Help in isolating a TT with spring suspension.


Hello,

I recently got an old Pioneer PL-10 TT at an estate sale. After cleaning it up and getting a new headshell and belt for it, it looks and sounds to be in NM condition.

It sounds great as long as you just sit there, but as soon as you start walking around, even softly with no shoes, etc., it causes the tonearm to skip around a bit. I replaced the rubber feet the springs rested on and leveled it, but it still vibrates when you walk.

Are these types of TT's normally this sensitive? I find this unacceptable. I'd like to keep this TT if I can eliminate this problem. It's original rubber feet are pretty hard and chintzy. Would getting some kind of cone feet help? It is resting on a vertical rack which isn't exactly audiophile quality, but isn't light weight junk either.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, but please make them somewhat reasonable (no $900 Harmonix feet)!
128x128chris_383

Showing 2 responses by nsgarch

It's not about what you put under it, but about what you put it on ;-) And even if your "rack" is reasonably sturdy, the floor structure under the rack is probably what's bouncing (it's not a concrete slab is it!)

I bet even an un-sprung TT would have trouble in that situation, and what you're going to need is a wall shelf for the TT. Target's shelf ($179 at AudioAdvisor) is probably the most popular, and you can see it here http://www.audioadvisor.com/products.asp?dept=214

IMO, even the best TT stand sitting on a concrete slab can't beat a PROPERLY MOUNTED wall shelf.
Chris, if you can't do a wall shelf, you have only one alternative and that's to secure the floor. The easiest way to do that is to put two or four posts (depending on the joist spacing) in the crawl space to support the floor joists right under where the rack sits (so that the floor won't bounce, at least in that area!) You need to go into the crawl space and use some (rented) jacks to jack up the floor joists an inch or two, and then slip in some 4x4 posts under the joists (set on those little pre-cast concrete piers so the posts won't rot ;-) It's simpler than it sounds and works like a charm.

Setting something heavy like slate or stone on a floor that already bounces won't help.
.