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Magnetic Levitators - Houdini

76.182.232.125
Posted on July 20, 2009 at 21:21:00
djost
Audiophile

Posts: 123
Location: texas
Joined: July 18, 2003
 Just ran across the "Magnetic Levitators - Houdini" under Audio Source Kits/Turntable Parts.

The specific URL is:
http://www.diyhifisupply.com/node/596

Can someone provide some insight into what situations would benefit most by their use.

Would use a set of three to support my turntable.

RE: Magnetic Levitators - Houdini, posted on August 25, 2009 at 23:08:41
coolhand
Audiophile

Posts: 220
Location: BBQ Area
Joined: June 5, 2006
 Thanks for posting, I didn't realise that DIY Audio sold them !

Brians offerings are rather more competitively priced than Yamamotos, Clearaudios or SAPs similar devices and which I have used with superbly positive results.

I will have to purchase a set and get back to you as to whether they are as efficacious as the similar SAP product I use, but in the meantime please read my post below and I also found this:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=32596

RE: Magnetic Levitators - Houdini, posted on August 17, 2009 at 17:02:31
JonM
 I can't imagine any situation where these would be preferable to old fashioned springs. These things will pass vertical vibrations like springs (as the bottom part vibrates, its distance to the supported object varies, which varies the strength of the repulsive magnetic force, which moves the supported object - hence transfer of vibration), and there's no obvious way to dampen the vibrations (unlike springs, where you can put foam inside the spring as a damper). I will also guess that, unlike springs, they don't offer any isolation from horizontal vibrations (the moving part has to be constrained horizontally somehow, and I expect it's a mechanical restriction - i.e., the part that moves vertically is constrained inside a cylinder, and it's that physical contact that would convey horizontal vibrations).

For a turntable, if I thought the table's base wasn't isolated well enough (like a Rega), I'd use a heavy piece of wood on springs or foam (depending on weight and the frequency of interest - foam's probably less effective at low frequencies than springs). Many years ago VPI made a turntable platform like this - a laminated steel and wood plate resting on foam-damped springs. Works well - I still use mine.

No other component should have enough microphonics to need such isolation. (For example, CD players don't require isolation - there's plenty of error correction in the signal processing to eliminate the need for physical vibration isolation.)
RE: Magnetic Levitators - Houdini, posted on August 25, 2009 at 22:58:59
coolhand
Audiophile

Posts: 220
Location: BBQ Area
Joined: June 5, 2006
 "(For example, CD players don't require isolation - there's plenty of error correction in the signal processing to eliminate the need for physical vibration isolation.)"

WTF !!!

I'll try to be polite here and suggest you actually perform some very rudimentary experiments with various support mechanisms for a cd player to start with and then perhaps you will see (HEAR) the utter ignorance of your post...

Further more, companies such as TEAC/ESOTERIC have numerous papers with conclusive results specifically relating to matters of isolation in numerous aspects of their cd player designs, which are considered to be amongst the finest available. I refer to their mechanical considerations.

Personally I have experienced PROFOUND and clearly obvious to all listeners present, changes in fidelity of cd players, determined only by the method of their support.

My current Rega Saturn which in fact has a very substantial buffer whereby it reads up to approx, 60sec of data from the disc into ram before further error correction/processing and playback, benefitted substantially in all aspects of its dynamic response and definition when placed on my magnetically levitated SAP Relaxa 3 platform, Boston Audio Tune Blocks placed under the Saturn further enhanced its definition and most notable its high frequency clarity (without reduction of lower frequency content)

In both instances it was not subtle by any stretch of ones imagination, but clearly apparent and I certainly was not expecting such degree of improvement to occur, particularly due to the Saturns somewhat unique method for reading/buffering data prior to playback.

In fact the two products I refer to which I purchased after much reading and deliberation regarding component supports, have elevated the inherent performance of the Saturn by, I would arbitrarily state.... at least 35%, i.e: I would not consider using it without them, similar-lily it's tantamount to the benefit my race cars handling is improved when changing from standard street tyres to performance compound track rubber.
Sure the only thing which changes is the rubber, but what a HUGE difference to the entire handling and responsiveness of the vehicle.

So don't "can't imagine"...... actually EXPERIENCE !

Live it, don't dream it.. there is not one, but many ways to skin a cat*


*No animals were harmed in the process of testing the above equipment, nor the writing of this post :-)

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