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Inexpensive Carbon Fiber Disc

76.28.209.43
Posted on January 8, 2017 at 22:18:17
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002






Best price ever found for a substantial, large-sized 40mm x 10mm carbon fiber disc.

8 discs for $28 including shipping. I ordered 2 sets for a quantity of 16, enough for use under 4 components or loudspeakers. $3.50 each; $14 per set of 4.

Adhere your own anti-skid pad to the bottom of each carbon fiber disc. Either adhere the top of each carbon fiber disc to the bottom panel of a component and/or vibration control platform, or add another pad to the top of each carbon fiber disc for an adjustable vibration control footer, such as under a loudspeaker. I recommend Herbie's Audio Lab products as a high-performance option, such as Herbie's Audio Lab Thin grungebuster Dots including the optional adhesive-backing, or more economical thin adhesive-backed pads such as Everbilt 1-1/2 in. Self-Adhesive Anti-Skid Surface Pads (8 per Pack) from Home Depot.

http://herbiesaudiolab.net/gb.htm

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-1-2-in-Self-Adhesive-Anti-Skid-Surface-Pads-8-per-Pack-49970/203661152

See link:

 

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RE: Inexpensive Carbon Fiber Disc, posted on January 11, 2017 at 18:23:54
raya
Industry Professional

Posts: 662
Joined: May 9, 2014
 Thanks for the heads up. Just order some.

 

RE: Inexpensive Carbon Fiber Disc, posted on January 12, 2017 at 11:35:25
KONA
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Joined: March 31, 2002
 Thank you Duster for the carbon fiber disc link as well as the heads up on the Oyaide Black Mamba Sigma V2 AC cord. I really appreciate your experienced and insightful suggestions.

 

More information, posted on January 12, 2017 at 15:32:59
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 I recommend Liquid Nails Silicon Adhesive to affix the Carbon Fiber Discs under a component or platform. All it takes is a thin layer in order to provide firm holding power, but the discs can still be pried off and re-used for other projects.

Another project I'm planning for a more vibration-prone application will be a set of four 40mm x 10mm Carbon Fiber Discs adhered under a new DAC, with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet adhered under the Carbon Fiber Discs. The Carbon Fiber Discs should do well to eliminate any coloration due to the stored-energy capacity of the compliant *decoupling* action that the Tenderfoot feet offer, while providing additional sound wave blocking and resonance dissipation for the more vibration-prone application. No doubt a more audiophile-quality option vs. the more colored sounding Vibrapods and Sorbothane pads tend to provide, IME.

Otherwise, it's amazing how well a rather thin anti-skid pad can do for vibration control when adhered to a 40mm x 10mm Carbon Fiber Disc. The sonic benefit is most notably very good dynamics, with an upfront projection without sounding too forward, with no discernible sonic coloration I can point a finger at.

 

Love my, posted on January 14, 2017 at 06:28:14
G Squared
Audiophile

Posts: 8491
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Joined: November 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: May 23, 2023
 Herbies threaded stud gliders in place of speaker spikes.
Gsquared

 

Too Economical Not To Try!, posted on January 20, 2017 at 11:25:53
Jim Hodgson
Audiophile

Posts: 399
Location: New York City
Joined: March 9, 2006
 Thanks for the tip, Duster! I haven't explored this world sufficiently, and I no longer have an excuse ;)

A couple of follow-up questions?

1. Did you have best results with four (or perhaps just three) under each component?

2. Are the anti-skid pads really necessary -- or would components be secure enough without them? If they're needed, I might stick one pad to both top and bottom of each disc as I'd rather not adhere anything directly to components.

3. Would you recommend for loudspeakers that came equipped with spikes meant to be placed directly on the floor? (I see in the additional eBay photo that each disc has a small center indent meant to accept the point of a spike, I assume.)

At the very least, I'm considering trying three (unless you recommend four) between my Mapleshade Samson shelves and each one of my components: amp, preamp, transport, and DAC. (At the moment, I'm not using anything, and each component just sits on its own shelf.)

My TT sits, using its own coupling method, on a Mapleshade isolation platform with Isoblocks between it and a Mapleshade shelf. I may replace those Isoblocks with these carbon fiber discs.

And finally, may I repeat what others have already said? MUCH APPRECIATED!

 

RE: Too Economical Not To Try!, posted on January 20, 2017 at 12:35:09
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 1. Did you have best results with four (or perhaps just three) under each component?

If you use it under spikes, or a 3 pillar speaker stand, a set of three is advisable, while a set of four is a better option for other applications, but experimentation is fine, IMO.

2. Are the anti-skid pads really necessary -- or would components be secure enough without them? If they're needed, I might stick one pad to both top and bottom of each disc as I'd rather not adhere anything directly to components.

The untreated surface of a Carbon Fiber Disc is too slippery, with poor lateral stability, and there seems to be too much microphonics generated between the hard surface interface of a components bottom panel and/or rack shelf or platform surface. The presentation tends to sound too lively or excited as if the hard surfaces are resonating against the hard and heavy Carbon Fiber Disc. It is surprising how well a very thin pad does to control the interface between the Carbon Fiber Disc and the surfaces involved. The same reason applies to adhering the disc to the bottom of a component or platform with Liquid Nails silicone adhesive rather than allowing the disc to slip and slide.

