Sounds really cool and really fun!

Sub'd!

Front Panel Express was a pleasure to deal with.

Thanks for the suggestion, Bill. I'm going to be using wood for the two chassis, so I don't know whether they'd work with that. They do mention they work with non-ferrous materials, but all the examples are metal or plastic; wood may be a non-ferrous bridge too far.

Actually, it looks like another CA member may be working on the chassis for me. I'll have to see whether he'll allow me to give him credit publicly, or if he prefers to "keep his light under a bushel," as the saying goes.

Thanks for the suggestion' date=' Bill. I'm going to be using wood for the two chassis, so I don't know whether they'd work with that. They do mention they work with non-ferrous materials, but all the examples are metal or plastic; wood may be a non-ferrous bridge too far.

 

Actually, it looks like another CA member may be working on the chassis for me. I'll have to see whether he'll allow me to give him credit publicly, or if he prefers to "keep his light under a bushel," as the saying goes.[/quote']

How are you going to dissipate heat with a wood chassis? I love the idea.

Not a lot of heat to dissipate; there are small heatsinks on individual parts where needed, and at the moment I'm conceiving of slots or holes in the appropriate locations in the tops, very possibly also the bottoms, of the chassis to get air flowing through to carry that small amount of heat away.

I have a wood chassis and front and back panels are Al from FrontPanelExp. The wood is an extra Peachtree shell they sold me, and this is for an amp (albeit class D). The vents they put in are more than adequate.

At risk of hijack, let me again briefly lobby for a DIY sub-forum. (OK, I'm done.)

Not just wood chassis, Bill, but no conductive/magnetic metal other than the circuitry and wiring.

(Wouldn't mind a dedicated DIY sub-forum myself, but we'll have to leave that to Chris.)

Hi Jud,

I do not believe a solid maple platform, coupled to the surface under it with hard cones/spikes, provides any isolation at all. As I see it, this is a *coupling* device (the diametric opposite of isolation).

Test:

1. Place component atop this platform.

2. Shake shelf upon which platform sits.

3. Note there is not even a delay between motion of the shelf and motion of the component atop said platform. The motion is one-to-one, with no delay. To me this says there is zero isolation and 100% coupling.

My impression of that particular design is that it is simply adding mass --- basically a (vibration) energy reservoir.

I would very much recommend trying some real isolation under the DAC. I have found many benefits and no drawbacks -- the properly isolated component is merely free to perform its best, which is more often than not, significantly better (in every sonic parameter I know how to describe) than it does without the isolation.

Perhaps this article will be of interest.

Best regards,

Barry

Soundkeeper Recordings

Barry Diament Audio

Hi Jud,

I do not believe a solid maple platform, coupled to the surface under it with hard cones/spikes, provides any isolation at all. As I see it, this is a *coupling* device (the diametric opposite of isolation).

Test:

1. Place component atop this platform.

2. Shake shelf upon which platform sits.

3. Note there is not even a delay between motion of the shelf and motion of the component atop said platform. The motion is one-to-one, with no delay. To me this says there is zero isolation and 100% coupling.

My impression of that particular design is that it is simply adding mass --- basically a (vibration) energy reservoir.

I would very much recommend trying some real isolation under the DAC. I have found many benefits and no drawbacks -- the properly isolated component is merely free to perform its best, which is more often than not, significantly better (in every sonic parameter I know how to describe) than it does without the isolation.

Perhaps this article will be of interest.

Best regards,

Barry

Soundkeeper Recordings

Barry Diament Audio

Hi, Barry. I agree the arrangement you've described is a coupling device. Good thing that's not the (entire) Mapleshade configuration.

The component is indeed supposed to be coupled to the maple platform with spikes. But then the maple platform is isolated by cork-and-rubber-sandwich "isoblocks" of substantial thickness. So (I'm supposing) self-vibration is drained to the coupled platform, while the platform is isolated by the cork-and-rubber blocks so relatively little vibration is transmitted to the platform from the other direction.

I don't know how the Isoblocks perform as isolators compared to the "roll your own" described in your linked article. I probably won't have the chance to find out, not especially wanting to hear what my wife thinks of the interior decoration aspects of half inflated inner tubes at the front of the family room.

Hi, Barry. I agree the arrangement you've described is a coupling device. Good thing that's not the (entire) Mapleshade configuration.

The component is indeed supposed to be coupled to the maple platform with spikes. But then the maple platform is isolated by cork-and-rubber-sandwich "isoblocks" of substantial thickness. So (I'm supposing) self-vibration is drained to the coupled platform, while the platform is isolated by the cork-and-rubber blocks so relatively little vibration is transmitted to the platform from the other direction.

I don't know how the Isoblocks perform as isolators compared to the "roll your own" described in your linked article. I probably won't have the chance to find out, not especially wanting to hear what my wife thinks of the interior decoration aspects of half inflated inner tubes at the front of the family room.

Hi Jud,

Inner tubes can be very easily hidden.

(They're in the distance but see the rack that is visible to the right of the right speaker at the home page here. Do you see any inner tubes? There is one for each shelf.)

Outside of that, I'll send it as a PM.

Best regards,

Barry

Soundkeeper Recordings

Barry Diament Audio

Hi Jud,

Inner tubes can be very easily hidden.

(They're in the distance but see the rack that is visible to the right of the right speaker at the home page here. Do you see any inner tubes? There is one for each shelf.)

Outside of that, I'll send it as a PM.

Best regards,

Barry

Soundkeeper Recordings

Barry Diament Audio