Addressing the issue of microphony

[Steve Toy]

I'd like to find out the general opinion of forum members on this. Do you believe there is anything to be gained from addressing microphony issues, i.e. attempting to reduce vibrations entering your kit?

I'm looking for some truly candid responses here both in the poll and any further commentary.

[Beechwoods]

I have no experience of this but I'm open-minded and willing to experiment.

I feel that my system has a long way to go before the affects of microphony, supports and cables are likely to have an audible affect. But once sources, amplification and speakers are sorted to a certain level microphony, supports and cables are going to have a more perceptible affect on the end result... and that's when tweaking and experimenting with them is likely to pay dividends.

I'd be interested in whether advocates of supports and cable dressings feel that the affects of good practice in this area will have an affect regardless of the resolution of the other system building blocks...

[John]

ahh depends!!!
For instance on my power amp it tightens up the bass I use the feet of silence underneath Recently when Vic came around he asked me if those really work I said lets see, I then put on a track listened to it then removed it and listened again the music had lost some of its impact, this became more imparent when we put the feet back underneath the bass became tighter
When I had EAR 864 preamp using the biggest Cardas blocks to isolate had a big impact on sounstage I then tried this trick on everything else thinking it would make a difference but apart from my power amp I found Isolation made no difference
Items like tube damper rings can make a difference too but again the results are varied too, tried in the power amp makes no difference at some point I see if it makes a difference to my preamp yet many people report a big improvement when using tube dampers

[The Grand Wazoo]

I can tell what your answer would be from the way you constructed the poll.
There's something missing.............

What about adding 'According to my experience it brings about some improvements'??

.............No?

[jandl100]

heh heh - the poll options are a bit extreme - either night&day or none-at-all!

As such, I've plumped for none-at-all. Although I agree with John, really - "aah - depends!!!"

I've tried various stands and stuff, and support tweaks (my 'hifi drawers' are brimming with pucks & cones & spikes & pads and things!! ) - some can make a difference, depending on the context. But not night&day, and not none-at-all.

[Marco]

I can tell what your answer would be from the way you constructed the poll.
There's something missing.............

What about adding 'According to my experience it brings about some improvements'??

.............No?

Indeed. Steve, I think you should edit the poll accordingly

Marco.

[Clive]

I've not read every post but has anyone actually said that microphony doesn't exist or not matter? Clearly it does matter but the dispute is over where it matters. If you are serious about this then placing your amp (especially any with valves) and TT outside your listening room is a must. If you want to go to the max then do this for starters. Then attend to the small stuff.

[jandl100]

Interesting, Clive

But you do then get the trade off between cable length and microphony affecting the sound in different ways and to different degrees ... not to mention the cost of 'audiophile' cables that long!

[Clive]

Interesting, Clive

But you do then get the trade off between cable length and microphony affecting the sound in different ways and to different degrees ... not to mention the cost of 'audiophile' cables that long!

It depends on your situation. I run the air pump for my arm in the next room, it's just the other side of a single brick wall. If I did the same with my TT and line-level electronics I could do this with the cables I already have.

[jandl100]

Ah - Yes, OK. Sadly, I have only 1 hifi room, not 2!