Looking again at vibration isolation - Audiolab 6000CDT

[Gazjam]

Like most of us,
I enjoy hifi related stuff on YouTube.

Big fan of a guy called Hans Beekhuyzen and his channel,
https://www.youtube.com/@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel

Currently I have my Audiolab 6000CDT transport plonked down on the glass shelf of my rack "as is".
Not ideal, and was always going to get around to looking at sorting that out.

This video caught my eye?

https://youtu.be/ZI6diR2uXo8

Later on Im cracking open the case of the Audiolab to see where it can be modded (case damping, RFI treatment etc) for now though Im looking at better isolating it to improve the sound.
So wanted to try what Hans had done in this video.

1)
Bought a set of the Moongel vibration dampers, basically 6 self adhesive gel pads (used by Drummers for damping ringing in drum heads)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/RTOM-AMGC-Moongel-Clear-Pack/dp/B01E5C4ZUE/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=moongel&qid=1672481313&sr=8-4

2)
And the old classic, well trodden Ikea Apptitlig bamboo chopping board.
Will Spraypaint it black to match the rest of my gear.

https://www.haberfellner.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_8337.jpg

Gel Pads being delivered today, set it up later and sit down tonight to have a listen.
https://theartofsound.net/images/smilies/thumbs-up.gif

Going from no isolation to this, so expecting a difference at least.
see how it goes, cheap enough to try it out.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Have you tried Townhsend products? The Siesmic platform has worked really well on my TT's. I have also gone down the route of minimising the coupled surface area between two surfaces to great effect. I have my 30Kg valve amp sitting on a Apptitlig bamboo chopping board, but I also have 10mm worth of sorbothane in a triangular configuration sitting under the valve amp to keep contact area minimal. One of the 10mm sorbothane "feet" sits directly under the main transformer of the valve amp. The Apptitlig bamboo chopping board then sits on a further 19mm bamboo shelf on my rack. The diameter of the sorbothane feet is quite large due to the size of the amp but this can be minimised.

[iansr]

Andy, i see you posted this at 10:41 today. I am trying to contact you regarding my 301. I have emailed, texted and tried calling the 2 numbers I have for you. Please contact me. Ian

[Gazjam]

So...
few hours on a Saturday well spent.

Ikea board with Gel pads sitting directly on glass shelf, Transport sitting on RDC cone cups, two small granite boards on top to damp case.
Good match visually for the Audiolab, I like it.

https://i.imgur.com/xYTWRFj.jpg

Sound improvements across the board, particularly in the bass and soundstage depth and focus.
Its a noticeably bigger sound now, and its better at pinpointing details in the mix.
Improvements pretty much as described in the video actually.

A tweak well worth doing if you haven't looked at how you sit your CD player, doesn't cost much and the sound improvement is not subtle.
:thumbsup:

[bumpy]

Sound improvements across the board, particularly in the bass and soundstage depth and focus.
Its a noticeably bigger sound now, and its better at pinpointing details in the mix.
Improvements pretty much as described in the video actually.

A tweak well worth doing if you haven't looked at how you sit your CD player, doesn't cost much and the sound improvement is not subtle.
:thumbsup:

I have carried out very similar mods. My Audiolab CDT now stands on SD Acoustic feet on a Base isolation platform. Isolation tends to be hard (metal points etc) or soft (sorbothane etc). I have found over the years that soft suits me better.

30735

[Gazjam]

Looks great Man,

Big fan of the Iso Acoustics pucks, have them under my PS Audio bits n bobs.
Work great.

[Gazjam]

Have you tried Townhsend products? The Siesmic platform has worked really well on my TT's. I have also gone down the route of minimising the coupled surface area between two surfaces to great effect. I have my 30Kg valve amp sitting on a Apptitlig bamboo chopping board, but I also have 10mm worth of sorbothane in a triangular configuration sitting under the valve amp to keep contact area minimal. One of the 10mm sorbothane "feet" sits directly under the main transformer of the valve amp. The Apptitlig bamboo chopping board then sits on a further 19mm bamboo shelf on my rack. The diameter of the sorbothane feet is quite large due to the size of the amp but this can be minimised.

Haven't tried Max's isolation stuff Andy, know it has a rock solid reputation. (no pun intended)
Bit spendy for my specific situation, tho nearly ended up with a Rock 7 instead of my Rega.
(something about those white platters...)

This was a cheap punt, just to see what happened and it worked out great.
Valve amps are an alchemy all to them selves I found...Great though having tried them.
still have 12AU7 valves in my Preamp input stage and from experience I'd posit maybe that's where valves work to their best?
Did very similar to what you did with my valve poweramp, Elrog 300B's and all...
sorbothane worked great, but any mechanical "decoupling" (spikes 'n stuff) made it sound a bit wrong.

Or was it the valves going off, best ask my audiophilianervosa :)
Happily (mostly) solid state nowadays.

[Gazjam]

Chris,

Had that same BASE audio platform under my Gyro SE back in the Day,
very underrated and quite hard to get nowadays.

Don't ever sell it! :)


I have carried out very similar mods. My Audiolab CDT now stands on SD Acoustic feet on a Base isolation platform. Isolation tends to be hard (metal points etc) or soft (sorbothane etc). I have found over the years that soft suits me better.

30735

[bumpy]

Chris,

Had that same BASE audio platform under my Gyro SE back in the Day,
very underrated and quite hard to get nowadays.

Don't ever sell it! :)

And I’ve got two 👍👍

[Swann36]

Really interesting thread thanks for posting

[Gazjam]

:thumbsup: