"Cheap" but effective isolation project -- Under $15

pjdami · February 2005

So here I am thinking about what I can do next to get the last little bit of performance out of my systems. Isolation comes to mind as lacking since my Jolida tube cdp is just a mere foot or so from my right front speaker. Tubes can be sensitive to vibration so maybe some isolation can help here.

I find this "Cloud 10" selling on the web for $299 and I remember reading something similar on the tricks and tweaks over at the PS Audio website.

Long story short, I built my own. 4 racquetballs at Walmart for $5, some furniture coasters at Walmart for $2.50, and a piece of 13" X 17" heavy slate I found at Home Depot for $6. I used 3M double sided tape to stick the coasters to the bottom of the slate.

I'm listening to it right now and I'm not going to say BS like the bass is so much improved, soundstage is twice as large, etc. but I'm happy to say it doesn't sound any worse and it certainly can't hurt any.

I was looking for one of those wooden boxes (like for desktop letters "in and out" type of thing but my search will continue there. Maybe Office Depot has them. Eventually I will place the balls in there but you catch my drift.

Link to the "cloud 10":

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=14947

Pic of materials:

pjdami · February 2005

Pic of final product:

Shizelbs · February 2005

That actually doesn't look too ****. Nice work. I may copy this design of yours someday soon. Nice and sturdy, I trust?

Is your music any bouncier now? Groan.

pjdami · February 2005

Yeah, its sturdy. The furniture coasters keep the balls in place. It doesn't want to roll away when you hit eject on the player.
I may go back and silicone the balls in place on the coasters.

I got the idea from the PS Audio website here:

http://www.psaudio.com/account/tips.asp?

You may have to join to view. The article is at the bottom of that page.

I did a variation with the furniture coaster. I can see using some vibrapods maybe too.

dorokusai · February 2005

The athletic ball idea for isolation has been around for a long time, and many versions are found in the annals of AA....if it's really really cheap or really really expensive....they are all over that stuff.

I like the blue personally....it compliments my eyeball....although some dark red, jagged streaks would look even better.

disneyjoe7 · February 2005

Looks great

adds a cool factor.

pjdami · February 2005

Okay, I'm going to say it before someone else spanks me with it....

"OMG I have blue balls!"

LOL........:D

dorokusai · February 2005

As long as you can press play, blue balls are neat.

organ · February 2005

Originally posted by pjdami
Okay, I'm going to say it before someone else spanks me with it....

"OMG I have blue balls!"

LOL........:D

Damn it Paul! Blue balls is no good. Make sure you eject that damn disc after playing or you're in for more blue balls in the future:D.

That isolation platform looks great. I wanted to make some but I'm too lazy:(.

Maurice

tryrrthg · February 2005

Looking GOOD!

I just made a sandbox isolation platform for my CD player. I based it on the tnt audio sandblaster but I didn't want to have to worry about sand getting out so I just made a sealed box full of sand. It weighs about 40 pounds (just a guess). but it is beefy!

see pics here

polkatese · February 2005

Great job, Paul (as always)!

I supposed the wooden enclosure would have to float a bit?

disneyjoe7 · February 2005

.

F'd up trying it fix the smile at the first response.

Willow · February 2005

Interesting but what's next, putting a CDP on a mini-waterbed? maybe a ziplock filled with water?

mantis · February 2005

I just gotta ask... what did this do foryeah??? I gotta know.

I understand the Isolation thing where vibration could cause a problem. Whats happening here ?

Man please explain.

I like the Blue balls and all, there so today looking....LOL

Dan

reeltrouble1 · February 2005

Blue Balls are OK, if they turn green, then you have problem!!!;)

RT1

Airplay355 · February 2005

blue balls are not ok unless they are blue raquet balls

disneyjoe7 · February 2005

Originally posted by reeltrouble1
if they turn green, then you have problem!!!;)

RT1

Go straight under 6ft in the ground, Game OVER :eek:

pjdami · February 2005

I've been thinking about this today and once I find a wooden box like I'm talking about I'm going to trim the front of it with a piece of the marble slate. That should look pretty nice and hide the balls. The height of the box will of course have to be short enough so that the weight doesn't "bottom" out on the top of the box. I also added a couple of 2.5 lb iron weights (the kind you workout with) to the top of the player for some weight.

As far as what it has done to my system, I feel that it has added some focus but that is a strong subjective statement. Too much of a pain in the rear to undo and redo for evaluation purposes but I do feel that the system sounds better than ever right now.

pjdami · March 2005

Maybe I ain't going looney tunes afterall. Looksee what I just found and they actually measured the improvement. Blue balls and all too.....honest, I never saw this before:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/gingko2/minicloud.html

I think I like my budget project better costwise. Note to self...use money wisely...

"Cheap" but effective isolation project -- Under $15

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