Sandbox - anybody built one?

[jenkovix]

Hi lads!

I am just wondering has anybody built a TNT-like sandbox and what are the results putting a TT on it.

TNT sandbox:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/sandblaster_e.html

Thank you

Regards

[mysticfred]

a sandbox seems a lot of time and trouble to go through when you could just install a wall mounted shelf for your turntable?


http://www.audioreview.com/cat/accessor ... 92crx.aspx

[gold928]

A much more simple method (assuming that you have a strong supportive shelve) is granite (as in kitchen counter tops). I changed a Oracle plinth to granite and than sit the whole turntable on a 3 inch granite slab. The whole thing probably weighs over 90 lbs. NOTHING shakes that turntable and the difference is not subtle, particularily in the midbass and bass. One caveat - the granite is so slick that I had to use Super Glue to keep the cones in place. Another thing, one never has to worry about scratches and blemishes. There are other people on this forum that are much more knowledgeable than I about the advantages and disadvantages of various turntable plinth materials, but I am more than satisfied.

[Mark E Smith's Dentist]

One caveat - the granite is so slick that I had to use Super Glue to keep the cones in place.

I've found you can lay a strip of sellotape (I think you call it Scotch tape in the US) on the granite where the spikes are going to be and it stops them slipping.


JT

[jenkovix]

Ok lads, you convinced me.
Where can I get granite blocks?

[Zebulun]

I got a quote from a kitchen worktop place for a piece 500mm x 400mm and 20mm thick; they quoted £45

Not got any other quotes yet, but that gives you a ballpark figure

[Mark E Smith's Dentist]

It depends on how fussy you are. I have two pieces of 20mm granite, one was nicely finished on all the sides and cost me £65. The other just has cut but not polished sides and was £10. The finished one looks nicer but the other one is in a less visible location.

Both pieces came from a fireplace centre, we're lucky that hi-fi sizes are generally cast-off sizes for fireplace and kitchen centres. You could always ask them to just polish it on one of the longer sides (ie, the front) - that's what costs the money because it's labour intensive.

JT


*edit* maybe the best thing would be to use a slab of granite as the top piece in a sand box! You'd get mass and isolation in one go.

[exojam]

I have built one which can be seen at the link below. For the 20 or so dollars to make it was very worth it. Nothing gets feed back up to the TT itself. One of my speakers is pretty close and even pushing over 110db, nothing filters up through the TT.

James

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 9&start=15

[jenkovix]

What about putting granite under speakers?
What does that improve?

[gold928]

Yes - granite under speakers also works - particularily the bass. I would think that both cones and granite would be ideal. Anybody tried both the granite and cones?

[davidsss]

I built a sand box too. It works a treat with my TT and, like exojam, I unavoidably have my TT near one of my speakers. I think they are a great solution, granite would also be effective.

DS

[paul401]

Yes - granite under speakers also works - particularily the bass. I would think that both cones and granite would be ideal. Anybody tried both the granite and cones?

Hi,
I went for the budget option, used a couple of 18" x 18" paving slabs under my spiked speaker stands, definite improvement, especially as the floor was of the suspended/chipboard type.

Cheap and cheerful.
On the aesthetic front, the edges (underneath) were be a bit rough, easily fixed with a course sanding block, I gave them a couple of coats of emulsion paint and a final coat of varnish (quick dry acrylic, easy to use). One of the small 'test pots' will do two coats per slab.

The ones I chose had a small regular dimple pattern, like very small bubble wrap, so I found the spikes sat quite securely, but spike shoes would be another option.
Paul

[andyr]

I have built one which can be seen at the link below. For the 20 or so dollars to make it was very worth it. Nothing gets feed back up to the TT itself. One of my speakers is pretty close and even pushing over 110db, nothing filters up through the TT.

James

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 9&start=15

So even though you're "pushing over 110dB", you're not getting any airborne vibration into the plinth? Or is the granite slab so magic it actually drains any such vibration "down and out" of the plinth?

Regards,

Andy

[exojam]

Andy,

I am not using a granite slab in my set up (so no magic here). I am using a little sandbox. All I was trying to state is even with my stereo very loud (including the subwoofers and one speaker not more than two feet away) no vibration are making it back into my TT effecting the sound.

James