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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
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.
mikewerner
119 posts
 
I put my balls under a heavy mono block. They squashed, too!
So now I take care to only suspend lighter things from them.
-Mike
lewm
13,271 posts
 
Herbie rates his balls according to the load they will tolerate. I think he sells at least two types that differ in differ in size and possibly elasticity, to account for variation in mass. Since his balls are relatively inexpensive and since he has made the determination of appropriate mass for each product for us, I would tend to choose his stuff, rather than some random balls from a sporting goods store or hardware store. Plus, you get the cups that keep the balls and your precious turntable from rolling around. Don't get me wrong; I am as much of a DIY anarchist as anyone, but sometimes buying the commercial product does make sense.
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