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In Reply to: RE: Brass vs steel vs Ebony posted by Duster on July 09, 2016 at 19:45:50
@Everyone...Thank you all for time spent in sharing your thoughts and experiences. I really am extremely grateful.@Duster...I am leaning heavily towards a tonewood like Ebony as it seems to be the wood of choice for manufacturers of footers. I intend to start with my floorstanders first. At the moment...they are on blunt brass spikes ...on bamboo plinth...on big fat dots...on wood laminate flooring over concrete. I am hoping for a more organic tone. Will replace the brass spikes with Ebony footers with "spike shoes". My plan is if it doesn't yield the result I am after...I will try them on my tube amps. Budget is probably $200 for the whole project (2 sets of footers). I will probably try them on the speakers and amps and decide on which has more impact. Amps currently on stock footers on open frame walnut rack. Source which is a cdp currently on isopads...on rack ... No platform. Overall presentation is neutral. I am trying to err it towards a more organic and darker tone.
Your thoughts?
Edits: 07/10/16 07/10/16 07/10/16Follow Ups:
This isn't always 100%- YMMV, but in general, one may benefit by
installing brass footers (mono-directional as in Mapleshade, etc.), under
ALL amps and source components by draining unwanted energy away from that
component into a base-- usually a wooden plank, etc. Ebony and Maple are
both excellent, in some cases, age-hardened douglas fir is even better.
They all have different effects. Brass footers from Mapleshade or Walker
Turntables aren't cheap, but these pieces are VERY good... the more
expensive, the better...
But what if you're on a budget, but want substantially better sound
overall?
Remember what makes one of these things work-- directionality. They're
one-way devices, sometimes you run some upside-down, sometimes you run
the same thing right-side-up. You can ALSO simply isolate-- that is--
just shock-absorb. If you do this, mushy materials WILL sound mushy,
sharp materials WILL sound sharp... pick & choose.....
I got a lot of cheap mileage out of Golf Balls at an audio
show. I ran over to Radio Shack and got some of those colored rolls of
cheap vinyl electrical tape. I placed a Golf-Ball atop each tape roll'
center. This was a nice stable base for the Golf Ball.
The Golf Ball is round, but it also has dimples which de-tune any
unwanted vibes rather well, and has very limited contact area--
good. Simply place the amp or component atop
the Golf Balls and their tape-roll holders. Different places
underneath components will all sound different...
It is important that the Golf Balls ride ATOP the tape rolls, and
DO NOT touch the surface beneath the tape holder-- the Golf Ball
must "float".
This is one trick of many-- you just have to decide where you want
energy to go, and then figure how to get it there.
For instance on speakers... do you want energy to go INTO the floor,
or do you wish the floor to load into the speaker? Since you can have
it either way, now you decide what it is that you want.
---Dennis---
If you wish to experiment with ebony under your loudspeakers, you might consider a set of ebony coupling discs (a.k.a. speaker spike base) positioned between your brass spikes and bamboo plinth, with Herbie's Audio Lab Thin grungebuster Dots adhered to the bottom of the ebony coupling discs (choose the black colored Thin grungebuster Dot with pressure-sensitive adhesive):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-Ebony-Wooden-Spike-Pads-Speaker-Hi-Fi-Floor-Stand-Base-Shoe-23-5-x-6-5mm-/252437602325
http://herbiesaudiolab.net/gb.htm
If you wish to experiment with ebony under your power amplifier, you might consider a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Iso-cups with Gabon ebony balls, since what you describe is exactly what the Iso-cup with Gabon ebony ball provides when placed under a power amplifier. While you are at it, also try the Gabon ebony dome located on the same page. A set of three Gabon ebony domes can be used to replace a tripod set of metal spikes, and can be adhered with silicone adhesive to the bottom of a loudspeaker, component, or platform with no need of coupling discs placed under the domes:
http://herbiesaudiolab.net/special.htm#iso
@Duster...Thanks. 2 sets of ebony footers and bases arriving in a couple of days. I think I have a set of iso-cups with ebony balls in a drawer somewhere...haven't used them in years. Never did try them on a heavy tube amp.
Once again...Thanks Everyone. Really appreciate your help.
If you can locate them, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that the Herbie's Audio Lab Iso-cups with Gabon ebony balls will provide what you seek, since the sonic signature is pretty much spot-on as described by Steve Herbelin of Herbie's Audio Lab:
-snip-
"Gabon Ebony: African ebony subtly enhances upper frequency timbre with ethereal sustain and "bloom." Though bass is not particularly powerful, extension is very deep and well-defined. Upper-mids are smooth with plenty of "air" and three-dimensionality. Gabon ebony is perfect for music lovers who enjoy a somewhat laid-back, light and natural presentation."
-snip-
As for the ebony footers and bases you ordered, I recommend using Herbie's Audio Lab Thin grungebuster Dots adhered to the flat side of both the ebony footers and the bases (choose the black colored Thin grungebuster Dot with pressure-sensitive adhesive), since doing so will allow the ebony footers and bases to function better as an interface between the loudspeakers and the surface they are placed upon. The Thin grungebuster Dots will also keep the ebony footers and bases from slipping & sliding, and resonating against the surfaces they interface with.
I have found that there is no single type of cone that works everywhere.
I have conrete floors with carpet, my speakers had 1inch high hard plastic rails that brass cones screwed into. I removed the rails, drilled holes, then installed threaded inserts and used heavy brass Star Sound cones straight into the carpet. Tightened everything up, more clarity. The speakers weigh 175lbs each.
I started with isol-pads under my preamp, then went to BDR Pyramid cones.
My amp has a large cutting board sitting on cheap brass cones with the amp itself sitting on 4 large rubber stoppers. [Available at most hardware stores]
I have tried various cones, Cardas blocks, and prefer the rubber stoppers under the amp.
Other components that sit on a shelf that have cutting boards, have the isol-pads under the boards and various cones under the component. I have never liked the Cardas blocks under anything I tried.
Besides the above consider the carbon fiber products from BDR. And I would stick with brass for the speakers.
Another cone to try, if not sold are the Poly Crystal, there was a set available in the Asylum Trader.
Footers and isolation are really a trial and error kind of thing. The BDR cones, isol-pads, rubber stoppers, and Poly Crystal are all low cost. So you can experiment and find what works for you.
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