Tweaker's Asylum

Posted by David Aiken (A) on June 05, 2002 at 12:34:47

In Reply to: Silly isolation question posted by Ed Z on June 05, 2002 at 11:52:42:

More vibration is transmitted by conduction via actual physical contact than through sound waves. Placing components in a sound proof container would eliminate transmission via sound waves but the soundproof container is in contact with the floor and/or wall and vibration will still be conducted to the component through that contact. Most of the isolation systems around, both commercial and DIY, are really concerned with reducing vibration transmission via conduction.

Talk about draining vibration is simply confused. Any "drain" would also conduct vibration in the opposite direction since there is no such thing as a "one way street" for vibration. What you can do, using a variety of techniques, is to damp vibrations in something - ie reduce them in strength - and to minimise the transfer of vibration between adjacent things like a component and a shelf. Different systems address one or both of these issues to varying degrees.

David Aiken