Llyodc,
Here is a very theoretical and probably not very satisfying explanation for what I have experienced first hand with my system. I think part of the appeal of hardwoods (not just maple) for this application is that in fact they are not so hard that vibrations just bounce off the material and back into your gear. When the piece of wood is thin like a violin or a guitar, the wood will resonate a great deal (a good thing), and these musical instruments tend to be made with thin pieces of softer woods put together in configurations that will resonate just the right amount.
When hardwoods are cut or glued together into thick slabs, their resonant properties are different from thin pieces. Vibrations entering the slab from one side are dampened as they travel through the material and as they are reflected back. So while the maple slab doesn't absorb and eliminate all vibrations from your gear and the room, it definitely mutes them. Think about the difference between being inside an old wooden ship made of thick timbers and a newer steel ship made from relatively thin sheets of metal - they definitely "sound" different with the steel being much more resonant and "live" sounding.
So why not use particle board or MDF which are less lively than solid or glued hardwoods? All I can say is that they are either TOO dead, or because they lack the complex structure of intact wood fibers, they cannot drain vibration away from your gear as effectively. Apparently some vibration is a good thing!?!
Lastly, the best hardwood vibration platforms I have used are thicker and very heavy - a full 2" thick or more - so they have a lot of inertia to stay put and not respond to vibrations coming from the room or your gear itself. Thinner glass, steel, MDF shelving while strong enough to hold up your gear would be easier to set in motion - especially by lower and more powerful frequencies.
Hope that helps a little.
Here is a very theoretical and probably not very satisfying explanation for what I have experienced first hand with my system. I think part of the appeal of hardwoods (not just maple) for this application is that in fact they are not so hard that vibrations just bounce off the material and back into your gear. When the piece of wood is thin like a violin or a guitar, the wood will resonate a great deal (a good thing), and these musical instruments tend to be made with thin pieces of softer woods put together in configurations that will resonate just the right amount.
When hardwoods are cut or glued together into thick slabs, their resonant properties are different from thin pieces. Vibrations entering the slab from one side are dampened as they travel through the material and as they are reflected back. So while the maple slab doesn't absorb and eliminate all vibrations from your gear and the room, it definitely mutes them. Think about the difference between being inside an old wooden ship made of thick timbers and a newer steel ship made from relatively thin sheets of metal - they definitely "sound" different with the steel being much more resonant and "live" sounding.
So why not use particle board or MDF which are less lively than solid or glued hardwoods? All I can say is that they are either TOO dead, or because they lack the complex structure of intact wood fibers, they cannot drain vibration away from your gear as effectively. Apparently some vibration is a good thing!?!
Lastly, the best hardwood vibration platforms I have used are thicker and very heavy - a full 2" thick or more - so they have a lot of inertia to stay put and not respond to vibrations coming from the room or your gear itself. Thinner glass, steel, MDF shelving while strong enough to hold up your gear would be easier to set in motion - especially by lower and more powerful frequencies.
Hope that helps a little.