Acrylic or Wood Board For Equipment Support

[ryder]

Which material will be more suitable for equipment support, acrylic ones from ATS or wood material? Ceraballs will support the board which in turn will support the phono stage and power supplies.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[wingman]

Hi Ryder

My preference would be wood base with a minimum of 2 inch thickness. No first hand experience on acrylic support. But very pricey...to me!

Can try the IKEA chopping board ( not mistaken its dark maple wood ) stick together to get the thickness i prefer.

cheers

[ryder]

Hi Wingman,

Thanks for the input. It was much appreciated. Most common board used as equipment platforms are in wood material so one cannot go wrong with it. I am only intrigued by the acrylic board and its effect vs wood board. It does look nice (and pricey) though.

Cheers.

[sivaguru]

There were also carbon fibre boards at one time but pricey!

[wingman]

Hi siva...

How is your Squash ball legs coming along

Ryder...

You can try marble or granite... as your base for the CDP ? Heavy and within reach.

cheers

[alphadog467]

Just to share.
I have recently tried Audio Image's isolation board and am very pleased with the results. Previously, I was just using cones & ceraballs between the equipment and my ATC wooden (mdf) rack. With the isolation board, I get better imaging (more 3D sound with deeper & wider soundstage), detailed & lively. Jazz & blues numbers are now sound more enjoyable. To my ears and my setup, the board is just right - fast but doesn't give any "ringing" sound typically associated with glass, nor does it sound "slow and dull" (typically associated with arcylic). Was told that the board is made from wood material mixed with other type of compounds. Inexpensive yet effective. Better yet, combine the board with ceraballs to give a better effect especially in the bass department - volume and firm. I tried it out on my preamp and phone amp. Am planning to isolate the source (CD and LP) with the same combo.

[ryder]

I've decided to get Audio Image's wood isolation board after much deliberation. Similarly like Alphadog467 I heard nice things about the improvements these boards managed to bring to the system when used on a proper rack. The Ceraballs are good stuff and should combine well with the board.

Cheers.

[wingman]

Ryder...

Reviews once you have burn in the wood isolation ?

Thank you.

cheers

[boxer]

how much are the boards? many sizes?

[sting]

can someone load the pic of the said board?..the audio image

tq

[alphadog467]

If I'm not mistaken, there are only 2 sizes but can't remember the dimensions - both aren't that different. Audio Image uses these boards on their premium Spider racks (which I definitely cannot afford)!

I am told that a prominent hifi enthusiast (also a forummer here) has recently placed a "special order" for his highend gear. So, I guess it must be pretty decent. My suggestion is to buy one and try it out (which I did) - it isn't expensive. IMHO, the risk is low. Prior to this, my CDP was missing the low & deep bass. I tried several tweaks including cones, spikes, cables, etc. While the ceraballs gave some improvements, I felt that it was the isolation board that provided the most improvement.

Judging from the response, the boards are going fast. So, if you want to try, better do it fast.

[sting]

alphadog467, would appreciate if you could snap few pics and post it here. wanted to look at it..thanks

[bassraptor]

Sting, the Audio Image isolation board is nothing much to look at - just a piece of HDF board, painted powder black, in the size you specify. I think about an inch thick. Adrian uses it on his Spider rack as plinths for each tier, because he says everything else he has tried - acrylic, MDF, graphite - does not sound better than this plain-looking board. And I would trust his judgment. I'm waiting to pick up mine ...

[mugenfoo]

U guys are all reading too much into this "plain board". Bassraptor is right and its just a basic simple wooden plank with no "shun mook" or "harmonix" or some other Hogwarts-certified mystery magic behind it.

To add on, while this board might be seen to do miracles on a Finite Elemente Spider Rack, don't expect this plain wooden board to perform miracles if used on your IKEA LACK table or solid metal ATS rack or Mana Acoustic frame or Black Diamond Racing Rack or Naim Fraim (for example) or in conjunction with other branded spikes or footers.

This board has only been shown/heard to be effective if you have ALL of the following:
1. Finite Elemente Spider Rack. (and the original one please, not those cheap-ass China knockoffs)
2. Finite Elemente Ceraball Spider feet.