3. Would you recommend for loudspeakers that came equipped with spikes meant to be placed directly on the floor? (I see in the additional eBay photo that each disc has a small center indent meant to accept the point of a spike, I assume.)

Yes, if you use the disc as a coupling disc a.k.a floor protector, it's also very important to use an anti-skid pad under the disc.

At the very least, I'm considering trying three (unless you recommend four) between my Mapleshade Samson shelves and each one of my components: amp, preamp, transport, and DAC. (At the moment, I'm not using anything, and each component just sits on its own shelf.)

I find the disc to be useful for any application, since it presents a rather neutral sonic signature.

My TT sits, using its own coupling method, on a Mapleshade isolation platform with Isoblocks between it and a Mapleshade shelf. I may replace those Isoblocks with these carbon fiber discs.

That might be a good application, but the compliant Isoblock might be meant to help tune the heavy maple board. You'll need to experiment in this case.

 

RE: Too Economical Not To Try!, posted on January 25, 2017 at 14:41:43
Jim Hodgson
Audiophile

Posts: 399
Location: New York City
Joined: March 9, 2006
 Thanks, Duster! Just want to confirm before I place my order: you found these to be exactly as described, right -- 100% carbon fiber through and through?

 

RE: Too Economical Not To Try!, posted on January 26, 2017 at 10:08:44
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Yes, they are the real deal, 100% carbon fiber.

 

Awesome, Thanks! Order Placed :) [nt], posted on January 26, 2017 at 12:21:15
Jim Hodgson
Audiophile

Posts: 399
Location: New York City
Joined: March 9, 2006

 

RE: Awesome, Thanks! Order Placed :) [nt], posted on January 26, 2017 at 14:48:58
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 A package of 16 discs arrived today, and the walnut board for my vibration control platform project is said to arrive tomorrow. I also made sure to gather-up the thin anti-skid pads required to complete the project. In the meantime, another vibration control footer project for use in my computer workstation system can be started today, with the use of four 40mm X 10mm Carbon Fiber Discs affixed under a DAC via Liquid Nails silicone adhesive, with a Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot adhered under each Carbon Fiber Disc. Pretty much intended as the best of both worlds for a vibration prone application, since the Carbon Fiber Disc is a very effective vibration wave blocker and resonance dissipater, while I find the Tenderfoot to be a very effective compliant decoupler that may benefit from the use of an additional layer of vibration control, with a different complementary impact for increased transparency. At least this is the plan, but the proof is in the pudding if the design performs as well as intended.

 

RE: Awesome, Thanks! Order Placed :) [nt], posted on January 26, 2017 at 15:46:55
Jim Hodgson
Audiophile

Posts: 399
Location: New York City
Joined: March 9, 2006
 Please let us know, as I'll take your lead on whether to add a layer between these carbon fiber discs and my maple rack shelves.

I'm also curious what kind of residue is left behind by Liquid Nails if the carbon fiber discs are removed? If it can be peeled off, and no mark remains, then I'd be tempted to try it. Otherwise, probably not -- and I'll use the Home Depot anti-skid pads on both tops and bottoms of the discs. (I didn't order those yet as the Home Depot two blocks from my office appears to have them in stock. And I figure I've got plenty of time to work that out; my shipping estimate on the carbon fiber discs is March-something!)

Speaking of carbon fiber ... Duster, I know that you recommended at one time a source for genuine carbon fiber duplex wall plates. Would you trust the carbon fiber wall plate from the same eBay seller who is offering these discs? (Link below.) I note that extra long wall plates are available (from other sellers), and I'm sure that you've seen them. Would you anticipate a benefit (or a detriment?) from attaching a wall plate directly to the wall, as opposed to the receptacle itself? The weird elongated hole spacing of the longer model would obviously permit this. Curious!

 

RE: Awesome, Thanks! Order Placed :) [nt], posted on January 26, 2017 at 16:29:08
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



Hi Jim,

One vital thing about these rather high-mass Carbon Fiber Discs is how dense and hard they are without being a metal, and how they seem to act as an audible resonator if the interface with another hard surface such as the bottom of a loudspeaker enclosure, audio component, or vibration control platform is not decoupled and dampened by a compliant pad or footer, and/or a silicone adhesive with is very beneficial due to the notion of how well a thin layer of adhesive couples the interface of the Carbon Fiber Disc to the device with a slight decoupling aspect, which functions as a lateral damping force and stabilizer. Just a little dab will do it, but I'm also exploring much thicker pads and even larger compliant footers, like the Tenderfoot.

As for a Carbon Fiber AC Outlet Wall Plate, it's overdue for me to report findings about the device. I'm currently using the smaller-sized product shown in the link you provided for an Oyaide SWO-XXX installed at the wall for my computer workstation system. As compared to a solid aluminum product with the same dimensions, the Carbon Fiber AC Outlet Wall Plate presents a very substantial level of improved clarity and resolution of both inner detail and micro/macro dynamics. The larger Carbon Fiber AC Outlet Wall Plate is my next step to experiment with, since there are a number of mounting methods that may be of benefit, but there are some issues that would need to be addressed in order to mount it and the AC outlet to the wall in a proper and effective manner.

Cheers, Duster

 

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