VPI Aries owners


What you put underneath your Aries to control vibrations?
sidssp
Stringreen, a similar arrangement (and IMO a more effective isolation of motor vibrations) can be accomplished using light-duty Vibrapods under the motor. Also works well on TNTs.
I have a Superscoutmaster/rim drive. I use bear paws (they are big and heavy brass cones), under the turntable to prevent any movement to the table....however, I have the sponge (soft) feet under the motor, so that the slightest out-of-roundness in either the platter (I'm using the Classic platter), or the drive disc/or rubber surround of the disc will be absorbed by the motor assembly...which will move but not transmit any vibration to the platter. It works.
Replaced the stock plinth feet with Stillpoints Ultra 5s and the motor pod feet with Stillpoints Ultra Minis w/ 6/32 male stud. Transformed the table.
+1 for the Black diamond Racing pucks package made for the Aries table and motor.
All VPI tables need a very solid support. Do nothing to add any wiggle room at all...it will ruin the sound. VPI mini feet are too flexible to perform properly. Eliminate them in favor of Bearpaws (Vermontaudio.com) which will give you a substantial improvement.
I use a 4" thick maple platform mounted on isoblocks directly sitting on a concrete floor.
Started with the Bright Star 19 sandbox set upon a shot and sand packed Rack of Gibraltar. Still had some mild acoustic breakthrough problems due to being located on a sprung wood floor. Purchased a used Airmass 19, placed sandbox on top, and that did the trick. Unwavering pitch definition regardless of the severity of the dynamic assault. Creamier vocal, string and horn textures. Big, big tuneful kick drums, double basses, and tymps. I'm very pleased.
I have mine on a Black Diamond Racing the Source shelf, with the motor's four feet on 1/2 cm. sorbethane discs borrowed from my Rowland gear. It definitely lowered the noise floor. I have a friend with a TNT who said that Harry W. prefers Bright Star products. Anyone know if this is true?
Maple butcher block with Rollerblock clones (DIY) under that for vibration control.

Enjoy,
Bob
Hi Sid,

I've heard all kinds of devices that go under shelves and different types of shelves. Most of them are subtle differences. I was totally blown away by what I heard, when I put my VPI Aries on a Neuance shelf.

I do have a butcher block sitting between my rack and Neuance shelf. The reason I did that, was that I preferred to level the table by putting stuff under the maple butcher block instead of adjusting the legs on the Aries.

Here's a fairly recent picture, before I added my SDS.

http://members.aol.com/bvirgil311/Rack2.jpg

Have a great day,

Brad
I use the Black diamond Racing pucks package made for the Aries table and motor.
That's part of the design for the custome made stand made for me.....a special tire called "Isobase" (I believe). This along with some interesting things (absolutely no spikes!!!!!) make a wonderful isolation system.

P.S. To all who e-mailed me, I sent your e-mail to the designer with hope he will contact you all.
Sknnyc,

Thanks for the idea. Do you know any used scientific supplies store in NY area?
after auditioning many expensive iso platforms I am using 2 bicycle tubes partially inflated beneath a piece of wood (a leftover cherry shelf from a salomander rack). it outperforms many and matches the better platforms.
I really wouldn't recommend the Seismic Sink as I've had many problems trying to level the darn thing. You can pick up a used Vibraplane on Ebay (just keep an open eye.. I got mine from a Used Scientific Supplies store for about $300!). Barring the use of something like the Vibraplane, I would opt for the Big Rock 19 (maybe the TNT dedicated stand can be modified?).
My Aries is on a passive Vibraplane. The Vibraplane significantly improved the perfomance of the table.
I use a custom stand made from 3"x2" steel beams and sand filled. Weight is several hundred pounds on four spikes. Hitting the stand with your fist while a record is playing does not affect the sound. The Aries is on a granite slab 1" thick. Failure to adequately isolate the VPI will only allow you to realize a small level of the performance the VPI is capable of. The sound will lack fullness and depth without a good stand. The VPI stand is excellent. Jallen
i uses a 1.75 inch thick piece of granite (left overs from a stone company 20$). it made a big difference over the corian i used before.

my unit is also suspended from the wall on a shelf.

jim
Hi Sid...I had a custom base made for the unit and the difference was enormous! If anyone is interested let me know and I will forward you his name and information. I am also trying to get Harry Weiseld to see this stand and possibly incorporate it (or something like it) in his line. Sid, your right, the Aries is great, but it does need some isolation.
I use a Bright Star 19 sandbox.It's made for the Aires and has a cutout for the sama.It's the best!
I use a Symposium Svelte Shelf directly under the table and additionally I use a mouse pad (this tweak was given to me by Harry Weisfeld himslf) under the motor. It works okay. It could be better. I just couldn't afford more at the time.