Turntable and subwoofer living together in peace and happiness


Unfortunately I got readdicted to audiophile disease a few years ago. I amassed a new system via the used market: Rotel Rb991, NAD c658, Rega Planar 3 w/motor upgrade, tonearm rewire, upgraded arm counter balance, Hana ML, Clear Audio Basic+, B&W 805 Matrix, B&W ASW800 subwoofer, Kimbers all around.

My issue has been subwoofer integration. I get rumblely feedback from the subwoofer as soon as I drop the needle into the lead in groove. With digital playback this is not an issue. Thinking that the turntable was picking up vibration from the floor and cabinet, I built an isolation platform that consists of a 6 inch deep box made of Peruvian Walnut filled with 50lbs of sand and topped with a 1/2 inch granite all of which sitds on Sorbothane spiked feet. I thought i had the subwoofer was far enough away. 

Any and all thoughts would be appreciated. 

horn13

Start with an Auralex SubDude isolation platform under the sub.  They really do a good job of reducing rattle and rumble. 

If your phono pre lacks a subsonic filter that may be part of the problem.   

I have had a few turntables in this room since using a Sub Dude under my sub and have never experienced rumble or speaker cones flapping all over the place and my phono pre has no Sub Sonic filter.   I'm temporarily using an old file cabinet with 60 or 70 pounds of lead and I am lucky my TT seems immune from bass and footfalls. 

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The first thing that struck me looking at your photo is the wood floor.  Wood floors are notorious for transmitting vibrations.  Is the floor spungy at all?  If so can you brace it from underneath to make it firmer?  That would help.  Also, underneath the speakers I have found Isoacoustics Gaia isolators are very helpful.  I also used them underneath my TT, but whatever you choose, some sort of isolators directly under the TT would help in addition to what you have already done.