Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II


“For those who want the moon but can't afford it or those who can afford it but like to have fun and work with their hands, I'm willing to give out a recipe for a true high-end 'table which is easy to do, and fun to make as sky's the limit on design/creativity! The cost of materials, including 'table, is roughly $200 (depending, more or less), and add to that a Rega tonearm. The results are astonishing. I'll even tell/show you how to make chipboard look like marble and fool and impress all your friends. If there's interest I'll get on with this project, if not, I'll just continue making them in my basement. The next one I make will have a Corian top and have a zebra stripe pattern! Fun! Any takers?”

The Lead in “Da Thread” as posted by Johnnantais - 2-01-04

Let the saga continue. Sail on, oh ships of Lenco!
mario_b
Delignit http://www.delignit-ag.de/index.php?id=22&L=1 is what the German's refer to as "Panzerholz."

I hope I make no fiends by not reading through all the postings regarding TT plinths. I am overwhelmed. Where do I start with my quiries about tonearm re-wiring?

Panzerholz looks like plywood but is specially made and originally designed for armored cars. You may have seen Suchy's Clearaudio TTs that use it in their plinths. Maybe I am off on this buy my friend Moritz Schley I believe to be the first to use this material in audio, meanwhile for several decades. BTW, it is also excellent as platform (if not exceeding 120cm length), shelf.

I just purchased a vintage Sony PS 2250 and googling around came across this thread. Although the original plinth is pristine, I am 'bound for sound' and want to upgrade. Aside from Clearaudio's TTs, the first (I know of) TT to use Panzerholz was called the Boomerang (I wonder why?).

My question, should I use just a simple sheet of Panzerholz (it is for all practical purposes unable to store energy, that is, dissipates energy almost in 'real time'), or should I use it layered with other materials, e.g., MDF, or what is best? The material is not low budget, it costs roughly 50 Euro-cents per square cm!

Does anyone want to comment on the Sony PS 2250's original tone arm PUA 114? My cartridge is a Zu Audio DL-103R grade 2.

Thanks for your helpful input and interest!

John
John, You wrote, "Panzerholz (it is for all practical purposes unable to store energy, that is, dissipates energy almost in 'real time')" What are the data that support that statement? Or have you used a bit of hyperbole? I ask in order to gain some knowledge, not to challenge you.
Panzerholz. http://www.delignit.de/canada/delignit/products/wood/delignitpanzerha.html (both thicknesses are imo 'audio-applicable')

My statements are absolute hyperbole. I do trust my ears but other than personal preference, I certainly have no scientific data to back up my statements and should have stated such.

I have not seen panzerholz used by itself as a plinth. Both Clearaudio and that Boomerang have it layered between aluminum. Actually googling just now I see that it was used e.g. by audiogoners for both SP10s & 301s http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vaslt&1227334719&openflup&16&4 and likely before then. I should do more homework before hitting the typewriter keys... apology accepted?

My reference to Schley's usage goes back to his wife coming [10 miles] from Blomberg (where it was discovered and perfected) and they've been together 30 years (?), and he professionally into audio close to 40. Be that as it may...

Objectively, its density is amazing. It has so much resin / epoxy injected under extreme pressure and heat into the beech plywood that it "makes sense" to me to be an excellent material as in e.g.: non-ringing, relatively uniform in structure, and quite heavy.

Maybe there is an interested reader who wants to contact Blomberg and could explain why I find it such an excellent material for audio. Again, lengths exceeding 120cm have 'sounded' all of a sudden poorer than shorter - as were that the maximum tensile strength before neglecting its positive acoustical traits. I am a trial-and-error enthusiast. You may have noted that it is also used as pin planks for pianos.

John