Wee tweak - dont laugh...it worked!

[Gazjam]

Shifting about boxes on my equipment rack when I had a wee brainwave/brainfart...

Since losing the CD player I hadnt thought about equipment isolation for a quite a while and having a half hour to spare I had a wee think about it; was there anything I could do to make a difference?

Yes I was bored!

I had a couple of packets of THESE:
http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/pro...es/acoustifeet

lying around from a couple of PC builds I had done....and as they have vibration isolation/absorbing properties I wondered what they could do for my kit.

My equipment rack is a Stand Unique AV tower, glass shelves and wooden supports...and my Amp was sitting directly on a glass shelf.
I stuck 4 of these "sorbothane like" pads onto the feet of my amp and sat back to listen.

Improved left/right focus, better back to front soundstage..firmer bass, more space around instruments...
Quite a good wee improvement, and very noticeable!

I suspect maybe vibrations were getting back in to the casework of the amp through the glass shelf and affected the amps perfomance somehow?
I dunno, just know it sounds better.

I stuck another 3 of em under my 7520 Dac....just cos I could.

Overall...an improvement in focus and enjoyment of the music - noticed it the next day too so I didnt imagine it.

Not bad for next to nowt!

[DSJR]

You've given me ideas... many thanks indeed!!!!

[Spectral Morn]

Those look interesting.

I found the Beresford 7510 to benefit quite a bit from isolation. As the 7520 case looks similar, if not the same I would expect it too to benefit from these sorts of tweaks.

Thanks Gazjam for the write up and link.


Regards D S D L

[Getgaff]

My DIY isolation platform:



2 x Tescos finest granite tablemats
3 x Sorbothane feet from this chap: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/moonshine7/index.htm

A noticable improvement - firmer bass, elevated treble, better separation. Well worth doing for the few quid it costs.

[Alex_UK]

My DIY isolation platform:



2 x Tescos finest granite tablemats
3 x Sorbothane feet from this chap: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/moonshine7/index.htm

A noticable improvement - firmer bass, elevated treble, better separation. Well worth doing for the few quid it costs.

Ooooh - I didn't think about using them BOTH! Nice one!

[Gazjam]

You got anything in between the slabs?

Blue-tak works well to "couple" the slabs together and add mass...

Can deaded the sound though, so maybe something squishy between them (to isolate) might work out better - system dependant of course.

Watch what your doing though....its to easy to get Mana-ised with this stuff!

Gonna nip down to Tescos today and pick a couple up - fit under the dac very nice.
I've just the squishy feet sittingunder the Dac casework - shold improve things even better.

My SB3 sits on the Dac same as yours GetGaf...top tip mate, thanks!

[mercury1 (trolling as Dave K)]

Don't know whether I'm stating the obvious guys but these marble slabs can be readily and neatly cut to size with one of those electric tile cutters with a 'diamond' wheel (use plenty of water in the reservoir and don't force it), and yes, I am speking from personal experience. Can make everything look much neater.

[Getgaff]

You got anything in between the slabs?

I've not added anything in between. The second slab was applied purely to add mass to the bottom 'isolating' slab. The 3 sorbothane feet required a combined minimum weight of 3kgs, so a 2nd slab seemed the easiest way to gain weight.

[Marco]

Guys ('mercury 1' and 'Getgaff),

Welcome to AoS

Have I missed it or have you both posted in the Welcome area and introduced yourself, giving a proper first name and basic location - ('Getgaff' is excluded from the last requirement) and the system you use, along with your taste in music? This is part of the procedure necessary to be a member of our community.

Therefore, if you haven't done so already, I'd be obliged if you started a new welcome thread as soon as you get a chance.

Cheers!

Marco.

[mercury1 (trolling as Dave K)]

Just in case anyone is interested, Morrison's Supermarket have black granite chopping boards, 400mm x 300mm x 12mm, on special offer, £2 below marked price of £9.99, i.e. £7.99 each. All faces except the bottom are polished and the bottom has 6 thin rubber(y) pads to avoid damage to worktops.
Will post in welcome area shortly.