DIY roller blocks??

[Nick B]

Those M6 speaker stand spikes I ordered recently are somewhere between the UK and here…do expect them any day, really.

To deviate from this thread just a bit and I didn’t want to start a new one just for this comment, but I moved my Fritzie speakers away from the wall last night and it was
a nice improvement. Seemed to be a fuller presentation, lovely detail and I love a nice midrange…and there was a bit more depth to the soundstage. I really don’t have any record tracks to evaluate soundstage depth, I just played music last night for a few hours and those were my conclusions.

When I’ve installed the speaker spikes, and the sand in the speaker stands and installed the Herbies cone/spike puckies, then I’ll mess with speaker placement a bit more.

[rollo]

Those M6 speaker stand spikes I ordered recently are somewhere between the UK and here…do expect them any day, really.

To deviate from this thread just a bit and I didn’t want to start a new one just for this comment, but I moved my Fritzie speakers away from the wall last night and it was
a nice improvement. Seemed to be a fuller presentation, lovely detail and I love a nice midrange…and there was a bit more depth to the soundstage. I really don’t have any record tracks to evaluate sound stage depth, I just played music last night for a few hours and those were my conclusions.

When I’ve installed the speaker spikes, and the sand in the speaker stands and installed the Herbies cone/spike puckies, then I’ll mess with speaker placement a bit more.

  If I were focus on placement before sand fill and spiking them. Much easier to move around. Been there done that numerous times.


charles

[P.I.]

Those M6 speaker stand spikes I ordered recently are somewhere between the UK and here…do expect them any day, really.

To deviate from this thread just a bit and I didn’t want to start a new one just for this comment, but I moved my Fritzie speakers away from the wall last night and it was
a nice improvement. Seemed to be a fuller presentation, lovely detail and I love a nice midrange…and there was a bit more depth to the soundstage. I really don’t have any record tracks to evaluate sound stage depth, I just played music last night for a few hours and those were my conclusions.

When I’ve installed the speaker spikes, and the sand in the speaker stands and installed the Herbies cone/spike puckies, then I’ll mess with speaker placement a bit more.

  If I were focus on placement before sand fill and spiking them. Much easier to move around. Been there done that numerous times.


charles

+1 on getting the placement right before filling the stands!  They can be a real PITA to move when full.

[Nick B]

Those M6 speaker stand spikes I ordered recently are somewhere between the UK and here…do expect them any day, really.

To deviate from this thread just a bit and I didn’t want to start a new one just for this comment, but I moved my Fritzie speakers away from the wall last night and it was
a nice improvement. Seemed to be a fuller presentation, lovely detail and I love a nice midrange…and there was a bit more depth to the soundstage. I really don’t have any record tracks to evaluate sound stage depth, I just played music last night for a few hours and those were my conclusions.

When I’ve installed the speaker spikes, and the sand in the speaker stands and installed the Herbies cone/spike puckies, then I’ll mess with speaker placement a bit more.

  If I were focus on placement before sand fill and spiking them. Much easier to move around. Been there done that numerous times.


charles

+1 on getting the placement right before filling the stands!  They can be a real PITA to move when full.

Well, if you and Charles both emphasize this, that’s what I’ll do tonight and the next night before I head off on my trip to California.

[rollo]

Those M6 speaker stand spikes I ordered recently are somewhere between the UK and here…do expect them any day, really.

To deviate from this thread just a bit and I didn’t want to start a new one just for this comment, but I moved my Fritzie speakers away from the wall last night and it was
a nice improvement. Seemed to be a fuller presentation, lovely detail and I love a nice midrange…and there was a bit more depth to the soundstage. I really don’t have any record tracks to evaluate sound stage depth, I just played music last night for a few hours and those were my conclusions.

When I’ve installed the speaker spikes, and the sand in the speaker stands and installed the Herbies cone/spike puckies, then I’ll mess with speaker placement a bit more.

  If I were focus on placement before sand fill and spiking them. Much easier to move around. Been there done that numerous times.


charles

+1 on getting the placement right before filling the stands!  They can be a real PITA to move when full.

Well, if you and Charles both emphasize this, that’s what I’ll do tonight and the next night before I head off on my trip to California.

  Have fun. Enjoy your trip.

charles

[steve]

Those M6 speaker stand spikes I ordered recently are somewhere between the UK and here…do expect them any day, really.

To deviate from this thread just a bit and I didn’t want to start a new one just for this comment, but I moved my Fritzie speakers away from the wall last night and it was
a nice improvement. Seemed to be a fuller presentation, lovely detail and I love a nice midrange…and there was a bit more depth to the soundstage. I really don’t have any record tracks to evaluate sound stage depth, I just played music last night for a few hours and those were my conclusions.

When I’ve installed the speaker spikes, and the sand in the speaker stands and installed the Herbies cone/spike puckies, then I’ll mess with speaker placement a bit more.

  If I were focus on placement before sand fill and spiking them. Much easier to move around. Been there done that numerous times.


charles

+1 on getting the placement right before filling the stands!  They can be a real PITA to move when full.

Well, if you and Charles both emphasize this, that’s what I’ll do tonight and the next night before I head off on my trip to California.

Yep, don't be afraid to try things Nick. The other night I was at Dan's in Mt. Pulaski and we lowered his speakers just a little and the lower ranges boosted very nicely. (His 2nd system was a little thin.)

Farther from the front wall, more depth. Separation between speakers affects the mids, width. Be careful of a middle "hole" though.

Cheers and good things Nick.

steve

[Nick B]

Those M6 speaker stand spikes I ordered recently are somewhere between the UK and here…do expect them any day, really.

