Which would you choose to isolate your turntable?


Choosing between MinusK, Vibraplane or Critical Mass System, which would you prefer? Or is there a superior alternative?
willster

Showing 3 responses by sndsrtaud

Simply put, under my CDP it smokes everything I've used to this point including, Vibraplane, Symposium Ultra/Series2 rollerblocks/tungsten balls, GP Audio Monaco, Solid-Tech Feet of Silence, SRA VR 3.0 Isobases, cones, pucks, sorbothane, etc.

Unlike what AlbertPorter reports, I've not noticed any "wildly" oscillations of the platform nor chassis ringing loudly. Of course there is some movement when you touch a suspended component whether it ba a SOTA or AR t-table, or a component mounted on Rollerblocks. This movement isn't abnormal and is part of the isolation mechanism. It shouldn't be a detractor to the benefits of these units.

In discussing audio applications with MinusK's David Platus, we discussed damping the top plate and he noted it would be easy to do. From my experience, it isn't needed.

The BM-8 isolates down to 0.5 Hz vertical and 1.5 Hz horizontal. Nobody is doing that. The MinusK has at least 8 issued patents related to their technology- not the ubiquitous "patent-pending" designations.

Take a look at their client list. Stanford's nanotachnology lab replaced all their air tables with MinusK as they isolate 10-100 times better.

What I'm hearing is mmore information, not the lower noise floor one hears with a PLC or power cord. I'd hypothesize that source gear is a lot more susceptible to low frequency vibration than we realize. This in turn prevents information from leaving the source and entering the signal path. If it isn't there, you'll never hear it no matter how expensive your other gear is.

This is serious gear. No audiophile psych-babble here.

Given the extent of the improvement this gave my system, the $2300 cost is relatively inexpensive.

www.americanwired.com
Let me clarify. Nobody doing it affordably and readily suited to audio application that can show the data, patents. Halcyonics approaches that levle, but the cost is extremely high.
Hi Larry:

Probably pretty good. Their BM-1 line can be configured to handle up to 700 lbs, but cost more like $4K which given the t-table's cost, isn't really out of line. It also can isolate down to 0.5 Hz in both horizontal and vertical planes. This low an isolation level would really get the stress off the cantilever assembly.