Is the KAB Fluid Damper worth it if...


...that is the only mod you purchase for a technics 1210? My setup will consist of a 3" maple platform with brass footers replacing the existing ones. I really don't think I could do the rewire myself, and I don't really want to send my turntable into KAB. With just the purchase of the damper would this rig be able to get the most out of higher end cartridges?--Cheers
jmoog08
06-24-08: Radioheadokplayer
johnnyb53,
Is it easy to replace existing tt feet with the dayton brass cones?
Are we talking vibrapods cones or isolators....4 right?
As luck would have it, the threads included with the Dayton cones are size M6 (metric), a screw-in replacement for the original feet.

You *could* remove the feet and replace them with Vibrapod cones, with the footer threads resting on the balls of the Vibrapods, but I haven't tried that yet, and you would have to have some other means of leveling the turntable.

I was talking about regular Vibrapods *under* the cutting board, with the brass cones above, between the turntable and the top of the cutting board.
This is an interesting discussion regarding isolation and coupling with the turntable.

Hard cones are coupling devices. They don't inhibit transmission of vibration. Vibrapods are isolation devices akin to using sorbothane.

So, it's interesting that someone finds a mix of isolation and coupling to work for them.

Most of the high end tables that use air platforms (Walker for example) are implementing isolation. The Ginko Cloud platform uses isolation, as do the Isonoe feet sold by KAB.

I isolate my TT using a Neuance platform with sorbothane under the platform. The TT has its adjustable stock feet (they are useful to level the table). If I replaced the stock feet, I'd likely use the Isonoe feet.

06-24-08: Tvad
This is an interesting discussion regarding isolation and coupling with the turntable.

Hard cones are coupling devices. They don't inhibit transmission of vibration. Vibrapods are isolation devices akin to using sorbothane.

So, it's interesting that someone finds a mix of isolation and coupling to work for them.
That's exactly my intention and it's based on the Mapleshade model. I use the brass cones under the turntable to transfer vibration into the butcher block cutting board. To increase this function I would like to replace the Dayton cones with Mapleshade Heavyfeet and get a second cutting board and epoxy them together to increase the mass that absorbes the vibration (but for that money I decided to get a Cambridge 640p phono stage instead for now).

I put Vibrapods under the cutting board to isolate the entire structure from the stand and room, and perhaps to help dissipate the vibration that the cones transfer into the cutting board.

At least, that's my theory.

That's why I see the Isonoes as a sort of standalone solution, to dissipate the SL12x0's plinth vibrations and also isolate the table from in-room vibrations. If you use Mapleshade Heavyfeet instead, it's probably better to platform them onto a Mapleshade block or cutting board, and isolate the whole thing with Isoblocks between the board and the shelf.
Ok james i bought the butcher block and vibrapods...

It says you can put them under existing feet....think that is good idea or také off tt feet?

Michael

06-25-08: Radioheadokplayer
Ok james i bought the butcher block and vibrapods...

It says you can put them under existing feet....think that is good idea or také off tt feet?
You will get some improvement setting the turntable with OEM feet on the butcher block/Vibrapod assembly. You will get another jump in dynamics and clarity when you replace the OEM feet with *at least* Dayton brass cones from Parts Express ($20/set of 4 + shipping) or other feet such as Mapleshade heavyfeet. Adding the brass cones definitely is a noticeable improvement. My wife noticed both improvements easily.

Another alternative might be to replace the feet with Vibrapod *cones* with the turntable's foot thread sockets resting on the balls of the Vibrapod cones, but I haven't tried that setup yet.