I'm certainly no expert. But from what I've read - and experimented with conciderably - it seems that rubbery devices (like vibrapods) seek to absorb vibrations and solid devices (like cones, wood blocks, etc.) attempt to dissapate vibrations. I don't know if there is a theoretical basis for determining which components do best with which type of treatment. My own experience has demonstrated to me the the differences they make can best be determined by trial and error. Based, of course, on your own personal listening preferences.
You might want to go to a local hardwood retailer and pick up 1-2' of various hardwood boards, cut some small blocks and experiment. Different woods definitely yield different sounds. I've tried oak, maple, walnut, bocote, myrtlewood, mahagony, teak and zebrawood. My RadioShack SPL meter shows definite differences in Db levels at different frequencies which with type of wood used. I've found the zebrawood by far to be my favorite. There is a very good discussion on wood isolation blocks in Stereo Times online under "Archives -> Art and Science of Audio Tuning; Part 4."
Of the softer 'absorber" devices, Mapleshade offers 'Isoblocks' which work quite well. They are a sandwhich of ribbed rubber-cork-ribbed rubber at 4/$24. However, you can find the vary same device at any Heating & Air Conditioning retailer for $2 apiece - they are called 'V-pads' - and they are 4 times as big as the Mapleshade version.
Sometimes these devices work best in combination. I have a less than ideal wooden cabinet holding my audio electronics - CDP, tubed preamp and amp. On top of the cabinet are V-pads supporting a 1 1/2" maple board, on top of that are zebrawood blocks directly supporting the chassis of each component. Sounds pretty good. In fact, it sounds amazing!
However, the same combination under my SS integrated for my modest HT setup yields too bright a sound image so I eliminated the v-pads and use Vibrapods instead which reduced the harshness.
Again, I think the key here is expeimenting with varius devices and in various combinations until you get the sound you find most satisfying.
You might want to go to a local hardwood retailer and pick up 1-2' of various hardwood boards, cut some small blocks and experiment. Different woods definitely yield different sounds. I've tried oak, maple, walnut, bocote, myrtlewood, mahagony, teak and zebrawood. My RadioShack SPL meter shows definite differences in Db levels at different frequencies which with type of wood used. I've found the zebrawood by far to be my favorite. There is a very good discussion on wood isolation blocks in Stereo Times online under "Archives -> Art and Science of Audio Tuning; Part 4."
Of the softer 'absorber" devices, Mapleshade offers 'Isoblocks' which work quite well. They are a sandwhich of ribbed rubber-cork-ribbed rubber at 4/$24. However, you can find the vary same device at any Heating & Air Conditioning retailer for $2 apiece - they are called 'V-pads' - and they are 4 times as big as the Mapleshade version.
Sometimes these devices work best in combination. I have a less than ideal wooden cabinet holding my audio electronics - CDP, tubed preamp and amp. On top of the cabinet are V-pads supporting a 1 1/2" maple board, on top of that are zebrawood blocks directly supporting the chassis of each component. Sounds pretty good. In fact, it sounds amazing!
However, the same combination under my SS integrated for my modest HT setup yields too bright a sound image so I eliminated the v-pads and use Vibrapods instead which reduced the harshness.
Again, I think the key here is expeimenting with varius devices and in various combinations until you get the sound you find most satisfying.