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Simple & Cheap Way to Cut Turntable Vibrations

This OP is dedicated to Elizabeth, A'gon's paragon of audio economics and sensibility.

I accidentally discovered a way to substantially reduce bass and vibration feedback into my VPI Classic turntable. Oh, I have to thank my wife too. Last week my wife asked me to place padded furniture stickies under the feet of our bed to protect the hardwood floor.

I looked as these cheap gizmos and said to myself, I have a better idea. I place a padded sticky under each foot of my TT. I was amazed by how much it really reduced feedback. I even knocked on the el cheapo IKEA table on which I placed the TT -- no feedback. Trust me, the IKEA table is the worst place to put any audio equipment, especially a TT.

Try it folks and let the rest of us know what you think.
bifwynne
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
Yup squash balls under my VPI too. However I did it a little differently. Put the TT on a maple butcher block cutting board, then put about 9 squash balls between that board and the table top, making a cheap man's Ginko Cloud. You can rearrange the balls to put more under the heavier table spots, like the motor, to balance it out. Over time these compress much more than initially, so you should check your level from time to time and adjust.

This setup passes the knuckle wrap test (stylus in a groove, record not spinning, rap on the supporting table top/leg - no sound through the speaker).

Enjoy,
Bob
mikewerner
119 posts
 
Yes I am serious.
The squash balls work great!
They are designed to do just what we want them to do in our application. Absorb
vibration and convert it to heat.
One thing I would add. You want the balls to compress under the weight of the supported equipment enough that the feet of the equipment do touch the supporting shelf or table, what-have-you.
Give it a try. I think that you will be pleased with the effect.
ablang
165 posts
 
My balls squashed completely.

I had a dozen or so under each of two concrete paving slabs, one for the TT and one for the CD player, and the weight was too much for them. (Insert joke of choice here.) The squash balls now look a bit like big red blood cells. In any case, I wasn't sure they were doing anything for isolation anymore, so I now use an inner tube under each paving slab.

Since I first read this thread I've added the felt pads--they work!

And if anyone else uses innertubes, try a tube with a presta valve (you can get them at any bike shop or from Amazon)--they hold air better than standard Schrader (automotive) valves. You might need a presta adapter ($.99) if you have only a standard pump...
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
My balls squashed completely.
No pain, no gain ;-)
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
A lot of graduate school engineering labs employ bungee cords for isolation, you know, rather than try to justify the high cost of a real isolation device to the powers that be. Bungees provide a nice smooth mass-on-spring iso system. The trick for audio application of bungee cords is to figure out (1) the springiness of the bungee cords required and (2) how to suspend the damn bungee cords, you know, other than from the ceiling.
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