What does everyone use as isolation platforms underneath their equipment? I'm currently using home-made isolation platforms made from A3-sized pieces of 2cm-thick acrylic/perspex sheets, with sorbothane feet on each corner, but I have no idea whether this is right. Has anyone used this sort of thing before?
From looking at the system pics thread, there seems to be lots of glass sheets with ball bearings underneath them in use. Is this part of the Fraim system? And what about Nordost Pulsar Points, or those oak cone things? What is the preferred method of isolating your equipment? Or is it best to just place the boxes on the glass shelves of my rack? (I assumed not?).
Thanks, but I've already got a rack with glass shelves (changed from a Corras!). I'm just interested in what people are placing their kit on, platform-wise.
I'm using a Symposium Svelte Shelf underneath my CD5i. The shelf is resting on the Symposium supplied couplers.
I just received it yesterday, and listened to CDs for a couple hours last night, but so far, the results are very promising. The characteristics I've noticed so far-- increased speed, focus and detail. The change is actually wonderful-- but sometimes, when changes like this are made, they don't sound so wonderful the second day-- so I'll see what tonight brings.
The main reason I got the shelf though, besides just being curious about what would happen if I isolated the CD5i from the shelf on the hifi rack*, was to see if it could help tame a slight bit of digital harshness-- which I seem to hear from the CD5i the first half hour or so that I play it (perhaps afterward, to a lesser degree, but I don't really notice it). It didn't seem to help in this regard, although after the requisite half hour or so the harshness was gone-- so it looks like I'll still need to play the first CD of the night on mute, then begin listening to music, sans the harshness, following.
*-- the rack I'm currently using is a Salamander Synergy-- I'm sure I can probably do better...
Posts: 86 | Location: New York | Registered: Thu 06 December 2007
I originally got a Corras and spiked it - worked well but I've got very limited space in my room and I didn't like the equipment being so close to the floor. I also bought more and more boxes so ran out of space! The Corras is now my bedside table ;o)
So, picked up a Sound Organisation rack with numerous shelves. I really don't want to fork out for a Fraim; I just want to make the best of I what I have, hence my question about what isolation platforms people are using.
Originally posted by Sunnyside: So, picked up a Sound Organisation rack with numerous shelves. I really don't want to fork out for a Fraim; I just want to make the best of I what I have, hence my question about what isolation platforms people are using.
Looks like you are headed down the expensive road of inexpensive equipemnt rack and odd tweaks to make it sound better. You wont be getting th ebest out of your gear that way.
Sorbothane smudges the timing. IMO, 0.02€, YMMV.
Been there, done that.
regards
Peter
Posts: 529 | Location: In the shadow of "La Défense". | Registered: Mon 18 June 2007
^ That's what I'm interested to know, i.e. Sorbothane messing the timing up. Is it better to have things very rigid, but risk vibrations from the speakers having an effect, or is it better to have equipment isolated from external vibrations.
I don't have a TT BTW, as I know these require very careful isolation.
Originally posted by Sunnyside: Is it better to have things very rigid, but risk vibrations from the speakers having an effect, or is it better to have equipment isolated from external vibrations.
Ultimately, a stand has to do two things drain equpment generated vibrations, from transformers, motors, for example, from the equipement. It also, as much as possible, should attenuate vibrations from the outside world.
There are one or two contributors here, I'm thinking of Abbydog (IIRC), who are very sceptical about "fancy" supports. The Ikea Corras has a cult foillowing here.
The Fraim is expensive, but there are alternatives that are less expensive, that give satisfactory results.
I've never regretted getting the sorbothane out of my system ;-)
regards
Peter
Posts: 529 | Location: In the shadow of "La Défense". | Registered: Mon 18 June 2007
It's the only rack I've ever had, and haven't compared it to anything else. I guess this will have to be my next project (or at least one of my next projects)...
Posts: 86 | Location: New York | Registered: Thu 06 December 2007
Originally posted by pcstockton: What is wrong with a Salamander?? Especially the Archetype???
If you have individual isolation platforms on every shelf, i cant see why it would be inferior to a Ikea bedside table.
Which as it has been stated, are VERY popular in the Naim world.
The reason Ikea supports are so popular (and not just in the world of Naim users) is the old price v performance factor....The Ikea stuff may not be the last word in supports, and the Fraim is a better match both sonically and in aesthetics, but on a sliding price scale, no way is the difference in price matched by the difference in sonics...IMO...
The proper choices are then either a Fraim, or a very cheap bedside table?
It seems there must be some middle ground. Especially for those that already have a "decent" rack.
I spent $200 on a Salamander Archetype.
It has Veneered MDF Shelves, which are drilled with holes larger than the threaded poles that support the rack, so they dont touch. Then each shelf has rubber gaskets between the nut/washer and the shelf. Im sure this performs some degree of isolation. The whole rack rests on spikes... etc...
I KNOW a fraim wold be FAR better. But I think this would outperform an endtable.
If you didnt enter value into the equation, considering most of us have already bought something, the Archetype is a good rack???
If buying new, without any existing rack, I get the Corra suggestion. But you cant be alleging that the Corra is better than a Mana, or a Salamander etc.....
Posts: 856 | Location: Portland, Oregon; USA | Registered: Wed 19 March 2008
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