Recommendations for Turntable Isolation Base?

Erik Tracy

Anyone have some recommendations for an isolation base for turntables?

I'm looking to see if I can gain any sonic improvements to my TT setup (Technics SL1200mkII, Denon DL-160 cart).

Right now, its sitting on top of an equipment rack using the standard feet. And the stand is close to my right front speaker(its an older picture, but the Sony TT is now a Technics):

I'm wondering if I can isolate it better whether that would be worth the cost.

Thanks!

bikerboy

Remove the stand it is currently sitting on and place the tt on a concrete or tile base that is isolated from the wood floor with something soft. See if that helps and if so, you need a new tt stand.

EndersShadow

Erik, not to sidetrack but what speakers are those? They look kinda cool..... and somewhat like birdhouses as well

Erik Tracy

EndersShadow wrote: »

Erik, not to sidetrack but what speakers are those? They look kinda cool..... and somewhat like birdhouses as well

B&W CDM1NTs.

I like 'em... :cheesygrin:

I wish my layout afforded me more room, but I'm constrained to have everything on the wall you see - the rest of the room is open to left into the kitchen and to the wall to the right as a window, the fireplace, and another window.

EndersShadow

Erik Tracy wrote: »

B&W CDM1NTs.

I like 'em... :cheesygrin:

I wish my layout afforded me more room, but I'm constrained to have everything on the wall you see - the rest of the room is open to left into the kitchen and to the wall to the right as a window, the fireplace, and another window.

Didnt you use to have an all LSi setup (LSiC and 7's) mounted there?

drumminman

Back in the day when I had my TT set up the most effective isolation was to mount it on the wall. I used cheap shelf brackets screwed into the studs for strength.

I could literally jump up and down on the floor, dance - no rumble, no skipping. and this was in a house with very bouncy wood floors. This method somewhat limits your options as to placement, but it's very effective.

SCompRacer

I have the same situation here, with a lead filled rack on a suspended hardwood floor. I didn't want a wall mount as I move things around. One of the absolute best isolation bases I have used is the Gingko Cloud. Expensive, but they do pop up used on Audiogon. That is where I got mine. If you are handy you can also clone one.



They have various sizes for different tables.

http://gingkoaudio.com/products.html

http://gingkoaudio.com/cloud11.html

Erik Tracy

EndersShadow wrote: »

Didnt you use to have an all LSi setup (LSiC and 7's) mounted there?

I started with RTi4s with the CSi3 you see here (like I said - its an older pic), then went thru an LSi7 phase (still with the CSi3), then RTiA3s, and then to the B&Ws here. The center has since been upgraded to a matching CDM center. And the Cambridge CDP you see under my Oppo is now a Marantz SA-KI Pearl SACD player.

Erik Tracy

SCompRacer wrote: »

I have the same situation here, with a lead filled rack on a suspended hardwood floor. I didn't want a wall mount as I move things around. One of the absolute best isolation bases I have used is the Gingko Cloud. Expensive, but they do pop up used on Audiogon. That is where I got mine. If you are handy you can also clone one.



http://gingkoaudio.com/products.html

Cool. I was eyeing the Gingko Cloud 10 (the 18x14 version would work), was hoping to read some recommendations on this.

Dawgfish

I used to use a marble base under mine till I read that most stone like marble, granite,etc. actually is not acoustically dead and carries a lot of vibration in it. Reading the same forum, it recommended using a heavy piece of wood instead. I ended up using a very thick and heavy bamboo wood cutting board that I bought from a kitchen supply store. I placed this board under 8 sorbothane hemispherical footers I bought from Audio Advisor. See the attached photo. The improvement in sound was immediate and more than noticable. The best part was the whole thing cost me around $60 bucks, a lot better than some of the $400 isolation platforms I was looking at.

dkg999

I can also recommend the Gingko cloud platforms. My current house is way to close to the railroad tracks and I combine the Gingko base with Herbies Isolation feet and it works very well.

SCompRacer

Erik Tracy wrote: »

Cool. I was eyeing the Gingko Cloud 10 (the 18x14 version would work), was hoping to read some recommendations on this.

I even use the Gingko under my heavy plinth Lenco idler drive, although I had to add a couple of balls for the added weight. You could try a sand box, but I still had some issues with one. Also had dust appear frequently around it from the gap around the top plate on top of the sand. Even if you use points under the table, any contact with a rigid surface the table is on will transmit vibrations into the table. Jay (agfrost) was here and I pounded very hard on the rack next to the turntable while a record was playing and no noise was transmitted into the tone arm, no skip occurred.

Doug, I didn't know you got one. Kewl, they do work!:cheesygrin:

madmax

I had the experience of finding different surfaces made a lot of difference. At first I had on a glass shelf and that was a catastrophy of sound. Then I put it on a 1" piece of MDF, that made a world of difference. Then I tried in on an old antique mini sized chest which had a hard wood stable top which sounded a little lively when tapped on, that was perfection for my system. Try stuff! I have never tried isolating other than some towels placed under the MDF, it sounded better without the towels. I thought about the Ginko but just haven't tried it.

TSWisla

I use the Cloud under my Scoutmaster, works great.