You're still missing an essential part of the Troy though.
This fact isn't changed at all by the 'principle being older than you and me'.
Ok Yashn...I'll bite tell me. I would like to know.
FWIW, I have gone thru the test soundtracks and movie scenes, and I am definitely leaving the sub 1 notch higher on the volume level...with that extra bit of rumble gone and the tightness of the bass being very well defined, the added oomf in volume is 'perfectly balanced' for me.
I will say, I intuitively felt that 160lbs spread across the 5 Artesania Elastomer+Aluminum dampers was about right. Looking at the sub without the weights on top, i 'knew' adding one plate (ie, if you use gym weights, then the 45lb plate) was just going to rattle around on top. Two plates and a 15lb plate would be better but not 'dead dead dead'. But adding 3 plates plus a 25lb plate is that 'truly dead' kind of mass that (as far as i can perceive at the moment after 24 hours) really seems to allow the Velodyne to just move the cone without rattling/moving the cabinet structure.
With a single big 18" cone (and without an opposite firing 18" cone like in the Krell Master Ref, Paradigm Sub 2 or the Magico Q Subs), there will always be a physical movement at some level, but now it is so slight that even with oceans and explosions the 4 picture frames on top of the sub did not move even 1 cm. I know that Magico advertises a glass of water on top at full excursion wont even ripple (i may give that a shot)...but at $20K-30K+ for one of these, I am perfectly happy with the big Velodyne, 5 Artesania plates/HRS Couplers and 160lbs of polished chrome/brass free weights.
I think 160lbs with these elastomers interfacing directly with the top of the Velodyne makes this fun project 'done'. Fortunately, the Auralex Gramma Isolation platform underneath the sub takes 300lbs...which is now EXACTLY what the Velodyne plus mass dampers weight...299.5lbs!
Good Lloyd, all these improvements are cumulative....great stuff.