Vibration isolation on solid state amplifiers

[RoA]

Well, I had no opinion on it and never really found any urge to go overboard (or even onboard) about it. I fully appreciate the need to do so for equipment like TT's or sensitive Tube components, perhaps even CD players a lifetime ago but not for decently designed SS amplifiers.

But now I am totally converted. I have bought some Vibrapods and installed them on my lowest cost amplifier as an initial trial..

The difference at medium to loud volume is profound and totally unexpected. Dynamics, bass, imaging ... everything has improved twofold. It is like looking through a freshly cleaned window on a beautiful spring day!

Now the alcohol has worn off, nothing has improved. Everything still sounds exactly the same way as it did before the Vibrapods of course . I never expect anything else (but I certainly don't want to prod anyone that has successfully tried vibration isolation on SS elsewhere. If it works for you, great).

The story goes like this; I was looking for something squishy to add to under my speakers and came across someone selling 2 dozens or so of these pods (not the cones) for 50 quid. I offered 25 and had them a couple of days later.

One low temperature of oven bake (warming) later and they're like new.

I haven't put them under the speakers yet but thought I'd add them to the amps as they kind of look cool ... ?

Sad, I know.

 

[Mike Hanson]

A friend of mine swears by them, but I've not had a chance to try them myself. I built a few of amps for him.

• As a joke one had Black Diamond Racing cones that I wasn't using.
• The others used the vibration damping feet from Modushop.

I'm all cases he said the Isopods improved them. I'm not convinced until I hear the effect for myself.

 

[Purité Audio]

Easy to test, just pick the amp up while it is playing.
Keith

 

[Zombie]

I use these under my 988s http://www.sonicdesign.co.uk/

 

[r0dd3r5]

Me too, in fact there was a set in the box with my speakers

I use these under my 988s http://www.sonicdesign.co.uk/

 

[Mr Pig]

I have a lot of Mana under my system and the amplifiers are the least sensitive components. It does make a difference but it's not very big. The effect on the CD is surprising but that tails off too, gets to a point where more is pointless.

Turntable, different story.

 

[The Moog]

I use them under my PC as it's stood on a glass table that seems to amplify and transmit any vibrations with amazing efficiency straight into the room below it. They seem to work well for that...

 

[Fergus]

Easy to test, just pick the amp up while it is playing.
Keith

How do you get back to your listening position and put your blindfold on when your holding an amp?

 

[HifiDan]

How do you get back to your listening position and put your blindfold on when your holding an amp?

You get someone else to lift the amp for you!

 

[awkwardbydesign]

I find myself wondering how these would work.

 

[leroyd]

Each to their own but if you are going down the road of isolating any hifi component, IME it is no harm to check out the cheap and cheerful options, before unloading the wallet.

 

[Leeken]

If isolation works on ss amps then active speakers surely would sound absolutely awful.

 

[John]

Back in the day, I experimented quite a bit with Sound Organisation tables and Naim electronics. The system always performed better when each piece had its own dedicated floor stand, not using the optional bottom shelf.

 

[Locheeboy]

Ah use these under my Tannoys,preamp,2 x turntables (Vibrapod sandwich...see VP website), CD player and tuner. Bought over a few years as my system changed. Like others ,excellent improvements. IMO better than isolators costing 10/20times as much.

 

[palasr]

Warning: Vibrapods WILL leave an oily mark on any surface upon which they sit for an extended period of time. They mention this on their rather antiquated website.

 

[Alex S]

When I had phase six Mana I remember clearly how each component sounded better each time a phase was removed. Everything sounded best plonked on the floor.

 

[notevenclose]

When I had phase six Mana I remember clearly how each component sounded better each time a phase was removed. Everything sounded best plonked on the floor.

It would certainly have looked better.

 

[notevenclose]

I was looking for something squishy to add to under my speakers... but thought I'd add them to the amps as they kind of look cool ... ?

Not often you're going to see 'squishy' and 'cool' considered as being in harmony. I suppose it might be a recommended combination on some of the internet's more, uh, 'specialist' websites.

 

[Chris]

Mock as some may but as a confirmed doubting Thomas I tried 3 Spike Wills maglev feet in a triangle directly under the toroidal in my Sugden A21SE basically because I had nowhere better to park them. My amp looks ridiculous with its factory feet dangling in thin air but, not expecting nor listening out for any difference, after a week I became aware of how well my system was sounding. Whether this is due to better cooling convection currents being created by the extra space under my amp or some micro vibrations somewhere have been removed I have no idea. But for once in my life, a tweek that worked as the general noise threshold seemed to have disappeared - like a veil had been ................ honest ! !
As in the op´s photo I also have a load of vibrapods in a drawer and , truth be spoken, I never gave them a chance to show their worth or otherwise.

 

[RoA]

I find myself wondering how these would work.

What are they? Can I eat them?