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Hi, I recently posted asking if anyone had experience with Barry Controls vibration isolation products and got zero (0) replies (is is my breath?)
In lieu of anybody else's feedback I would like to comment on what I am hearing JUST in case, someone's interested.
First, via Ebay, I tried the Barry Controls (they have various different models) rated for a few pounds per support for like 10 bucks--I figured what the hell, tried them under the cd player and surprisingly heard the usual increased clarity, separation of images and bass tightness associated with what I would call an improvement.
I then order some BC that were rated for heavier (30lb max) per support and put them under my tube amp and got the same results as mentioned and I'm thinking, huh, big bang, little buck.
I then tried them under my Spacedeck where they sucked the life out of it and I need to experiment more to be sure of the detrimental affect.
Then under my Dunlavy SCIII's that weigh 90lbs and at first thought the midrange had decayed some, as if some of the fullness was lost. But as I listened more, I realized that the images were clearer, the bass was tighter, less smearing and that I was hearing more like real music with clarity standing out as a result.
These little islolation devices do what they're supposed to, and if you can find them used via EBAY are highly recommended. My surprise is that once the speaker is set on (a set of three) them, any touch physically to the speaker has them moving slightly because they are suspended.
Why is it that having remove the spikes under the speakers which would be a rigid coupling (?) and replaced with the BC that literally rock, would the sound be improved as they are completely opposite ways of getting more out of a speaker set up?
I have extremely limited knowledge of the mechanics/physics involved and would love hear some comments since I know many of you have a tremendous education in this area.
These "controls" are used in military applications, so why not home stereo? Thanks in advance
Follow Ups:
3/4" Sorbothane Hemisphere Rubber Bumper Non-Skid Feet with Adhesive 50 Durometer - 16-Pack
Only $19.95 + shipping. Comes out to about $1.25 ea. They look they'd be fantatsic for source components, preamps, and power amps. With 16 of them I can do 4 components for $20, $5 per component. This would seem to be a MUCH less expensive way to achoeve adequate vibration isolation for my gear. I'll let y'all know in a couple of weeks...
-RW-
Yeah, DO post back, as I am somewhat skeptical of a rubber based(?) product. I think next up for me is to get some of Herbie's products and compare to the Barry Controls. Either way, the bang for your buck is in effect!
"I am somewhat skeptical of a rubber based(?) product."
I see that you're not familiar with Sorbothane.
Years ago I picked up an, well an anti-golfball for lack of a better description, from them at a trade show. It looked exactly like a regular ball and having grown up on a golf course I've spent many idle hours bouncing golfballs on cement floors. So when I dropped their's my jaw about hit the floor, it rebounded maybe 1/4 inch! Naturally golfballs are designed for maximum rebound which helped make the demo so impressive.
I've since given it away, but as you can see it made a lasting impression!
Of course that doesn't directly speak to what it will do for or to your stereo but it's an impressive material.
Rick
Sorry to say Sorbothene is one of the worst materials ever foisted upon gullible audiophiles. The only things worse, if possible, are Sonex and lead.
Thanks for the feedback.
Obviously from the 'golf ball' example it is good for shock but that is not likely to be an issue with home audio. My point was that it has significantly different characteristics than rubber.
But I WAS toying with the idea of getting a sheet of bumps to play with and to get up to free shipping from Amazon. Maybe more music is a better bet. What does it do under audio gear in general?
Rick
Been too long ago to remember. Hey, I have an idea, why don't you try the stuff and report back what you find?
I have my Gershman A-G speakers sitting on pieces of 3/4" plywood. The floor is suspended (room over the garage). Between the speakers and plywood are wine bottle corks cut in half long-ways. They absorb some vibration while also providing stability. I was using pieces of Vib-X, but a fellow 'phile recommended getting away from it under speakers. The bass tightened up once I put the cork pieces in place.
Edits: 05/05/12
It seems that most everyone, even most manufacturers are using spikes under their speakers these days. The Barry Controls I've used have improved on that. I tried corks and pins under my CDP to good affect until I tried other methods. Right now the BControl method seems to work best.
If you have a suspended floor, spiking speakers to it will transmit resonance to the floor, resulting in a resonant floor. If the room is on a concrete slab the spikes SHOULD sound better.
a
Not sure how I'd like my SC-IVA's to twitch around any. I'll have to try it, but it seems up front that there'd be imaging issues, especially with the Dunlavy sweet spot being as tight as it is.Here's what I've done under my other gear with what my budget affords.
See ya. Dave
Edits: 05/02/12 05/02/12 05/02/12
Nice looking setup! I would say that to the contrary, with the Barry Mounts in place, I am hearing how smeared the sound was BEFORE putting them in. I really expected to hear worse sound. Robert Harley did a review recently of some very expensive isolators under his (megabuck) speakers. If these do a quarter of what those do I am happy.
Have you compared these to anything else? Just curious. I'm a big fan of vibe control, and use it under most of my electronics, as well as my TT.
Spikes don't isolate you speakers, nor do they absorb vibrations. They just couple your speakers to the floor, which may or mat not be a good thing depending on your floor (mine is carpet over cement). Yubed gear LOVES vibe control, and usually responds very well to it (depending on what you use).
It takes a fair amount of trial and error to find what works best in your system and for your tastes.
I use a symposium platform on top of a seismic sink (old style)-very effective and without changing the tonal balance. I have yet to hear anything that is better than this combo.
Have fun
Jack
Edits: 05/02/12
You're correct about spikes and they will improve definition and bass of a speaker IF there isn't a feedback loop to the rest of the system. So everything else in the system should be isolated acoustically. Most of the time if isolators under the speakers improve the sound it's because of feedback and poor isolation of the other components.
Hi Jack, to date I have not used bona fide audiophile products for isolation, so I have very little to compare them to. I am slowly working up that ladder as I plan to try the much loved Herbie's isolation products now that I have something for comparison. My floor is a floating floor, which means that the boards (over concrete) are not glued, screwed or nailed down, so not the best for vibration control. Right now I have some ebayed Valab isolation product used with vibrapods(?) over a 2" thick piece of maple, so I would like to work on turntable isolation next. I'll have to look in to what you have as well. Thanks for the input!
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