Ceramic insulator cone under phono stage shocker!
Anybody have any experience with these from Partsconnexion? Price is certainly right! https://www.partsconnexion.com/CONNEX-83389.html |
It's good to have a week at home to experiment although the reason for it not so good ... Lol. So the Cocobolo pen stock worked out really well under the zx7 tape deck. What I find interesting here is that both tape decks ( Cassette and r2r) appeared to benefit from the exotic wood stock. Both exhibited similar apparent gain in volume and depth of bass with better dynamics all round. No idea what that is telling me at all. |
Had time this afternoon to experiment with the Cocobolo pen blanks that arrived while I was working in the Pacific Northwest. Still prefer my $1 ex ham radio ceramic cones points down under phono, SUT , CD transport and Jolida Black Ice bass expander. Cannot really tell much difference between the African Blackwood or Cocobolo under the reel to reel player tbh. Maybe I will take up pen turning......... |
Have been experimenting with the wood today, only had the African Blackwood delivered Sat. I still prefer my ex ham radio cones points down under my phono, SUT and CD transport. The Blackwood lost some dynamics and poise, did thicken up the bass a bit, maybe too wooly in all honesty. This is using 3 pen blanks in place of 3 ceramic cones. Now where I DO like the Blackwood is under the Pioneer reel to reel. That needed a little bass boost and it got it and a nice increase in overall gain it sounds like, not sure quite how. But the presentation overall appears boosted all over but not in an overblown way. Waiting for the Cocobolo...... |
Exactly Elizabeth. Tbh the success I have had with my el cheapo ceramic cones gives me a similar opinion on what I could possibly expect. For example when I placed 3 under my SUT I was expecting a gain but not in the magnitude it gave. However it was extremely positively addictive! Sigh! I suppose with that being said I should also try 2 down/ 1 up with those too....... So many variables, so much music,so little time! |
It was not Golden Soundâs claim for the one up two down configuration. That was some customerâs claim. Trust me, the âall points downâ configuration is correct. đ¤I beg to disagree, itâs right there in the installation guide. https://www.goldensound.com/hd-cone-installation-giudes |
I am still a little perplexed by both DH and SR claim to use their cones/couplers in either two up/ one down or two down /One up configuration. Does not make a lot of sense to myself. But if I had a set I would naturally give it a try. However between $70 and $250 for a set vs $1 each for the ex Ham radio ceramic cones I am presently using? |
There is a set of the Dh cones on eBay right now at $70. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192973022785 |
Maybe overused by now but more mind boggling results. Raised my little Denon au320 SUT up on 3 ceramic cones points downwards and probably an even larger SQ improvement than on the Chinook. It is like a layer of grunge that I never even knew was there was just removed. Clarity and detail just took a huge leap forward. Makes you wonder just how much more is left hiding in those little grooves to be discovered. I guess the transformer in this SUT was a pretty noisy beggar! Sitting here with a massive grin from ear to ear! |
Well I found some huge spikes in my cupboard, not sure what they came from but was able to adapt them to the bottom of my ML sub. Have also some nice metal cups for them to sit into with a rubber backing for the floor side which as it is sitting on a solid concrete floor that is tiled is about as good as I can get for now on the cheap. Distinct improvement in the bass department, tighter more distinct notes more easily discernible as separate notes. And it appears to have merged even better into the system, I really could not tell from my seating position that there is a sub in the system previously but now absolutely not even when looking right at it and knowing that is where the deep bass is coming from my ears tell me it is not. Works for me so far! |
@slaw . Very much on topic imho. Now you have me thinking that I need to address my ML sub too. It is actually sitting on some of those little wood blocks with grooved rubber either side( totally forget the make). I am sure there is mileage to be had there as well for myself. But it is nice to hear someone else having a big ah ha moment over something fairly simple as well. Off to look in my odds n sods box see if I can come up with anything before spending any! |
Elizabeth My rack is home made using 2 inch Butcher Blocks at 24x18 for each shelf. The 4 legs are stainless all thread with stainless nuts/washers at top/ bottom of each block. So infinitely adjustable for depth and level precisely. So all mods to my equipment work on top of butcher blocks. Likewise the effect cannot be separated except at speakers. Everything sits on a tiled solid concrete floor which I think helps any boom,or resonance issues to start with. My TT sits in a 40lb slab of solid birch and curly maple. Would love to make one from Cocobolo but holy moly the cost! Looked at Gaboon Ebony and Katalox blanks too but also spendy. |
Elizabeth Thank you so much for the woodworking lessons! Seems I know not much about wood at all. The links to the two sites are extremely useful. Cocobolo is very well regarded by aftermarket turntable plinth manufacturers I know and now I see why quite so pricey. However compared to some of the money I have wasted in the past a couple dozen pen blanks is not going to break the bank. |
Anyways GK, based on memory of your unexplained removed post. I truly like the idea of losing the rack entirely and if had say just one source would seriously consider it. But with all my gear there would be no floor left in my room! And then the rats nest of cables would be on show for the world to see and cats to chew! So isolation under components in the rack is the best I can shoot for. Yes I can see the potential pitfalls of putting the complete rack on springs, especially mine which is a 5 shelf high unit, teeter, totter whoops! Food for thought indeed. |
The OP of MY THREAD GKÂ was to answer the question contained within. That has been addressed to my satisfaction and so no I do not really have any further information to add to this thread in the direction that you and others have now taken it. I have zero vibration problems with my TT on my rack ( that I am aware of) Now if you desire to carry on within this thread that is fine as long as it stays vaguely on topic but do NOT make stupid statements about myself and my posts, got it buddy! No offense..... |
Pryso. I did indeed perform the test with cones down. However I also knew there were a couple of well used Amperex tubes in it as well. So I then decided to replace all 4 tubes with brand new Electro Harmonic tubes and test again but still with cones down. Since discovering the better SQ I have not inverted the cones again. At this time I am very happy with the SQ, I was more curious as to why not much effect with the ss phono and I think that has been answered. |
