Quiz about adding dense mass to a vibration isolation application!
There are two steps in this quiz:
1) Hypothetically, you have a DAC that is very solidly built on all sides and weighs 25 lbs.
This DAC currently has three Nobsound vibration isolation devices under it, the springs of which are about 50% compacted and are damped by foam ear plugs inserted inside of them. The vibration isolation effect with this setup is merely middling according to a cell phone seismograph app.
2) You add a 25 lb granite slab to the top of the DAC with a 1/8-inch rubber mat between it and the DAC, and then add the appropriate number of ear plug foam damped springs to each Nobsound device in order to get all Nobsound device springs back to about 50% compacted.
The question: What do you think is the sonic result of step 2?
@gladmo , I have a system in a former basement bedroom and I had an intermittent hum/buzz. I made some blocks out of 2x4’s and made some trial risers for my speaker wires. The noise immediately went away. I have a second system in my family room on the main level. I added some block and I couldn’t hear any difference. But then I had no noise whatsoever to begin with. I guess what I’m saying is not every system needs risers. All the best. JD |
I tried all of this not with a dac but a AR XA Turntable I modified. I finally found that leaving all of the nobesound springs in, so that it’s stiff, was the best option. Taking springs out only caused lateral movement, swaying and, general instability. Adding more weight would cause things to get worse. That’s my experience with these springs. |
JW:
My electronics are located outside the listening room (in a hall closet located behind the speaker wall in the living room).
I drilled 4 small holes through the double wall to run speaker cable to the living room.
Various footers and shelves placed under my TT/CD decks do alter the sound (same with a DAC when I used a seperate one).
You can experiment with items you probably already have around the home...
For soft footers cut up an old mouse pad.
For hard footers try matching ramekins, shot glasses, bat gammon pucks (you get the idea).
I finally ended leaving the gear stock (footer wise) and placing them on specialty shelves custom made for my rack.
Tried EAR, Mapleshade, Racing Cone, et cetera, footers, but never tried springs.
DeKay |
One thing that makes me happy with this subject is that people are paying attention to measurements! I can't say I've been able to identify a sonic issue related to DAC vibrations myself. Regardless, the process of achieving vibration isolation and measuring the results with accelerometers is interesting to me. It would be fascinating if someone could show DAC output measurements that correlated to the improved vibration isolation. A simple listening test could involve attaching an exciter or bass shaker to a DAC to see just how bad it can be made to sound. Maybe very specific frequencies are problematic, others completely benign. Maybe some frequencies help! You never know until you try. |
