Adding Cushion/Suspension To Your Hi-Fi Rack

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Dan Osib

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I have added aftermarket cushioning to my Hi-Fi equipment support to absorb any unwanted system vibrations. Firstly you need to buy a few squash balls and cut them in half. Next, you will notice that each individual wooden or glass shelf resting on your hi-fi rack can be lifted off. Place each 'squash ball half' under each corner of these shelves (this area of shelf would normally rest on top of the equipment rack). If you examine the photo below you will notice that I have raised the wooden shelf by hand, to expose the 'squash ball half' I have placed on the metal frame of my equipment support. VOILA you now have rack suspension!
 

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Great cheap tweek.

Did it affect the sound in anyway good or bad? :confused:
 
Dan Osib said:
VOILA you now have rack suspension!

VOILA ......you now have a spirng with an unknown "Q" factor. :D

Seriously, everything (change) makes a difference .

Does it sound better?

What problem were you trying to solve?

I'm guessing the music has a little more life, and little less detail and focus.

It's a fix for soild state or digital systems, perhaps evben unsprung/suspensionless turntables.

If it makes you happy - BRAVO .

NOTE: I 've done similar stuff (not the exact same) to my own gear.....let's hope it never grows old and remains an active hobby for you (and me). :)
 
I've noticed a more solid and relaxed sound with the tweak in place.
 
KACH22i,

Actually you are wrong. The detail level has slightly improved and the focus amongst the many other things has definitely improved. The Q Factor of each individual squash ball half is in fact irrelevant, as long as the Q Factor difference between each of them is not considerable (which in this case it isn't). If you are still in doubt I have already previously been in contact with reverred UK 'Hi Fi Choice' magazine reviewer - Richard Black, and he has also tried this tweak in his system and noticed a slight improvement in many areas with nothing being degraded. He even used specialised electronic measuring equipment which confirmed a lot of these improvements (one of which being a flatter frequency response). His coliege also noted the beneficial changes.
 
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I'll have to pick up some squash balls then.............have tried just about everything else. :)
 
cheap tweak

A cheap and extremely effective tweak is to place a 6" bicycle tube under the preamp and the cdp. In addition, a fairly heavy book (or ideally a small bag full of lead or sand) on top of the cdp. Am using a book of Impressionist paintings to great effect. You can catch a faint glimpse in the pics of my system # 68.
Believe me the differences are not subtle.
Happy listening
Sunnyboy 1956
 
Every sunfire amp and pre-amp comes with a glass stand with dampers on it. I'm not sure if every component can benefit from it, but as with all things, I'm sure every little bit helps. As long as it can be done in a way that remains visually appealing. :D
 
Birch Plywood does WONDERS under audio equipment. Large slabs under each component will balance out the sound.
 
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