DIY Turntable Isolation Base with Ikea Aptitlig

I read this great article on making a bespoke turntable isolation base using only bamboo cutting boards from Ikea called Aptitlig. I decided to give it a try.

Support my content please:

Feet I used:

Ball bearings I used:

My audio setup:

Turntable: Fluance RT85
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box S2
Amplifier: Marantz SR8012
Speakers: Monitor Audio Silver 300 Floor standing, Silver W-12 Sub
Remote: Harmony Elite

[dahaizang]

The bamboo texture looks much better than the stained 😊

[JoeGibson-pf]

Thanks for posting this video. I just did this exactly as described except I did not stain the IKEA boards. I think they look just fine as is. Without a doubt this setup significantly improved my stereo system sound. System: McIntosh 5300 integrated amp, Technics SL-1210GR turntable, Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 phono preamp, Denon DCD-1700NE sacd/cd player, McIntosh XR-240 speakers. I am going to do this for my second turntable as well. Thanks again!

[leswatson]

Well, I've just put mine together exactly like this and the fact that my wife said it sounds much better (even though she didn’t have a clue why i was doing it) says it all. The difference is amazing! I could only turn the volume up about 70% before i fitted this at which point the feedback/rumbling would start, now i turn it up to 90% volume(don't see any reason to go beyond this and risk damaging the amp) and there is zero feedback/rumbling. Sound difference is hard to explain, saying its clearer or fuller base just doesn't cut it, its got to be heard to appreciate it.
So glad ive done this, thanks greatly for posting this video. 😊

[ncironhorse]

This is likely the best video on YouTube demonstrating noise isolation via tapping in various areas on and around the plinth.

[ВладимирШ-шэ]

Steel cones and balls perfectly transmit sound and vibration, the best way is porous rubber.

[TheDecguy]

Back in the early 70’s I remember that we would build a box with a plywood bottom and sides made out of 1x6. We made the box allowing about 1 inch clearance between the sides of the box and the edge of my old Garard SL95 turntable. Add clean sand to a depth of about 3 inches in the box, set the turntable in the sand and that was it. We made sure it was set properly, “we thought” by giving it the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Test set at a volume level that would get the old people in the apartment downstairs angry. “Caution drugs may have been involved.” I’m not sure if any of this actually did any good at isolating the turntable but we thought it was cool.

[RobertChampion]

Great concept and well executed. It is my understanding that spikes are not isolators. They are typically used under speakers stands on concrete floors to anchor the speakers and prevent them from rocking. My cheap and cheerful turntable isolation system is a 14 x 18 piece of kitchen countertop granite sat on Vibrapod isolators. Works a treat!

[demons]

Very nicely done. The ball bearing addition is genius.

[tonydeniro]

The music hall mmf-7.3 accomplishes essentially the same thing "built in" to its design. Its a dual plinth turntable, and it sounds Excellent.

[johnschofield]

Hi nice video spring and rubber have resonant frequencies at which they don't work. At low frequencies say 4Hz the energy just passes through the spring/rubber but if you place a point contact such as a spike or the 2 contact points of a ball bearing the energy just rattles it and forms harmonics that the springs/rubber can absorb. This is why Linn and other high end turntables sound better on lightweight wobbly stands, Try putting your turntable on the box it came in. Remember that low frequency sound from the stylus that you cannot hear can clip the phono stage making distortion in the higher frequencies often this removal of low 1 or 2 or 3 or 4Hz interference stops this clipping and the whole sound is much better.

[cheapcheerfulrecordcollect]

I did this with one of those IKEA cutting board and some isolation feet I got on line. I may have to revise and add another board. Thanks for the tip

[jtjames]

Thank you so much for this idea!

Instead of a turntable I'm using it for my resin 3D printer. I live on an active volcano right next to a major road in a second story apartment. So many ruined 3D prints, the supports just don't stand a chance.

I'm also adding a couple layers of really big really soft mouse pads.

[RobWhittlestone]

It would have interested me to know how you stained/lacquered/painted (finished) the cutting blocks. In any case they came out nice. All the best, Rob

[katyg]

Instead of the ball bearings, run a bead of silicone sealant in the grove. And remove the turntable lid when you’re playing it. It’s like a big resonance dish when it’s up.

[ericviking]

Funny thing; i just made a base out of a wood block and hockeypucks underneath, but i'm so convinced this is gonna work better that i just ordered 2 blocks from ikea and the spikes at amazon. Very cool vid, tnx 4 sharing! Btw, from the Netherlands.

[LQ-gaming]

gotta love these DYI hi-fi racks and isolation system that beat the market price with more than 80%!

[mojorocketman]

Nice job, although I think a dark mahogany stain would've made it look nicer and less plasticy.

[bluejeanblues]

I think its awesome what you have done. 2 thumbs up !

[Jammerk]

Nice Fluance Turntable! I have the Bamboo and the Walnut finish turntables! I really like them!

[markhancockhecox]

GREAT JOB!! I made my own isolation platform out of two granite cutting boards and used Herbie’s Audio Lab dB Neutralizer material in between!