Quickie mods

[Doc B]

Making the plate more rigid will simply transfer the vibrational energy into the microphonic tube more efficiently. What you want is soft, squishy mass that impedes the transfer of the energy. One thing that can help is some lossy material between the base and the shelf it sits on. I use these little lead shot and silicone pucks. Something like sorbothane hemispheres will probably work well too.

 

[4krow]

Just got doing the Sorbothane idea to support the plastic plate from the box, and yes, there is a notable difference.

 

[Zimmer64]

Thank you Doc B. Sounds plausible. I will change my strategy accordingly.

Michael

 

[Zimmer64]

Guys,

What kind of copper tape are you recommending and how did you apply it? Would this work: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ElectricalOEM/Home/Products/Catalog/~/3M-EMI-Copper-Foil-Shielding-Tape-1181-1-4-in-x-18-yd-6-35-mm-x-16-5-m-36-per-case?N=4294705660+5428620&Nr=AND%28hrcy_id%3AGSRXMKDHQ2gs_7W8LMHK4C8_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv%29&loc=en_US&plmlblid=1273692470463&rt=d&sorttype=list?

Thanks

Michael

 

[4krow]

That tape would be fine, but I would consider wider tape. You can always cut to perfect width with 2" tape.

 

[earwaxxer]

Copper tape sounds like a good idea. I just went with the copper tube. Just an addition though, I feel the aluminum also is needed. I coated the copper with aluminum foil. I 'think' it was better with the aluminum. YMMV.

 

[JONO]

I think Doc is right about the plate and microphonics, I used [Palight-Palram] a PVC foam as plate, and spikes in a wood bild. To get some microphonics I need to hit the plate. Or just got luck with the tubes- Motorola's and Pope's

 

[Zimmer64]

got those delivered today ;D .  will install them over x-mas and will report back once they're broken in.

Michael

 

[4krow]

WAAAIT A MINUTE, you can't just be showning stuff like that here. Craaaazy people( I will NOT mention Eric's name out of respect) will see it and who knows what it will lead to. Like raiding the kid's inheritance or something. I am going to pretend that the Obliggato caps in my Quickie are all I need, and nothing else....except this chair..and that's ALL I need, my caps, and this chair...and this book of matches-----remember the movie "The Jerk"?

 

[corndog71]

got those delivered today ;D .  will install them over x-mas and will report back once they're broken in.

Michael

Excellent!  Btw, I wrapped the leads of mine with plumber's teflon tape.

 

[earwaxxer]

WAAAIT A MINUTE, you can't just be showning stuff like that here. Craaaazy people( I will NOT mention Eric's name out of respect) will see it and who knows what it will lead to. Like raiding the kid's inheritance or something. I am going to pretend that the Obliggato caps in my Quickie are all I need, and nothing else....except this chair..and that's ALL I need, my caps, and this chair...and this book of matches-----remember the movie "The Jerk"?

LOL! - I was thinkin - are those the MRs? Yep. I do have a hankerin for a couple of those, but alas, I'm off the 'cap crusade' for now. Got other fish to fry. Got to switch a couple of Quickies to balanced! Now, thats the schiit.

 

[Zimmer64]

Put my new Clarity Caps in today. Nice upgrade so far  ;D

 

[4krow]

Do you think that dampening caps helps their performance? Just wondering, 'cuz I used Sorbothane under mine.

 

[Zimmer64]

Do you think that dampening caps helps their performance? Just wondering, 'cuz I used Sorbothane under mine.

I really don't know. I have not tried dampening single components. I use Sorbothane under my main speakers, which makes an audible difference (we have wooden floors).

 

[corndog71]

Do you think that dampening caps helps their performance? Just wondering, 'cuz I used Sorbothane under mine.

I believe the Clarity ESA and MR caps have damping built into the design.  There seems to be something to it.  I've seen experiments with potting speaker crossovers and they supposedly sounded better than unpotted.  I don't have experience with potting but I understand it to be a pain in the butt.  It's also permanent and thus not so good for us tweakers. 

Keep having fun experimenting and tell us if YOU hear anything.

 

[earwaxxer]

resonance in caps is an interesting phenomenon....

There are two factors, internal, and external resonance. Internal resonance you cant improve by external dampening. The internal resonance has to do with a harmonic due to the flow of electrons through the cap, in relation to the dielectric etc, bla bla bla. Thats the kind of resonance that you have to largely be concerned with. Good caps take care of that. Thats one of the reasons why they cost the mega bucks! External resonance is not as big a deal, and if the former is taken care of the latter should be a minimal issue IMHO!

 

[Chris]

Makes sense Wax....  Great looking work Zimmer! I even appreciate the "citrus garnish" you provided for the photo...   ... Gotta say,the looks of those clarity caps just oooze quality... When i am ready for my bottle head projects, they will be on my extreme "shortlist".....

 

[Paul Joppa]

Two points:

1) Mr. Grammar says: Dampening is misting with water. Damping is absorbing vibrational energy"  :^)

sorry, that one's a pet peeve; I'm pretty sure the battle is lost, but like those mythical Japanese soldiers lost in South Pacific island jungles, I keep fighting.

2) Mechanical vibration exists in capacitors, due to the electrical attraction as the voltage between electrodes varies. This is in addition to the electrical resonances that earwaxxer describes. It is quite audible with some caps! There are many modes of mechanical vibration, some of which have little or no motion at the outer surface, and others than can be damped at the outer surface.

3) There are in practice quite a large number of damping materials and methods that have nearly no effect at all, and very few that are truly effective. This is true of almost all vibration problems I've run across, and I've run across quite a few! That's why sharing experiences on a forum like this is so valuable - we are not all Thomas Edisons, willing to try 10,000 different materials before finding baked sewing thread makes a decent light bulb filament!

 

[earwaxxer]

well said Paul... I'm a auto spell checking slob so I usually pick the wrong correction. Sorry - it is DAMPING for the record. But yes, to further beat the horse, the 'resonance' problems with caps is not an easy solution.

 

[4krow]

I tried dampening my caps once, my short hairs are still tingling.

'And, stop criticizing my baking!' that's what I thought I heard as I slowly walked the old Edison place.