Using plumbing fittings in place of brass cones, a cheap anti-vibration tweak

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Posted by Nirmalanow on October 21, 2003 at 09:21:31

After reading the explanation in Mapleshade's catalog of how vibration isolation traps the internally generated vibrations in a component, I cast a more critical eye at my CD player and amp sitting directly on vibrapods on my salamander rack. The suggested solution in the mapleshade catalog was to use brass cones to drain the internal vibrations to a separate wood block platform that could then be isolated from the shelf below. But, unwilling (or unable) to spend the money for even their least expensive cones and 2" thick maple platforms, I decided to try a cheaper alternative from the local Home Depot. I bought a couple of 1x12x18" boards of Poplar (they did not have maple in this dimension) and some brass plumbing fittings: namely 3/4" female threaded to 3/8" flare male couplings (1/2" female to 3/8" male flare also work fine). These are roughly cone shaped fittings and the male flare end creates a minimal contact area with the poplar platform. I stacked them up top to bottom as follows: audio component, 3 couplings as "cones", poplar board, vibrapods and salamander rack shelf.
It works! It cleaned up the sound across the board. Instruments stand out much more clearly from each other. I have no idea how much more improvement is possible with fancier cones and platforms, but for a total cost of about $10 for each audio component, I am thrilled with the results.

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Topic - Using plumbing fittings in place of brass cones, a cheap anti-vibration tweak - Nirmalanow 09:21:31 10/21/03 (22)

Re: Using plumbing fittings in place of brass cones, a cheap anti-vibration tweak - mfi 16:16:53 10/22/03 (0)

Re: Using plumbing fittings in place of brass cones, a cheap anti-vibration tweak - The Viking 21:56:48 10/21/03 (1)

if superballs really absorbed energy they would not bounce so high... - sunnysal 12:02:58 10/22/03 (0)

Other HD DIY tricks - bartc 15:40:25 10/21/03 (4)

Re: Other HD DIY tricks - moray james 19:16:46 10/21/03 (3)

Calling all cone/spike/vibrations gurus!!! - bartc 06:47:22 10/22/03 (2)

Re: Calling all cone/spike/vibrations gurus!!! - David Aiken 13:05:31 10/22/03 (1)

Re: Calling all cone/spike/vibrations gurus!!! - moray james 14:54:25 10/22/03 (0)

Another view - bdiament 15:05:15 10/21/03 (9)

Agree...no such thing as draining. nt - SF 15:53:45 10/27/03 (0)

Re: Another view - Larry 16:49:45 10/22/03 (5)

Re: Another view - bdiament 05:39:47 10/23/03 (4)

Re: Another view - Larry 08:43:12 10/23/03 (3)

Re: Another view - bdiament 09:30:34 10/23/03 (2)

Re: Another view - Larry 14:26:34 10/23/03 (1)

Thanks - bdiament 06:11:46 10/24/03 (0)

Re: Another view - Pars 19:45:41 10/21/03 (1)

Re: Another view - bdiament 05:08:41 10/22/03 (0)

Re: Using plumbing fittings in place of brass cones, a cheap anti-vibration tweak - Doc Jr 8156 14:04:27 10/21/03 (0)

Re: Using plumbing fittings in place of brass cones, a cheap anti-vibration tweak - Kevin DD 12:10:19 10/21/03 (2)

Re: Using plumbing fittings in place of brass cones, a cheap anti-vibration tweak - Nirmalanow 13:24:46 10/21/03 (1)

Re: Using plumbing fittings in place of brass cones, a cheap anti-vibration tweak - Kevin DD 14:04:03 10/21/03 (0)

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