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What are some good "no brainer" isolation devices for a tubed integrated amplifier? I just sold off my SS electronics for a tubed integrated.
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How about a board on top of a bicycle tube. Board protects the tube from heat and you will have to pump up the tube every now & then but it's cheap and works well.
Have used the idea for some time now--works great.. Might offer a suggestion--- I use the 26 inch bicycle tubes (with low pressure) and then loosely configue a shape with soft 100 cotton string--which allows me to create a platform. When shape is appropriate--I color portion of string that is viewable with black marks-a-lot. Since my components are black--the rubber (air) platform virtually dissapears--
Good listening---
OSGJ
...........I found tubed gear to greatly benefit from being isolated from the environment via air bladders.
I use 6 or 8 inch wheel barrow innertubes filled to 3-5 PSI with the gear sitting directing in the tube unless the tube will block air flow and then I set the gear on either Granite or wood depending on which sounds better in that particular setup.
Cheers,
~kenster
Hi.
All my componets, active like amps, passive like speaker cables, are lifted up from its support base/platform/floor.
For my power amps, tube & SS, & for my tube phono/linestage, are all DIY-bolted with 3-in-a-set steel spikes at their metal chassis, so that the amps are 'floated' on their support base. This steel spikes, pointing down, act as a one-way coupler to transfer any mechnical vibration from the unit due to acoustical feedbacks onto the base, yet rejecting any structural vibration fed back up from the support platform/floor.
I found it improves the overal sonic perpectives, e.g. transparency, soundstaging bigtime.
Besides, these steel spikes cost me next to nothing.
c-J
You could try these.
They are same thing as Mapleshade isoblocks and can be found at Heating/AC supply shops, or order online.
I use them under my tube preamp as replacement for stock feet and they also replaced the stock feet on my Sony 900 source.
I'll give them a go. Very inexpensive, as are many quality isolation products.
I actually got turned onto these by Brian Weitzel of Tube Research Labs/Record Research Labs.
They started using them on some of their own built units and included them with their mods.
They work nicely and can be attached simply with BluTac in place of stock feet if you just want to try them out.
You can also place them under your stock feet which is what I did with a previous source.
I'll recommend a set of Herbie's Audio Lab Iso-Cups w/balls. I'm very pleased with the Iso-Cups and the previous Gabon Ebony Balls and SuperSonic Hardballs when placed under my preamplifier's power supply and under my power amplifier. However... Herbie's Audio Lab seems to have replaced the previous Gabon Ebony Ball (and SuperSonic Hardball) and Gabon Ebony Dome with an acrylic material. The web site mentions, "...our newest domes deliver tonal qualities and timbre uncannily similar and virtually identical to ebony domes (based on A/B blind testing and critical auditions). Slightly better focus and three-dimensionality is sometimes perceived with acrylic domes, however. With more-perfect material control and dimensional stability, Frosted Acrylic Domes seem to achieve a slight overall superiority...".
Herbie's Audio Lab Iso-Cup with Frosted Acrylic Ball: $29.95 ea. (I use a set of four Iso-Cups, but a set of three can be used):
http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/footers.htm
A lower cost option is the Frosted Acrylic Dome with 1.6mm grungebuster base: $4.49 ea. (a set of three or four can be used):
http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/dome.htm
I've also had good results using Herbie's Iso-Cups or Tenderfeet with both the Gabon Ebony Balls and the Frosted Acrylic Balls under my Audio Note tubed pre-amp and amp. They also work very well under CD players and DAC's. The Frosted Acrylic Balls offer a slightly different presentation than the Gabon Ebony Balls. A bit more punchy and dynamic versus slightly smoother sounding respectively. The differences are very subtile and a prospective buyer would be advised to try both to determine personal preference which is not a major issue since Herbie offers a 90 day trial period on his products.
Years ago I tried acrylic domes I found for 25 cents each at a plastics store on Canal Street in NYC but didn't find the results to my liking. I found the Black Diamond Racing Cones I was using at the time to be better. I would expect that the grungebuster base Herbie offers on his version would work better. Perhaps I'll get some grungebuster material some day and give it a try.
It is hard to make any solid recommendations with all the variables between system set-ups
Add to that the numerous approaches to isolation and the different implementations of those approaches and you can understand the need for experimentation
There are a number of mail order retailers that offer products with a 30 day return policy. This would allow you to compare some of these devices in your system.
I guess you could consider any of the very inexpensive options (slightly inflated innertube, diy roller bearings) as no brainers because they cost next to nothing to try
I know.... Not much help, but that is all I have :~)
Julien
"There's someone in my head, but it's not me"
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