To deviate from this thread just a bit and I didn’t want to start a new one just for this comment, but I moved my Fritzie speakers away from the wall last night and it was
a nice improvement. Seemed to be a fuller presentation, lovely detail and I love a nice midrange…and there was a bit more depth to the soundstage. I really don’t have any record tracks to evaluate sound stage depth, I just played music last night for a few hours and those were my conclusions.

When I’ve installed the speaker spikes, and the sand in the speaker stands and installed the Herbies cone/spike puckies, then I’ll mess with speaker placement a bit more.

  If I were focus on placement before sand fill and spiking them. Much easier to move around. Been there done that numerous times.


charles

+1 on getting the placement right before filling the stands!  They can be a real PITA to move when full.

Well, if you and Charles both emphasize this, that’s what I’ll do tonight and the next night before I head off on my trip to California.

Yep, don't be afraid to try things Nick. The other night I was at Dan's in Mt. Pulaski and we lowered his speakers just a little and the lower ranges boosted very nicely. (His 2nd system was a little thin.)

Farther from the front wall, more depth. Separation between speakers affects the mids, width. Be careful of a middle "hole" though.

Cheers and good things Nick.

steve

Hi Steve,
I’m still in California, but heading home tomorrow. Sure have missed my music! 🎶🎶 I need to still work on placement. I would think my m6 spikes have been delivered and once placement is dialed in, I’ll fill the stands with sand (thanks toobluvr…

[Nick B]

Well, am taking a brief break in between projects. Decided to install the m6 spikes from the UK (what a nice deal) and put them onto the Herbie’s cone/spike puckies. Fired things up mid day, (system cold) which I rarely do. What a nice improvement. Improved resolution of instrument timbre, of individual voices within a chorus, cleaner bass. This is just playing a few songs I’m familiar with.

I’ll listen a little more, then back to projects. Oh, this is without sand. Just didn’t want to get to it yet. The speaker stand top plate has 4 bolts, so it should be pretty simple to do.

[Nick B]

Finally got around to buying playground sand. Nice and clean. Opened up the bag and have some in a bucket ready to go for tomorrow for the speaker stands.

[steve]

I saw a featured system at Agon and the owner used various footers including Eden Sound Terra Stone bearings and a guy who posted a comment said that he could elicit quite a change by simply changing the bearing materials on diy roller blocks. His wife could easily note the improvement.

What do diy roller blocks look like? Anyone tried this and used different materials? My setup is sounding so nice nowadays that isolation tweaks are absolutely worth a try. My rack is a Pangea, which is nicely built and quite sturdy. I see videos of them being used at shows. The shelves, however, are not isolated from each other.

I was looking at some ISO Gaia’s, but they’re a little pricey and I have 5 components that might benefit from resonance control. Was also at Herbie’s. Anyone used any of his stuff?

Would appreciate any thoughts/experiences.

Nick

Hi Nick,

I have some blocks that use steel balls, and the type of steel ball material makes a sonic difference in my system as well. I don't use them anymore, completely switched to isolation, and now use 12" bicycle inner tubes that are partially blown up. Walmart has them for ~$5.00 each. 

Cheers

steve

[Nick B]

I saw a featured system at Agon and the owner used various footers including Eden Sound Terra Stone bearings and a guy who posted a comment said that he could elicit quite a change by simply changing the bearing materials on diy roller blocks. His wife could easily note the improvement.

What do diy roller blocks look like? Anyone tried this and used different materials? My setup is sounding so nice nowadays that isolation tweaks are absolutely worth a try. My rack is a Pangea, which is nicely built and quite sturdy. I see videos of them being used at shows. The shelves, however, are not isolated from each other.

I was looking at some ISO Gaia’s, but they’re a little pricey and I have 5 components that might benefit from resonance control. Was also at Herbie’s. Anyone used any of his stuff?

Would appreciate any thoughts/experiences.

Nick

Hi Nick,

I have some blocks that use steel balls, and the type of steel ball material makes a sonic difference in my system as well. I don't use them anymore, completely switched to isolation, and now use 12" bicycle inner tubes that are partially blown up. Walmart has them for ~$5.00 each. 

Cheers

steve

Hi Steve,

One of the guys here sent me round mdf? discs with steel balls. I haven’t tried using them yet. On my to do list… As to the bicycle tubes, that’s an interesting idea and I don’t think any of the other guys here have mentioned that. It would quite fun to try.

Nick

[Jack]

Nick

According to George, the machinist and AudioShark member, who made those Iso Pods that is some type of composite material but not MDF.  We could never get him to disclose the exact formula or the source of the material.

[Nick B]

Nick

According to George, the machinist and AudioShark member, who made those Iso Pods that is some type of composite material but not MDF.  We could never get him to disclose the exact formula or the source of the material.

Ok, Jack… a secret material. I will be curious if I detect any difference from the inexpensive pads I have. I am a little tempted to buy some tiny tungsten ball bearings  from Amazon.

[Jack]

George owned a precision machine shop in Tampa at the time and I think he considered trying to sell them commercially on Amazon or Ebay so wouldn't disclose the material makeup.  I suspect it was something he got from another client who was using the material for a different application. This is the supplied bearings, G25 Precision Chromium Chrome Steel Bearing Balls AISI 52100.  He talked about trying the ceramic ones but never said if he did or not as he sold the shop and retired and bought a very large bus style motorhome a short time later.  Other than the trick of placement if you are doing it on you own they seem to work the same at the Rollerblock Jr.'s I have.

[_Scotty_]

Bigger bearings are better. I am using 10mm tungsten carbide bearings from
McMaster-Carr. 10mm balls are about $10 and 12mm are $15 I went cheap.
Scotty