Footers or platform isolation

Cellcbern

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All tweaks tend to ultimately be flavour of the month, in the end there is only so much advice that anyone can give to anyone else since the nature of tweaks always seem to be so context specific in their outcome.

Rather than prescribing one fixed universal panacea it probably might be better for users to work towards trying explain the characteristic nature of any tweak and perhaps then the best usage scenario in the use of that tweak. It is a challenging area of exploration for sure.

I’ve liked the qualities of the SRA products that I’ve heard but I am not convinced that you can’t go with even more control with footers or creating a more flexible individually tailored approach and more individually finesse your response to take more ultimate control over the outcome.

Good platforms remind me of good quality automatic coffee makers (omg yes… more coffee analogies :eek:)… working with more tailored individual responses like using footers and mixed with additional constrained layer approaches in resonant damping is more like using a manual lever coffee machine… perhaps more of a scary art with more potential trip hazards.

Either way you take your risks and you pays your money… off the rack tailored solutions can be great but they are what they are and it’s all ultimately just one part of the mix… we can succeed or miss in so many ways. We each take our own best individual shot in these things and that’s about it really.
The tweaks that work I've kept long term. I've had some for more than a decade and still value what they contribute.

Interesting to me how threads go off track and morph into philosophical discussions. I find posters' experiences and insights gained from actually trying components and accessories useful - philosophical and semantic discussions not so much, although they may be fun for the participants in the same way that such discussions were fun in college. This happens repeatedly I think because busy adults have few opportunities for abstract and philosophical exchanges.
 
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sbo6

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Thanks for all the feedback, genuinely appreciated! After some investigation I settled on this Adona rack trimmed in cherry with the larger top shelves (not shown). Most components will continue to rest on CS2 footers in this rack. And if I like it, I'll go with the matching amps stands in the not too distant future. I think it's a step in the right direction.
eris6dw overalls.jpg
 

Audire

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Thanks for all the feedback, genuinely appreciated! After some investigation I settled on this Adona rack trimmed in cherry with the larger top shelves (not shown). Most components will continue to rest on CS2 footers in this rack. And if I like it, I'll go with the matching amps stands in the not too distant future. I think it's a step in the right direction.
View attachment 91002

Congrats. I also have Adona racks. They are excellent.

Enjoy.
 
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Cellcbern

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Suggestion - put Herbie's Audio Lab "Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders" (the "Giant" size) under the rack's spikes. This will help isolate the whole rack and make it easy to move.

 

Cellcbern

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Thanks for all the feedback, genuinely appreciated! After some investigation I settled on this Adona rack trimmed in cherry with the larger top shelves (not shown). Most components will continue to rest on CS2 footers in this rack. And if I like it, I'll go with the matching amps stands in the not too distant future. I think it's a step in the right direction.
View attachment 91002
Can't tell for sure from the photo but I'm guessing that the individual shelves are sitting on the points of solid metal spikes. If that's the case then they are coupled to, not decoupled from the rack. I would replace these spikes with something that decouples the shelves - Herbie's has several inexpensive alternatives (e.g., "Tenderfoot", or "Superior Decoupling Spike").
 
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Audire

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Suggestion - put Herbie's Audio Lab "Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders" (the "Giant" size) under the rack's spikes. This will help isolate the whole rack and make it easy to move.


We use Herbies as well.


2F17F560-8366-4996-9B7E-E8D5F9876E2F.jpeg

3C5E2519-F970-48D6-8459-896CFA8ED762.jpeg
 
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sbnx

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Just an idea. What if you did 2 shelf tall by 3 wide. Lower between the speakers generally better kinda thing.
 

sbo6

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Just an idea. What if you did 2 shelf tall by 3 wide. Lower between the speakers generally better kinda thing.
3 wide won't fit well with the amp stands flanking the stand. Also, this rack is actually narrower and not as deep versus my DIY so I'll actually have less front wall rack interference than my old rack.
 
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tony22

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Thanks for all the feedback, genuinely appreciated! After some investigation I settled on this Adona rack trimmed in cherry with the larger top shelves (not shown). Most components will continue to rest on CS2 footers in this rack. And if I like it, I'll go with the matching amps stands in the not too distant future. I think it's a step in the right direction.
View attachment 91002
I’m considering the very same rack! Let us know what you think of it once you have it in place.
 

sbo6

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I’m considering the very same rack! Let us know what you think of it once you have it in place.
Will do. I also bought the recommended Herbie's footers so we'll see how they work out.
 
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gshelley

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Steve,
the new rack looks great!
 
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sbo6

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Thanks again for all the great feedback and recommendations. I bought the rack and the Herbie's footers. With gear installed. I'll get the amp stand later this year, me thinks... ;-)

Edit: I completely forgot to give my output comparing my old 1.5" baltic birch shelved rack with steel shot packed metal posts versus the Adona Eris II on Herbie's footers. Note - I really expected little to no difference, however I have to say I was quite surprised - there is clearly better delineation of instruments, more focused in space and a slightly more relaxed sound. Also, the bass is tighter and additionally detailed. Quite surprising in a good way. Good stuff for sure.
new Adona rack.jpg
 
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russe41

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Dec 6, 2016
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I'm currently in design work for a stand for my Hanns T-60 turntable and came across
what has to be the best vibration control out there, but at a price.
Minus K platforms for scanning electron microscopes.
The BM-8 table in whatever weight you need to support is the most popular for turntables.
 

LL21

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I'm currently in design work for a stand for my Hanns T-60 turntable and came across
what has to be the best vibration control out there, but at a price.
Minus K platforms for scanning electron microscopes.
The BM-8 table in whatever weight you need to support is the most popular for turntables.
A number of members use this or very similar isolation...to great effect. You might find particularly insights here if you look: Mike Lavigne and Audiocrack come to mind.
 

the_nines

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Jul 6, 2019
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The Minus-K 50BM-8 isolation platform.

Agreed, not for the faint-hearted ($$$), but worth the investment IMHO.



My home was built in the 1950's, hardwood flooring throughout. Footfall was a major headache, I tried all sorts of isolation products and techniques, to no avail.

After setting up the Minus-K, and in order to test it, with the turntable platter stopped I placed the stylus on the record and started increasing the volume gradually to a substantial level (3 o'clock on my Leben CS600), all the while knocking on the audio rack and stomping on the floor, directly in front of the rack. No feedback, no needle jumping, no unwanted noise what-so-ever.

As well as providing excellent isolation, there was also an improvement in sound, most noticeably a wider and deeper soundstage.

Absolutely love it.
 

Audioking87

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Dec 13, 2019
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I'm using Alto Extremo NeoFlex footers from Germany under my DAC and they work really well and tightened things up. PM for more details, they just released new LSP footers for loudspeakers as well.
 
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