Vibraplane vs. Minus k for Turntables

Ten months ago I looked into the Vibraplane, Minus K, and the Halcyonics platforms. The Minus K web site, namely the links to the audio applications, prompted me to lean toward Minus K. It is made in America, utilizes only passive components that won't hold you hostage to a foreign manufacturer to keep your device working.

I began my turntable project needing a 350 lb isolation device. It rose up to more than 600 lbs. My Minus 650 BM 1 will be here in about a week. I've never seen one but the help I received from the folks at Minus K prompted me to opt for their product.

The Library of congress uses them along with Simon York tables for archiving. They looked into the Halcyonics units but chose the Minus K. Keep in mind that they don't have acoustic feedback problems at the Library Of Congress, monitoring is probably done with headphones.

All that said, I don't anticipate problems with horizontal oscillations with a 650 lb table spiked to a concrete floor. The Minus K should have vertical isolation equal to the Halcyonics.

Vibraplane, I checked them out when I saw, "the table only," on Audiogon for $2200, that was a year or so ago.

I found the company that manufactures, and private labels the Vibraplane, and received a quote from the industrial distributor of the product, $1500 without the pump. If you feel that a Vibraplane is your ticket, Google it and save some money.

I'll post after I have it up and running and confess if I've spent my money unwisely.

Ken

Larry,

All the Minus K vibration isolators have leveling feet. I don't know about the work stations as I never considered purchasing one. They are, however, very robust and will no doubt provide you with a stand second to none with regard to rigidity.

I'll be fabricating a welded tubular steel stand for my table. I want the platter chest high for ease of use. I also need the stand to accommodate the vacuum pump for the platter along with 3 Krell KPE Rerference head amps with the separate power supplies, one for each of the 3 arm-cartridge combos on the table. Since the KPE units only have single ended outputs, it would have been necessary for me to locate the table next to the processor - preamp, something I didn't want to do. The turntable will be across the room from the processor so I have a Krell KCT pre amp directly under the KPEs acting as a selector - preamp that will send the signal via balanced lines to the processor. Since the KCT also has CAST outputs I can use them sometime in the future when I upgrade my HTS 7.1 The remote controlled KCT will also enable me to make direct comparisons among the 3 cartridges as they all track the same groove. Lots of stuff on the stand, it's good the room is on a slab.

Good luck with your TERES project.

Ken