Corian as an isolation material - advice please

Posted by: jayd on 29 November 2002

Hello all. Tweaky question here - anyone have experience using Corian as an isolation platform? I purchased two 11"x17"x1/2" sheets and placed them under my Nait 3 and original Planet. The improvements were more than audible; they were stupendous. My muddy midrange cleared, the highs took on a healthy crispness, and the bass lost some boom. The one under the source seems to have made the most difference.

My "rack" is embarrassingly low-tech: a low MDF shelf unit (very thick, 1.5" MDF) on which I've set a hefty 12"x36"x1" marble slab, supported on halves of hollow rubber balls (6 halves, from sliced racquetballs). The gear was set directly on the slab; there's now a sheet of Corian between components and marble slab.

My next idea is to raise the Corian onto small brass spikes, three per sheet. I would like to know if anyone has ideas about the benefits of the spikes vs. just leaving the Corian sheets flat against the marble as they are now. The reason I ask is that while the Corian cost me $64, it will cost me nearly that much again to get the spike holes drilled at a machine shop (need a special high speed bit and a drill press).

And lest the thread get off track, I realize that a Fraim or Mana rack would be a much better way to go. Just not supported by my current financial reality, I'm afraid. Thanks to all.

Posted on: 30 November 2002 by jonni

try cones under them first , no need to drill.

Posted on: 30 November 2002 by Martin Clark

Before drilling holes in the Corian, you might like to try an 'interlayer' between it and the marble. Just what is up to you, maybe try some fabric eg thin felt, mouse mats - experiment a bit; see if its actually damping you want. If such things make a positive difference, you do not want to spike the corian...I suggest this only because Corian is pretty 'dead', and the fact you note an improvement over the stone suggests here that damping is good.

BTW DuPont Corian (and its clones - Fountainhead (by Formica) and Gloria 'solid surface material') are just a thermoset plastic filled with alumina. You can drill it yourself - buy a new, sharp HSS twist drill and have at it. Do not expect the drill to last long, but six holes should be no problem. Mark the spot on a patch of masking tape first, and drill through the tape - it'll stop the drillbit skating away.
Have fun!

M.

Posted on: 01 December 2002 by jonni

I suggest a layer of felt or whatever would be crap , you need to put something inbetween the corian and what you have it on to stop micro rocking,the corian and the layer undern will not be truly flat, that support layer could be hard ie cones or soft rubber stoppers but you will not get the true story otherwize.

Posted on: 02 December 2002 by jayd

I tried both these suggestions over the weekend; here's what I found.

First I put a dense felt pad between the Corian and the marble. Played some Ella Fitzgerald with full orchestra and loved it! The upper bass/lower mids were really fleshed out. But when I switched to something with a little deeper bass, I found out it was too much of a good thing - quite a bit of bloom and boom, and I eventually just couldn't take it.

Next, in lieu of cones, I tried the venerable nut/ball bearing support setup. Piano music rang clear and clean, and percussion had a terrific smack! to it. However, on more lush-sounding material (string quartet), I was left cold.

So, all in all it was a terrific lesson in extremes. I'm amazed to learn the differences these treatments can make. For now, I'm leaving the Corian sitting right on the marble. Best of both worlds, or worst of neither world - guess I'm just a middle-of-the-road type.

Again, many thanks for the advice.

Jay