On the draining of resonance.....

Thanks for taking the time, KN. It's not that I doubt resonance occurs or that it does not need treatment. I'm just trying to get my head around this draining concept underneath the chassis on "mass loaded" points. I do listen to a GNSC modded CDP, treated by Allison Dynamics--the name escapes me--he was a guy who was part of the process. The damping materials inside my unit are impressive, as is the heavy TEAC clamping system. I use the Wadia factory spikes, but also the pucks. No problem understanding that. I have also isolated my big ARC mono blocks, each with no fewer than seven rubber feet from the factory. I will not defeat those with metal spikes--better to supplement them. Your thought of rubber bouncing energy back into the chassis....you may get some pushback from makers of rubberized isolation products on that one. My isolation scheme involves at least wood and granite, which certainly needs treatment, as well--always a process. Granite looks good, adds mass, but also picks up energy in the room. Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes, I do acknowledge resonance

I use Mapleshade brass cones and wood under everything. I never liked the sound from real or composite granite. I was told the danger of rubber feet is that the vibrations cannot escape the component. Fortunately it's easy to try (except under heavy amp), and see which works best for you.

ARC uses soft footers under their Reference Series preamps and phonostages, I assume for good sonic reason. One theory I've heard is that a drain-type metal footer works against the virtues of tube sound (warmth, fullness, etc.).

Nobody really knows why any particular type of footer will sound good with a particular piece of equipment.

Nobody really knows why any particular type of footer will sound good with a particular piece of equipment.

Good point, Psag, although some intuition may just help predict an outcome, e.g., your mention of a rigid, metal coupling of a tube amp would not be my first idea for damping tubes against mechanical vibration. A metal footer may be an effective supplement to a more cushioning layer, but not as a primary connection in all cases. I feel it important to employ at least two approaches to isolate a piece, e.g. sheer mass and soft isolation, or point loading over a big footprint of another material. I am developing a material that will allow for this rule.

Jafreeman, nice system! I would not recommend putting metal cones or spikes directly on a stone surface like the one depicted under your amp. In that case, the stock rubber feet would likely perform much better. My experience is that spikes or cones work much better in the conditions similar to those shown in these images, where they are used to couple gear to a large slab of wood, which is then in turn isolated from the room. http://www.mapleshadestore.com/galleries.php. YMMV.

kn