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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
lewm
13,025 posts
 
Willie, I don't think you want your turntable to "rock sideways slightly". That's a problem with noncompliant balls, like marbles. I mean this in a conversational way, not as a mandate.
bifwynne OP
2,206 posts
 
Folks, this is my OP. I must insist that we substitute the word "spheres" or the term "rubber spheres" if you wish for the word "balls." And substitute the word "glasses" for the word "cups." I'm concerned that the A'gon "PC" police will shut this informative and kinda funny OP down. ;>) LOL!
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
I had a Gingko under my VPI, and there was nothing worse. I love the guys at Gingko, and they make great products, but the VPI support destroyed the sound of my VPI. As I mentioned above....a SOLID support is best...the more solid, the better.
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
Lewm - you are absolutely right - I don't want the turntable to move sideways - I want it to stay motionless while the stand is vibrating.

So, the hi-fi stand has a sideways component to its vibration (i.e. music induced vibrations) the ball bearing/sorbothane will absorb it by moving ever so slightly under the turntable dissipating the energy, leaving the plinth staionary.

The sorbothane also takes care of virtical vibrations

It works very well for heavier Turntables like mine.

I do get a faint thud if I stamp my foot on the floor, but even kids moving normally in the room has no effect.

I tried the squash balls for a number of years, but they never come close to this method for isolation.

Of course there are serveral commercial variants available if you want to spend more cash - like
- Iso-Pod Isolation System
- Vibration Isolation (ball Bearing) Damper
- Vibropod
- etc...

You do have to "tune" the system to the component
e.g. when I first heard how well one layer of sorbothane worked I figured two layers would work better - WRONG. It sounded aweful, so I settled on one layer of 1/10" sorbothane for my turntable feet.

Heavier items like amps might do better with silicone sheet, but the gear I have works well with sorbothane.

I found ball bearings worked better than cones, because the cone anchored the foot, whereas the ball has no point so it does not act as an anchor.

Anyhow - Back to the music !
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear lew, What about 'Miraculous Mandarin' composed by Bartok in advance for your invention?
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