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Really cheap, effective tweak

outlawmws said:
I'm certain that they will make a positive difference for most, if not all CDPs.

I Isolated a CDP using super balls, the small ones you get for a quarter at pizza parlors and the like, and it did make a difference for the better. I reported it here, and many others have tried it, and reported the same results.

For me it was just an odd experiment, and I was surprised at the results. My son was also involved and he also was hearing the difference.

Others have used Blue tack to deaden the interior of the mostly crappy plastic cases of CP and DVD players with similar results.

I don't for a minute believe it is improving the 0's and 1's, or how the laser reads them, but the circuitry after the D to A converter can be affected. Black magic for sure, until some smart boy gets to reading the output circuitry and discovers what the heck is harmonic enough to be affected.

I suspect a CDP on an already acoustically "Dead" surface would see minimal difference. But that is just a guess. My project for a well padded and dead surface for my sources to sit on s on hold indefinitely, so I won't be able to do much about further testing in the foreseeable future. My current CDPs are not using isolation only as they lack the headroom required for the balls.
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I have no doubt at all that you got some great results using the balls. This week I got some of the Herbie's Iso-cups, which I talked about in my thread here, and if you read it you'll see I was very surprised by the difference I heard after putting them under my tube phono preamp. There are pictures too.:thmbsp:
 
I stuck four of them under my Luxman D-373 cdp. It's 14 years old, but still desirable sonically. It has had issues with skipping due to vibrations from the speakers. Currently it's right next to s speaker and not a blip/skip. I stuck the others under my turntable but I've been working too many hours a day to play with it yet.
 
I've put these in and taken them out a couple of times. They're in now. It's subtle but noticible. As if the music has taken a step forwrd and my system a step back. Basically more clarity is what I hear. .
 
The trouble is My cdp sounds so exposed now.
It's got some lower warmth but the top 2/3 sounds harmonically a little deprived.
Other kinds of blocks for different sounds?
I might get used to this but it sounds a little lean.
 
O.K. I'm going to give up a little clarity and have things sound more integrated.
Blocks out.
Interesting this cdp. I took a step down in ic's for it also, for the same reason, lack of harmonic richness.
I'm figuring it out slowly but surley.
 
Thats basically what these are, but rubber coated. I should try that ....plenty of corks around here...
 
I just use the good carpet pad under my cdp and tt. Under the tt I used masanite (sp?) on the top side of the padding, works great. Next is to try it under the amp and speakers.
 
Well I'll be.... !/8 inch slices of cork from a wine bottle sounds just right. Honestly didn't think I'd hear any of this from the begininng. Just a little more air helps this old tank out...
 
Cheap Tweak

Thanks Rich I ordered 4 sets or 16 of these. Thats really CHEAP!!! Let you know how they work.:thmbsp::yes:












I may not have it all together but: together we have it all!!!:yes:
 
O.K. Final iteration.. (Hey it's my first tweakathon) I removed the rubber outer layers and have nice squares of cork. Balanced clear and a little more 3D sound. Mainly noticible when you remove them.
Well Rich you got me buying classical music and now you got me tweaking....can buy ya a coffee?
 

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matel said:
Well Rich you got me buying classical music and now you got me tweaking....can buy ya a coffee?
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Any time :) Glad you're having fun. It is interesting how effective tweaks are most noticeable when you remove them.
 
I just found this thread... you can buy these at the local heating & air conditioning shops. It's the same pads they put under HVAC equipment. They work very well for isolation absorbers.
 
Isolation

Rick: Just got these yesterday and MAN they made a huge difference in my TT as well as my speakers THANKS!!!!!:banana::thmbsp::yes:
 
bringing this to the top as I've just tried them out under various pieces and have positive results.

Still cheap, too.
 
Very cool indeed.

I just bought some rubber drink coasters last week, as well as two types of cork- a fine ground and a standard ground- used for hotplate trivets normally.

I've got a collection of adhesives (rubber cement, pliable cement, gasket seal, shoo goop), and am considering a few more possibilities.

Kinda busy now, but I'll get around to making a few of these by winter time.

Plan is to use a hole saw- the round kind you put in your drill to make holes for door handles/locks- to cut them.
 
Just found this old thread, Are these still the way to go? Looking for solution to turntable feedback nightmare at high volume.
 
Never mind, bought some hockey pucks work great, better than the average bear. Who knew. On to the next thing. Thanks to the Poster who suggested the Pucks. Now will put some under Mains.
 
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