Any suggestions for "foot fall" problems?

[two dot]

Need some help guys...

This is the first time in many years that my TT was not built into something very solid and sitting on concrete.

I now have an inexpensive audio rack sitting on a wood floor, on the second story. I can generally walk around the room fine, but when I move to the TT I get skips... this is making me crazy.

Suggestions???

I am sure that the TT being a suspended designed LINN LP-12 is not helping things.

[McPlanar]

I went through the same problems with my GyroDec. I'd put on a record and have to back away like I was walking on wet rice paper to avoid skipping. The problem wasn't finally solved until I used a wall mounted rack. Now I can walk all over with room with no skipping.

[Removed]

Originally Posted by two dot

Need some help guys...

This is the first time in many years that my TT was not built into something very solid and sitting on concrete.

I now have an inexpensive audio rack sitting on a wood floor, on the second story. I can generally walk around the room fine, but when I move to the TT I get skips... this is making me crazy.

Suggestions???

I am sure that the TT being a suspended designed LINN LP-12 is not helping things.

That's has always been the issue with suspended tables......unless your on a concrete slab or have fairly stiff suspended floors then the wall shelf would be your best bet.

Something that will help a great deal is to pick up two L brackets at home depot and find the studs in the wall then secure the L bracket to the studs and to your equipment stand top shelf.......you will improve the stability big time. Its cheap and very effective.

[two dot]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Attaching anything to the wall is not an option. Bummer.

I had no idea that this was going to be such an issue.

This house has 3'X12" floor joists, and is extremely well built (1930) but there must be just enough movement in the fir flooring...

[Face]

Do you have a rumble filter? If not, watch those woofers.

Try moving your rack as close to the rear wall as possible, the floor will have the least amount of flex there.

[RodWelst]

Quote from website...

"The VibraplaneT is a high efficiency vibration-free platform originally designed to enhance the performance of electron microscopes. Now, after some modifications, audiophiles can eliminate 98% of environmental vibrations for a remarkable improvement in sound quality."

Sounds of Silence || Products : Vibraplane

Sounds of Silence
14 Salmon Brook Drive
Nashua, NH 03062
Tel: 603-888-5104, Fax: 603-888-2773

Here is a link to a forum discussion of isolation systems.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr...openfrom&1&4#1

Here is the link to the BM-8 Bench Top Vibration Isolation Platform.
http://www.minusk.com/content/produc...dard/bm-8.html




Review of the Micro 40 Isolation unit.
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue29/halcyonics.htm

[AudioNut]

My best advice, friend Stephen, is not to walk. Completely solves the footfall problem.

Seriously, I solved the problem through the use of a suspension type rack (Arcici Suspense Rack). A very good rack and isolation platform. Initially highly recommended by Harry Pearson in TAS - and the rack he used in his listening rooms. (Don't know if he still uses them) I bought two of these racks several years ago and use them very successfully in both of my systems. High Quality Audio Rack Systems By Arcici, Inc. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

arcici_stand2.jpg
ARCICI SUSPENSE RACK

Arcici also produced the lead balloon turntable stand (pictured below) which was excellent, but has apparently been replaced by the AIR HEAD isolation rack for turntables, I've not tried this rack, but if it does what is advertised, it is a relatively inexpensive answer to your problem, and one which may be used on top of an existing rack. Look at: High Quality Audio Rack Systems By Arcici, Inc. I have had recent conversations with Ray Shab, the designer of the Arcici stands, and I think a telephone call to him would answer any of your questions. He has been very helpful and accommodating to me in the past. His phone number is on the web page I have pointed you to.

arcici_stands.jpg
The AIR HEAD


ARCLEADB.jpg
The LEAD BALLOON

I love your new setup and your room.

Julian

[Jerome W]

Stephen,

I'm amazed by your experience.
I had a LP12 before. My floor is suspended, under the roof of the home, so looks like yours. I could jump near the TT or anywhere in the room and the LP12 was still tracking perfectly.
The shelf was a very low cost one : about 40 euros at the french furniture store
Habitat : very light but very rigid as Linn recommends it. It was made of a small piece of painted metal, on wooden feet. you can see it in my album.
When I sold the LP12, I offered this table with it.
I bought the Clearaudio and an Atacama 2 shelves rack.
And with the Clearaudio, same thing as what you're experiencieng with the lp12 !
So I really miss the LP12 for that.
I'm amazed at the remarks about this being normal with suspended tables. That's usually the opposite, suspended tables being much less sensitive to vibrations of the floor.
So this could come from 2 things.
1) Is your suspension perfectly set -up ? It seems to be too stiff. Do you know all the small tests to check it ?
2) Maybe your rack is too heavy. Try to install the LP12 on a small, light and rigid table near your rack and see what happens.

I bought a Gingko audio suspended platform for the Clearaudio. Things improved a bit. Less sensitive to footsteps, but not when I walk on the section of floor where the TT is : still untracking ! But the sound improved : smoother and more natural.

If your problem is still here after trying points 1 and 2, I don't think you should try suspended racks. They won't do anything more.
I would suggest not walking ( that's what I do ! ) cause I've read that like me you don't wan't a wall shelf.

Cheers,

Jérôme

[two dot]

Julian,

I like the looks of the Air Head! Priced in my budget too!

Jerome,

My Linn has new springs and was set up my the master of all Linn masters...
A guy with over 30 years experience on the Linn.

I am going to try some better leveling first and see what that does. I am also waiting on some "feet" or discs for the spikes to rest on. Right now the spikes are sitting on quarters. ($.25 cent pieces)

Thanks guys.

[cmalak]

Stephen...how about a simple Gingko Cloud isolation platform underneath the table? Here is a link to their products page. They have 4 or 5 different models which I suspect are for different size/weight tts. I think Serge has a Gingko platform that he used for his Clearaudio tt. You might want to ask him what he thought of it. The platforms range from $300-$600 i think. So not inexpensive but not outrageous. Just a thought.