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Good morning inmates! I've been researching sound ideas (forgive the pun) for building a DIY audio rack for several months now. To the extent manufacturers disclose their designs I've researched and studied several designs, including looking for scholarly articles that discuss principles manufacturers discuss in their designs.One problem I've yet to solve is how to level the shelves of the rack. The options present issues to think through in themselves. I'd like to be able to level each shelf independently. I originally wanted to use standoffs such as what Tate Blanchard uses for his excellent Ultrasonic Audio racks (one of which I own, but can't afford to buy more). However, it's very expensive to have the standoffs machined for reasons I don't understand.
My next thought is to both isolate and level by using spikes between each shelf. My thinking is I can simply not screw a spike in completely if I need to level the shelf. Does anyone have experience with such an approach, recommendations as to characteristics the spikes should possess, or specific spikes suited for this purpose?
In thinking through this I began to wonder if the spikes should point up or down. I've often read references to using spikes pointing down along with the rationale that this "drains the vibration down to the floor." But is that scientifically sound? Does vibration necessarily travel downward with gravity? Regarding the use of spikes at all, I once read someone speculate that spikes might be counterproductive because they focus the vibration in a tiny spot. Of course, if I use spikes between each shelf the vibration has to go somewhere from the tip of the spike, which I assume would be in to the protective discs attached to the next shelf to protect it from the spike. But then, how do I protect the shelf against that vibration fed to it through the spike? And if I have isolation platforms between the shelf and the component, does it matter if I isolate each shelf, whether by spikes, viscoelastic washers, or some other means?Super complicated post, I know. Thanks to all for any advice you can share!
Edits: 05/17/17Follow Ups:
"does it matter if I isolate each shelf, whether by spikes, viscoelastic washers, or some other means?" Yes Everything sounds different. In the Mapleshade system of brass , wood and rubber each does it's own thing. I myself like yellow poplar. Herbie at Herbie's Lab also has good things to say about poplar. I would suggest listening to a few types of wood to hear what you like the best. My preferred rubber is EAR C-1002. Mike Percy may still sell it. T456
"The Borg is the ultimate user. They're unlike any threat your Federation has ever faced."
- Q, 2365
Spikes do one thing: They acoustically de-couple one object from another by limiting their contact, and thus, the transfer of energy. In your case, it doesn't matter if they're oriented "up" or "down".Buy Harry Olson's "Music, Physics and Engineering".
:)
Edits: 05/20/17
It sounds you're overthinking this a bit. Building a simple but effective "threaded rod" design similar to what Mapleshade offers should give you all the sonic benefits you're looking for. The shelves are adjustable for leveling/component size and as far as component isolation is concerned, choose the footer of your choice( Stillpoint, MSA, etc., etc.) to place under the component itself.
Loading a tiny spot makes it seemingly 'immovable' so it is locked together.
The vibrations just go right through the spot. But maybe fewer in certain vectors.
If you wanted the same tightness of a joint in a nut and bolt.. Jeez. Plus the spiked thingy is actually easy to move, remove and move around, vs some super heavy duty solid system.
All the fancy BS about 'vibration' and 'draining' with points is all audiophile drivel. The real great thing about a point holding something up is it acts as if it weighed several tons at the point.. so that joint is not going to have any inherent vibration between the point and the surface it rests on.
IMO a combination of dampening and mass are the best to think about in a way to hold up stuff.
I use a few pointy thingies under the patio block my amp is on. And under the 80lb power conditioner on the floor.
For my rack I use cheap as dirt butyl rubber chemical bottle stoppers, size 10. $1,25 each. I own over a hundred of them. I use them EVERYWHERE.
But I am a cheapskate.
I agree with you, up to a point (if you will pardon my pun).
The floor or shelf will have vibrational nodes, just like any other object. If you can position the tiptoes supporting the item you want to isolate such that they are in contact with a point on the surface of the floor or shelf that does not move when the floor or shelf is excited by some other external force, then you can achieve the diodic effect claimed for tiptoe-like feet. The energy can drain into the floor or shelf, and very little energy wants to flow back up into the tiptoe.
You can find the nodes, sometimes, with a stethoscope.
To the OP, gravity has NOTHING to do with this.
"gravity has NOTHING to do with this. " Ya sure about that Lew? Please explain how this would work without gravity. I must say that the nothing in capitals gives this point of view gravitas, if you excuse the pun. Tweekie666
"The Borg is the ultimate user. They're unlike any threat your Federation has ever faced."
- Q, 2365
Perhaps my statement that gravity has nothing to do with "this" was an oversimplification. Gravity has everything to do with weight, of course. But I think the OP was asking whether the potential analogy of a tiptoe to a diode had to do with an effect of gravity on energy flow, as in the notion that gravity is somehow pulling energy down and preventing energy from moving up into the supported device. I may have misunderstood the OP's question about gravity, but my answer to that latter hypothesis is "no". Is that better?
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