European Vibraplane?

Then there is also this:

http://www.newport.com/BenchTop-Compact-Pneumatic-Vibration-Isolation-Pl/139761/1033/info.aspx#tab_orderinfo

A Newport engineer recommended these:

http://www.newport.com/SLM-Series-Compact-Air-Mount-without-Self-Leveling/139799/1033/info.aspx#tab_orderinfo

Very reasonably priced, but certainly not as efficient as the Vibraplane. They do have isolators with terrific vertical and horizontal isolation (1/1.5 Hz respectively), but the load required is just not practical for home audio application.

http://www.newport.com/S-2000-Stabilizer-Pneumatic-Isolators-with-Automa/844255/1033/info.aspx#tab_Overview

Steve,
What does "SOS" mean and what is the price and model number (series) for "the ones for audio"? The website doesn't list anything designed specifically for audio.

Thank you.

Thanks for this info, Peter.

Peter,

If you're referring to the SLM series isolators from my first link, you only need a bicycle pump, not a compressor. The S-2000 series isolators need a minimum of 660 lbs to perform, so they are arguably not suited for home audio use...

The platform from my last link uses four isolators that Bydlo linked and looks like the equivalent to the Vibraplane and Minus-K, but the price is not listed.

Assuming the SLM series isolators do a decent job, they indeed might a pretty good deal and an alternative for those who can't afford a Vibraplane.

Bydlo
Peter, all that is available in EU: as I learned Newport has a warehouse in France. BT-2024 automatic platform sales for:

1869EU+VAT+150EU shipping within EU (unavoidable) which in my case gives 2450Eu...2/3 of the price of te deck I want to support...

If you had a friend in the US buy it for you and ship it to Europe, you'd save a big chunk of money...

Because the price of the platform is much lower in the US to begin with. If you then have someone located in a different state buy it, you will also save on the sales tax. I also expect that shipping would be less than what the company would charge as they generally use standard service that might not always be the most economical way to ship.

Skos,
I'm talking about the Newport platform. I don't know how much a Vibraplane is since you never answered that question in this thread. From the legal standpoint, I don't see how he would have to pay customs since the purchase would take place within the US. So a much lower price, no sales tax, and no customs. There is the issue of shipping to be sure, but I shipped a big mountain bike to Poland from NYC once and it was not prohibitively expensive. I know people would also ship big TV sets to Poland years ago, which arrived just fine. Obviously he would have to trust the person and the person would have to be willing to go to such great lengths to help him, but it is doable.

Bydlo (btw, I feel funny writing this word as I grew up in Poland),
The BT-2024 is slightly less than $2000. I admit I don't know much about customs duties in Poland these days as it's been years since I sent anything there. However, I wonder if there is a provision for "gifts" just like there is a tax exemption for gifts in general. Might be worth to look into it. But from what you've described, it's indeed a robbery what they are doing. No wonder these platforms are so much more expensive over there.

Btw, Newport does not list the prices for these platforms on their website. You have to go through a sales rep to get a quote.

Sksos,

Thank you for the price info. I might be on the market for a Vibraplane soon (those damn flimsy apartments in So Cal are driving me nuts!) so it's good to know who to talk to. Just need to convince my better half I absolutely need it...Going to be tough!