If you have just one and not the other, its already a 50/50 gamble. If u have NEITHER of the above, good luck.

And more specifically, this board is only made to a few selected Finite Elemente rack users as a "convenience board" to place their equipment that might otherwise be wobbly or not being able to be properly placed naked on the Spider rack itself. Its a one-off job.

[bassraptor]

There you have it, from the Mugs himself ... ....

I'm getting the board to experiment with my set up, no Spider in my system so far. Right now, I'm using a combination of acrylic n mdf with no perceived ill-effects. Adrian got me curious about the HDF plinth ...and it's no big investment anyway...thus my order.

[sting]

Sting, the Audio Image isolation board is nothing much to look at - just a piece of HDF board, painted powder black, in the size you specify. I think about an inch thick. Adrian uses it on his Spider rack as plinths for each tier, because he says everything else he has tried - acrylic, MDF, graphite - does not sound better than this plain-looking board. And I would trust his judgment. I'm waiting to pick up mine ...

Thanks...

[wingman]

End of the Day...is experiment with whats available out there and you might get it right with your setup in this case your rack or CDP or TT. And you would be suprised of the outcome. Cost wise could be way way down the scale.

As an example - In my setup - added the "Squash Ball" as support for my CDP, it has given it a better SQ - warmer, smoother compared to when it was on its original footers.Another thing that I have done is to add "O" rings washers to the tranny in the CDP / AMP and Tuner. Cost wise not to expensive.

Seen & read in other forums... enthusiast placing mini springs as legs, for CDP, TT. all which are cheap tweaks. Mouse Pads or Bitumen paste / tape on to CDP casings ( internal ), and TT's. Not forgetting if one has the surplus cash to spend. Why not.

Am not implying that some of these expensive gizmo's ( i.e. ceraball ) are not good, they are if the matched with the right gear / rack or accessories. Have to agree that lots of RD has gone into developing these gizmos but in reality they are way way expensive for some. So the only route is to go into your own experimentation.

Enough said....so ...any one game to try the IKEA Choping Board End of the day "Enjoy the Music"...that's my view.

Cheers

[alphadog467]

Sting, bassraptor is absolutely right. Plain looking board - nothing sexy. Dimensions 15 x 19 x 0.75".

Also agree with wingman. All about experimenting and surprising yourself with the outcome.

I don't have any of those expensive racks but the board worked for me. Even using those plain looking cones, I can hear the difference (although, I do agree with Mugen that the ceraballs do take it a notch or two higher). Again, I didn't have to break the bank for a simple tweak like this, so I thought, why not.

[mugenfoo]

Latest update from a reliable source. These boards have now been withdrawn from public availability due to some unforeseen circumstances.

Its high-density-fibre recycled wood.
Its black in colour.
Its got a funky smell to it because of the paint.

There you have it.

So as to how good or miraculous these boards might be, just forget about it and move on. There is much more to hifi and music enjoyment than having a mental masturbation over some wooden piece of plank day-in and day-out.

[bimmerman]

Ok, now that the plank has walked the plank.....

Has anybody had any success with marble or granite??? Care to share???

[cmboy]

Has anybody had any success with marble or granite??? Care to share???

Yep, CDP on marble sound hard. CDP on granite, even harder.
On wood?.. Somehow I think it wood won't cut edge. But powdercoated mdf underneath my LP12 TT does sounds better than anything else I've tried. Trouble is, I think I would have desired the mdf to much thicker..looks like its sagging.

[mugenfoo]

Ewww... Saggy papayas... Yuck!

[htkaki]

LMAO.... Papayas came out of nowhere. Worse still, it's saggy

[tycham]

Trouble is, I think I would have desired the mdf to much thicker..looks like its sagging.

Can always use 2 pieces, if available, to increase the flexural rigidity.

[wingman]

Latest update from a reliable source. These boards have now been withdrawn from public availability due to some unforeseen circumstances.

Its high-density-fibre recycled wood.
Its black in colour.
Its got a funky smell to it because of the paint.

There you have it.

So as to how good or miraculous these boards might be, just forget about it and move on. There is much more to hifi and music enjoyment than having a mental masturbation over some wooden piece of plank day-in and day-out.

