Happy tweaking,
Nick
nickway
theaudiotweak
2,795 posts
 
Reduction of vibrational influences within a component should make the component operate with greater efficiency. With this in mind.. hooking up a component to a Variac and adjusting the operating voltage and then recording the current draw with and then with out your faviorite method for vibration control should lead you down the road of greater or lesser confusion..I myself have my own beliefs and I will try to measure and record these influences.Tom
jadem6's avatar
jadem6
1,074 posts
 
Theaudiotweak, I am very interested in hearing about what you can find. Without criticizing or confronting Eldarford I have been questioning to myself if his methods are the correct test in this case. I appreciate the fact that Eldarford is trying to apply science while at the same time not attacking those of us who will swear on our grandmother’s grave. Civility is one word for it. I conceder it maturity and an appreciation for each other as human souls, Kindness goes a lot longer way in communication than anger and irrational comments. I for one have thoroughly enjoyed this thread, maybe the best I've participated in. Good job all!
caterham1700
271 posts
 
Hi JD,
Re:>>>"Civility is one word for it. I conceder it maturity and an appreciation for each other as human souls, Kindness goes a lot longer way in communication than anger and irrational comments. I for one have thoroughly enjoyed this thread, maybe the best I've participated in. Good job all!"<<<

Oh Geez, Jade.All this nicey-nice crap makes me sick.
Bite me.

; )
best,
Ken

ltns-how ya been,dude?
pbb
1,140 posts
 
The component will operate with greater efficiency? What is meant by "efficiency" in this context?

This is a classic thread that shows that some people are mightily convinced that audio is a one-man thing since no one hears the same.

As a complementary question what does it actually mean when one says that we all hear differently?

Surely if this were true any research towards advancing audio would be in vain.

Great how everything has been reduced to a question of individual taste; it is surely a sign of the times where magic thinking is the order of the day.
piezo
304 posts
 
just my 2 cents on whether vibration control works; in some cases an unreserved yes.

I had a pair of silver/copper pro silway IIs that had some nice bass control and openness qualities when used with my CDP but they also had a horrific tiring glare. No getting around it. They sucked in that role to the point of being unlistenable.

I had some mixed metal chrome/sorbathane feet deals (about 1.5 in dia at the base) under my tube pre to help control vibration impacts to the tubes. I'm not sure if they really help out all that much under the pre but when i put them under the CDP the glare from the Pro Silways was gone and the whole shebang tightened up top to bottom. Points up vrs point down...no significant change that i could tell. would other vibration controls work better...can't say and don't really have time to try these days. However, controlling the vibration at the source at the macro level helped unquestionably. On a detail tweak side of things it did seem that the sound was a tad better with the cages off my amps than with them on but the arrival of toddlers ended that experiment.
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