DIY component rack...advice needed!

[RoyY51]

I posted this thread on the DIY forum and received 0 responses. I'm hoping that this lack of response is due to my posting my query on a "site less traveled", so I thought I'd give it another try on a more popular forum.

I've decided to build my own component rack, and I'm of two minds as to the type of material to use for the platforms. My first thought was to use two 1 1/2" butcher block pieces, glued together to create a 3" thick wooden platform. Then, while surfing the net, I came across the idea of using shallow (1" thick) sand-filled wooden trays with a large piece of ceramic tile nestled into the sand. The inside dimensions of the tray would be 1/2" more than the width of the tile. The resulting 1/4" gap would then be filled with silicone caulking on all sides of the tile.

While the latter idea would most certainly provide more vibration damping than the butcher block platforms, I'm worried that they might be too much of a good thing. I've read about "over-damping" sucking the musical life out of components (turntables, cd transports, speakers, etc...). I would hate to spend all the time and effort to fabricate these platforms, only to have my music DOA.

I know that with the accumulated Wisdom of the Ages available on this site, somebody will have an educated opinion on this dilemma.

Thanks in advance!

[emorphien]

I'd love to help but my DIY isn't that fancy. Although I've contemplated the sand box for isolation on the top shelf down the road, since that's where my turntable resides.

Could be too much though... right now I have silicone rubber washers isolating 3/4" MDF shelves from 1/2" threaded rod at all 4 corners.

[superpanavision70mm]

Roy...what is your goal? I think that if you state your expectations and goals ...that might help people in assisting. Just a thought.

[hermanv]

I once decided that a big slab of 1" thick marble would be a fine mount for my nice expensive power amplifier. I went to the marble store and they cut me a slab. I took it home and installed it. Damn, it sounded bad, glassy. Duh, if you tap on it it does sound a lot like a piece of glass.

Makes me think of all those nice, pretty, fancy and expensive cabinets sold by the truckload with glass shelves. Ugh.

Now, overdamped, as in too much of a good thing does seem sort of believeable. Mapleshade has a lot to say on this subject, they make some damn fine recordings so there is a small chance they know whereoff they speak. They recommend hardwood, specifically maple wood.

It does make sense in a way, a hardwood shelf when tapped has a nice pleasant sound, not too lively not too dead. The stuff is pretty, easy to work and has a very high WAF (wife acceptance factor).

My amplifier ended up on a wooden shelf with some damping stuff glued to the bottom, no obvious artifacts, sounded excellent.

[emorphien]

I just got a mapleshade catalog in the mail for some reason. They've got some nice unfinished wooden platform material.