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Re: Another view

Posted by bdiament (A) on October 23, 2003 at 05:39:47

In Reply to: Re: Another view posted by Larry on October 22, 2003 at 16:49:45:

Hi Larry,

"Could it be that your roller bearings are in part acting similar to the cones by tranferring vibrations from the component to the platform upon which bearings are placed? And, might that not be part of the improvment you hear in using them?

I believe the roller bearings are indeed acting in part in a fashion similar to the cones but not in the way you mention. The similarity is in the coupling action; the rollers act as couplers in the vertical plane. The vibration transfer, in my view, is from the platform to the component and not the other way around, though of course any vibration path is a two-way street.

Any time you couple a component to something (anything), you alter its resonant signature to some degree and this will impact its performance. What I'm describing here is a change as opposed to a consistent and repeatable improvement. I wouldn't argue with those who like such changes which are based in the concept of "tone painting". I don't believe however, this is what is responsible for what I hear with properly implemented roller (and/or air) bearings, the effects of which are radically different from simple coupling devices.

That said, I believe the rollers would yield even greater improvements if the coupling component could be eliminated. It is precisely for this reason that I use air bearings in conjunction with roller bearings. The vertical isolation they provide, combined with the horizontal and rotation isolation of the roller bearings, results in the multiple-axis isolation I've been putting up enthusiastic posts about ever since I heard the across the board, consistent and repeatable performance benefits resulting from placing all my components on my Enjoyyourshelf^© racks.

I'm not saying my thinking on this is cast in stone (may it never be) but my experience so far says that despite the coupling component of roller bearings, the isolation components (horizontal and rotational) take precedence. If you haven't tried them, I suggest some experimentation will result in your being delighted with the sound of your own system. (They seem to work best when placed in the largest equilateral triangle that will fit under the component being supported. Also, don't use the kind with a "top". The tops only add their own signature --the "brightening" some have mentioned--, complicating things and diminishing consistency and repeatability. Use them with the ball in direct contact with the component being supported.)

Happy Listening!
Barry

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