Mugen...

On a lighter side...

"[i]Its high-density-fibre recycled wood.
Its black in colour.
Its got a funky smell to it because of the paint."[/i]

Mugen..is it not an Ikea Chopping Board....

Yeah...production cannot meet demand...and only sold to clients who buy spider racks or the regulars I suppose...don't get me wrong.

There are better ways to get the music going... experiment in similar way that Audio Image proprietor has done and discovered.

I would believe its sort of a synthetic rubber paint or normal paint done over a few coats or sorts thats able to absorb minute vibration or do whatever its suppose to do perfectly.

Enjoy the music....

[wingman]

Ok, now that the plank has walked the plank.....

Has anybody had any success with marble or granite??? Care to share???

Beemer...

Seen at CMY OneU using granite block on their glass HIFI racks...and he says the music out of the CDP...sounds much better...did not probe any further.

Every music enthusiast has his/her own taste in plank, glass, granite or marble
supports....for the CDP / TT / AMP..

cheers

[adrian4454]

Any one of us who type more than 2 sentences here are doing the mental masturbation. haha

It shouldnt be over for the board things yet la. Let me add in some more for the fun of it. Those chopping board that I found in Tesco is Finger joined type. here is the picture:
[img][/img]

I believe the manufacturing process involve compression and special resin bonding. Now you see, different woods material make into a plank and join together. This is kind of special already, making it capable of absorbing various kind of resonance through it various kind of wood hardness...

Haha, and it might produce different sound over different board. No board ever going to be the same. Furthermore, this one has made into chopping board; so it kind of "Peace of mind" over health hazard, no funny smell to worry about~~~

Dont restrict your thoughts over MDF or HDF only, there is even jambu wood plank if it ever got this big in size....haha.

Please forgive me for making fun here.

[wingman]

Alpha...

No worries...fun and laughter is good for the soul...and music too... .
Don't be suprised...the price of chopping boards would skyrocket... ha ha...

cheers

[wingman]

Hi...

Sharing a DIY IKEA LACK Table to a Hifi Equipment Rack...



LACK Tables used as Hifi racks in one of the AV Roadshows in Europe.....

[img][/img][img][/img]


Snippet from the DIY..er...

Affordable design recipe that would result in a terrific platform for your CD player. To do this, just buy an IKEA Lack side tableand screw in some spikes where the legs would have otherwise gone (you can use spike cups if you are concerned about your floor). The table's dimension is just shy of 22x22". These tables are wood veneer over fiberboard and particle board, which sandwich a fiber lattice honeycomb core. As such, the design is that of a rigid, low mass, rapid energy dissipation support & isolation platform. This is a cheap but outstanding tweak. Place your favorite cones between your CDP and platform.

Some Caution from the DIY..er

Yes, the painted colorful ones are hollow, I made the mistake of buying three of the colored ones and two of the wood finished ones, only the wood ones has the foam core

cheers

[zeebee]

Hi...

Sharing a DIY IKEA LACK Table to a Hifi Equipment Rack...



LACK Tables used as Hifi racks in one of the AV Roadshows in Europe.....

[img][/img][img][/img]


cheers

Well, well very interesting and the wood veneer finish is really nice.. now I've no more excuse to avoid going to IKEA with the missus.. .. may be extra crowd with kakis joining in the CNY shoppers this weekend at the Curve..

[cmboy]

Hmmm.. Ikea Lack, I suppose I'll not deny its a very affordable route to a stand or support for any hifi component. I've read in various forums and gathered various comments from not so good, ain't good enough to happy customers. I just suppose at its price point, shouldn't be too fussy.
My most important component is my TT and place most importance on that one, which made me go fabricate a custom hollow section steel stand (no real black art or intricate science init) with mdf board on spikes. Just that I think the supplied mdf wasn't of exceptional quality and does sag a bit over time. Thats one area I'll have to address when I've the time and resource to solve that once and for all.
N.B, And you may think IKEA Billy bookshelf don't sag?..I've seen them 1" shelves sag over some time when filled with books.

[wingman]

Hi ...

Another option from IKEA selection;

[img][/img]

cheers