Though I always accepted the fact that speakers and turntables would benefit from vibration control, I was hesitant to believe that it would make a difference with a cd player. But just for kicks, I took three small wooden blocks, each 3/4" x 3/4" x 1 1/2", and placed them under my Marantz Universal Player that I had purchased used a couple of years back.
I was already blown away by the improvement in sound quality from the Marantz compared to my previous Sony Carousel, so I was ready to call the wooden blocks a waste of time.
I placed one block just inside each of the two front feet. The third went in the center, just a little behind what felt like the heaviest part of the player. I also placed a small square of felt flooring underlayment under each block. Then I slipped in a CD of Vangelis' greatest hits.
I was prepared to not be impressed, but I was flabbergasted by the improvement in the already fine sound. Higher highs, and deeper lows, with much improved midrange clarity. I used to think that my 30 years of exposure to construction equipment was why I could rarely hear the cymbals anymore. But there they were! And even though I have heard this particular CD dozens of times, I was hearing instruments and layers I never heard before.
This continues with every disc I play for the first time in a while. I am stunned by how such a simple improvement could make such a big difference.
By the way, the little wood blocks used to be under my Pro-Ject 1.2 turntable. They greatly reduced vibration compared to the original Pro-Ject feet, and seemed to add a little bass definition. With the blocks now under the Marantz, I took some Painter's Pyramids, (for the un-handy around the house types, Painters Pyramids are little plastic pyramids about an inch and a half high that one can use to support a workpiece being stained or painted), and placed three pyramids under the Pro-Ject where the blocks used to be. Kind of like a really poor man's BDR Cones. I can not say the sound is definitively better, but I can pretty much hit the shelf with a hammer without disturbing the playing.
Though I always accepted the fact that speakers and turntables would benefit from vibration control, I was hesitant to believe that it would make a difference with a cd player. But just for kicks, I took three small wooden blocks, each 3/4" x 3/4" x 1 1/2", and placed them under my Marantz Universal Player that I had purchased used a couple of years back.
I was already blown away by the improvement in sound quality from the Marantz compared to my previous Sony Carousel, so I was ready to call the wooden blocks a waste of time.
I placed one block just inside each of the two front feet. The third went in the center, just a little behind what felt like the heaviest part of the player. I also placed a small square of felt flooring underlayment under each block. Then I slipped in a CD of Vangelis' greatest hits.
I was prepared to not be impressed, but I was flabbergasted by the improvement in the already fine sound. Higher highs, and deeper lows, with much improved midrange clarity. I used to think that my 30 years of exposure to construction equipment was why I could rarely hear the cymbals anymore. But there they were! And even though I have heard this particular CD dozens of times, I was hearing instruments and layers I never heard before.
This continues with every disc I play for the first time in a while. I am stunned by how such a simple improvement could make such a big difference.
By the way, the little wood blocks used to be under my Pro-Ject 1.2 turntable. They greatly reduced vibration compared to the original Pro-Ject feet, and seemed to add a little bass definition. With the blocks now under the Marantz, I took some Painter's Pyramids, (for the un-handy around the house types, Painters Pyramids are little plastic pyramids about an inch and a half high that one can use to support a workpiece being stained or painted), and placed three pyramids under the Pro-Ject where the blocks used to be. Kind of like a really poor man's BDR Cones. I can not say the sound is definitively better, but I can pretty much hit the shelf with a hammer without disturbing the playing.