DIY isolation plaform

[valvelover]

Hey Guys,

thought I might as well show off my attempt at handywork ;-)

Saw some cheap pine sheets (30mm thick) at Bunnings 2 weeks ago and had an idea. Bunnings cut them down to size for me from the sheet - easier than me trying to cut them myself as I don't have a bench to work with. Dimensions were sized to suit my amps footprint - 430mm x 600mm. Sanded the boards down with 125 grit paper, then applied 2 coats of matte lacquer (sanding between each coat). To finish things off, I got a bunch of Squash balls (not bloody cheap these days!!!), cut them in half and glued to base of boards with superglue. I'm hoping that they stay on without too much issue ;-) Anyway, pictures below:

top:

bottom:

in situ:

Didn't cost me that much - $29 for the full sheet of Pine, $10 for a brush, $45 for the lacquer and $6 for the sanding block and lastly, $20 for Six squash balls. It's DIY, probably cheaper than I could buy, and there's the self pride in having a crack at it yourself.

How does it sound? Been listening for a few hours, maybe you guys who say that vibration affects SQ are onto something after all. I think that the sound is less 'sharp' or 'biting', possibly because the amps were directly coupled to the tiled floor? I would say the sound is a bit more mellow on the ears.

I'm now curious to see what others have experienced from using isolation boards under their amp(s).

Dave

edit: it obviously would have been cheaper if I'd had lacquer already etc. I have plenty of lacquer left for other projects ;-) and of course, can re-use the brush and sanding block.

Edited December 22, 2012 by valvelover

[Guest atilsley]

I like it. And the amps, what are they!

Cheers

Andrew

[valvelover]

Opera Consonance Cyber 845 SETs. Class A, 26w I believe. I like 'em!

Dave

I like it. And the amps, what are they!

Cheers

Andrew

[andyr]

I'm now curious to see what others have experienced from using isolation boards under their amp(s).

Dave

I don't use boards under my amps but I do use (whole) squash balls. The benefit I noticed from this isolation (3 x ss amp modules + ss active mono XO in each custom-made case) was increased resolution.

To finish things off, I got a bunch of Squash balls (not bloody cheap these days!!!), cut them in half and glued to base of boards with superglue.

I suggest you will get a better effect (ie. better air isolation) by using whole squash balls. The way you stop the balls from moving around is build little squares out of 20 x 10 wood strips, to contain 2 squash balls. Or, if you're only using 1 at each location, use a plumbers plastic pipe neoprene washer underneath each squash ball.

Regards,

Andy

Edited December 22, 2012 by andyr

[heman_]

No need to build anything to hold the squash balls in place! Just use a the lid off a 2L bottle of milk. Perfect size.

Edited December 22, 2012 by heman_

[shaky]

Couldn't you just double sided tape them to the plinth and once it is in position they can't move?

Valvelover, I did precisely what you have done, board and squash balls, to some Musical Fidelity amps years ago and was very happy with the outcome. Nice work.

[valvelover]

Good suggestions guys! I quite like the 2L milk bottle lid idea - thank you!

Dave

[rawl99]

Hey Guys,

thought I might as well show off my attempt at handywork ;-)

Saw some cheap pine sheets (30mm thick) at Bunnings 2 weeks ago and had an idea. Bunnings cut them down to size for me from the sheet - easier than me trying to cut them myself as I don't have a bench to work with. Dimensions were sized to suit my amps footprint - 430mm x 600mm. Sanded the boards down with 125 grit paper, then applied 2 coats of matte lacquer (sanding between each coat). To finish things off, I got a bunch of Squash balls (not bloody cheap these days!!!), cut them in half and glued to base of boards with superglue. I'm hoping that they stay on without too much issue ;-) Anyway, pictures below:

top:

bottom:

in situ:

Didn't cost me that much - $29 for the full sheet of Pine, $10 for a brush, $45 for the lacquer and $6 for the sanding block and lastly, $20 for Six squash balls. It's DIY, probably cheaper than I could buy, and there's the self pride in having a crack at it yourself.

How does it sound? Been listening for a few hours, maybe you guys who say that vibration affects SQ are onto something after all. I think that the sound is less 'sharp' or 'biting', possibly because the amps were directly coupled to the tiled floor? I would say the sound is a bit more mellow on the ears.

I'm now curious to see what others have experienced from using isolation boards under their amp(s).

Dave

edit: it obviously would have been cheaper if I'd had lacquer already etc. I have plenty of lacquer left for other projects ;-) and of course, can re-use the brush and sanding block.

Hi Dave,

I am really pleased that you have given this a go and found worthwhile results given some of the exchanges we have had on some threads with your very skeptical views on the benefits that can be obtained from isolation from seismic vibration.

I personally find very significant benefits but am a shade more extreme in the platforms (constrained layer mass damped) and the type of mechanical isolation used(more functionally effective but less cost-effective than squash balls).

As per our previous chats I can assure you that significant benefit is obtained by using good isolation under transports and dacs if you ever venture away from vinyl to the dark side.

Good luck with your experimentation and welcome to the band of isolation nuts.

I assure you that if you experiment with different materials and constrained layer lamination methods the possibilities are very interesting, and for me personally the improvements I achieved surprised the living daylights out of me.

Have fun

Rawl. ( apparent peddler of snake-oil theories)

[andyr]

I personally find very significant benefits but am a shade more extreme in the platforms (constrained layer mass damped) and the type of mechanical isolation used (more functionally effective but less cost-effective than squash balls).

Have fun

Rawl. ( apparent peddler of snake-oil theories)

I would be very interested, Rawl, in hearing more about your approach - ie.:

• what CLD platforms?
  
• what mechanical isolation you usd (which you say is more functionally effective but less cost-effective than squash balls)?
  

This is not a troll-post to bash you ... I have had success with slate on top of (whole) squash balls and I am interested in making something that is a better isolator.

Regards,

Andy

[valvelover]

Thanks guys. I haven't had the stereo on much the past few days (work/heat/haven't been well health wise) and have only listened to a few CDs over a few hours with the isolation platforms in place. I think that with the 845 valves etc, it probably helps decouple the monoblocs from the speakers. I could be wrong.

Dave

[Royq]

Hi all just wanted to mention simple something I found worked really well.I found some vibration deadening mats in Bunnings cost $11 each. The type used under heavier machinery compressors etc Cut them to fit under my equipment and was amazed at the result. Admittedly my system is set up in an ikea TV furniture with glass shelves and the like yes I should know better but!!!!

The sound was clearer and focused all round much better

I gave some to my brother in law for some his studio monitors he was amazed and he doesn't even own a hifi

Definitely worth a shot not much in hifi costs around the $10 bucks these days to get an improvement

[In Finite]

HI all , this is a very interesting discussion but if some people could take me back to stereo kindergarten please.  Well i have heard about isolation boards/devices for speakers but i am not sure how isolating the actual amp will improve/change the sound? Is it something to do with the solder joints/wire connectors on the pcbs being moved around microscopically by the vibration? Quite amazing.  And do valve amps have a greater improvement than solid state?  Sorry to regress the discussion back to BC !