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Stones 'n Balls

12.86.1.238

Posted by Mark Gdovin on November 22, 2002 at 22:22:07

My two favorite tweaks, especially cheap tweaks, are "stones and balls". I'll explain.

First, "stones". More particularly, large, heavy stone slabs. I place large marble slabs, weighing approximately 300 pounds, under each of my Martin-Logan electrostatic loudspeakers. If you've ever tried to floor-couple a light-weight speaker, like a ribbon or an electrostatic, you soon realize that no spike will do the trick with a carpeted floor. The answer lies in these slabs.

I deal in microscopes and laser systems and stone "tables" are used all the time for mass-loading. I managed to get my hands on a pair of these tables for dirt cheap at an IBM auction. I used the tops under my speakers. Ah, the change in clarity and bass extension was not subtle. In fact, it was like I had doubled my amp power and doubled my woofer size. Yet, the increase in clarity was the most amazing thing. As these were relatively flat slabs, they only raised the listening height 3" which is well within the "error range" of a M-L.

Since that time, I've experimented with mini-monitors, "maggies", other speakers whose inherent mass just precludes them from effectively coupling to the floor. The results have all been the same. You still you use spikes, but you spike to the slabs, not the floor. The slabs are heavy enough to couple to the floor without benefit of spikes.

Now, so you can't get ahold of microscope stands or optical tables? No biggie. Get "seconds" from your local mortuary stone mason - these go for dirt cheap if there was an error in the insscription (turn that side down). Also, can buy large slabs of flagstone out here in the west relatively cheap. Worst case, build a low, flat "form" out of wood and pour one yourself out of concrete. That works really great.

Now, onto "Balls". Again, one I learned from my work with high power microscopes and laser systems. Now folks, if you think vibration and resonance screws up audio, you haven't seen nuttin' yet. It REALLY screws up high power microscopy and precision laser work. For years we used to put microscopes under tennis balls - an old solution well-known for decades.

But something my dealer and scientist buddies couldn't believe was when I walked into an installation with a pocketfull of "superballs" purchased for a quarter a piece from a dime-store gumball machine. The more we worked with these "balls" under microscopes and lasers, the more we came to appreciate that their ability to "convert" energy into a high bounce to delight the kids was also an incredible ability to dampen and dissipate vibration and resonance.

I've used these under power amps (this is where they work so good it's sick) as well as source components. The best way is to "hard-couple" the component via spikes or whatever to a metal, wood, or ceramic "slab" then "float" the slab with super balls. Should have found a way to patent this - now there are countless microscopes all over the world sitting on plexiglass "slabs" de-coupled from the table with superballs.

Now, with a spherical "ball", it can be a bit tricky mounting it. I have found that a good, tough, "marine-grade" silicon cement will do it quite nicely in 95% of the cases. Yet, if you want even better adhesion, first adhere some type of constraining "ring" to the platform, let that dry, then glue the superball within.

How effective is it? Go back to the stone concept. My Martin-Logans are very hard-coupled to my two marble slabs. Proof of that is placing an accelerometer on the slabs of the floor. Big time coupling. Now, against all logic, my mono amps ARE ALSO on that same slab. Difference? They are hard-coupled via points to a small aluminim plate which is then placed on the marble slab de-coupled by the superballs.

Folks, one of the benefits of my business is that I have access to devices and instruments even Stereophile cannot afford. I have placed the world's most sensitive accelerometers on my amps, while my speakers were at redline, and could NOT measure a thing at any meaningful frequency. THAT is how effective these silly-assed superballs are. Man, they are so cheap, just try 'em. I mean really, four for a buck? Good, tough silicon cement is more expensive but not much more than four bucks a tube.

You know what you are going to find? Before the super balls I spent almost a hundred bucks for four "feet" from a famous manufacturer I won't name. Now, they're garbage. The superballs so outperform it is sick. And ultra-expensive Sorbothane concoctions? One helluva polymer, dead as the dinosaurs but still not measureably better than simple dime-store superballs.

So, stones 'n balls. Way cheap, way common, way effective.

- Mark Gdovin

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Atma-Sphere Music Systems, Inc.

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