Sand bags under a cdp - didn't work well

Your statement that the music became more focused and detailed but forward/harsh/etc. sounds like your getting closer to the sound of real music which has a lot of energy. You may be on the right track and just need to fine tune what you are doing. When you say you put sand bags under your player do you mean that the bottom of your player was resting on the top of the bags and the bags resting on the shelf of your rack? If so, try putting the sand bags on the shelf of your rack then cone (Black Diamond cones works well) your component to the rack of your shelf and then damp the top of your component with your sand bags to the type of voicing you prefer. I have found that #9 lead shot is more effective for damping shelves and compnents then sand, but is also more expensive. Good luck!

I tried the innertube today, and had very good results! Instead of sandbags i had 3 heavy books stacked on the top of my cdp.

Well I tried the 12" innertube and the results were much more pleasing to my ears!!! The definition increased but not at the expense of increased harshness. Will now experiment with weight on top of the cdp (ensuring the tube has sufficient air to clear the cdp's feet) and hear if there are any differences. I still like the sound of nothing under the player - it seems warmer, more full and lush. Possibly you could call it "colored" as some say tubes "color" sound. I guess it comes down to what you have been listening to vs a new sound that takes some getting used to. All I know is that the sand or cones did not do it for me and the tube has offered the best return for dollar spent yet. Many tx Megasam for this very inexpensive tweak!

Am considering giving the inner tube tweak a try, but have a question. I have a transport and a tube DAC rather than an integrated CDP. Would you put inner tubes under both the transport and DAC? Mine are currently on BDR cones if that matters. Thanks!

Fpeel: I tried the tube on my Bel Canto (under a piece of MDF) and did not like the change in sound. I should be receiving a couple of sets of the least expensive Mapleshade cones later this week and will give them a try under the DAC. The Bel Canto is very light (like a feather) and I think that this is why it did not work very well, though I did not try weighting it down as I had run out of clearance in my cabinet. If you get a tube just try it on everthing. Like I said before it was the best tweak for my little mini system and really made a substantial improvement in the sound quality. I gues that it just depends on the gear and it's location. I wonder what the tube (under a platform) and cones on top would sound like as you would be isolating the platform, plus draining off the internal vibrations from the gear as well.