-Click to Navigate Audiav.com- Main Home Page About Audiav Platform Options Anti-Vibration Interference Shielding Gemstone Emblems Products --Diamond Series --Crystal Series --Zirconia Series ----Accessories Advanced Wire Management Modular Designs Dealers Contact Us       Homepage  Products  Platforms  About Us  Theory  Dealer Info  Why Audiav?  Contact Us

Performance A/V Furniture Design Analysis Theory

 

Debunking Myths in A/V Furniture since 1999.

TRUE STATEMENTS:
THE CORE PRINCIPLES FOR REFERENCE FURNITURE

· All solid-to-solid connections result in full coupling and transference of jitter & vibrations.

· Spikes, hard couplings and “sandboxes” are all solid-to-solid connections.

· The most advanced decoupling must also support high load or it is useless and unusable.

· All electronics emit interference whether minuscule or severe.

· In general; the heavier the unit, the larger the magnet structure - transformer and/or heat sink(s).

· The larger the heat sink, the more probable the designers were concerned about thermal dissipation.

· Given the same shape and material, larger magnet structures generate larger magnetic fields.

· All electronics are susceptible to vibration, interference, magnets and heat to varying result(s).

- Mass loading without layered decoupling transfers all vibrations to equipment.

- Shielding reduces or blocks bombardment for which the shield is designed.

 

Advantages & disadvantages of current a/v furniture technologies:


Acrylic– With age becomes brittle and can crack or break easily. Low density; less dense than glass with lower rigidity. Requires thickness for strength and to prevent sag. Stores ESD. Ignites bestine based cleaners and solvents to flame. Generates large amounts of static discharge shock in winter conditions. No shielding properties unless conductive. If non-conductive, it holds roughly three times the capacitance of air and charge is relative to thickness and size. Easily scratched. Normally undesirable for reference applications as the static problems with buildup and transference coupled with being solid mass loaded. Must be properly layered for any type of isolation benefit(s) and can only be used as a mass layer, not as a top in contact with equipment footers.

 

Air & Fluid Bladders– May leak or burst, especially with age. Usually requires secondary guide or bracing causing resulting in solid-to-solid contact. Most designs will only hold small weight loads. Can create distortion due to pressurized bounce. Proper inflation must be properly maintained, usually with external pumps. No shielding properties. Top platforms usually resonate greatly as the thin, light and rigid platforms are not mass loaded nor anti-resonant.  

 

Carbon Fiber– Thin, light and rigid... Carbon fiber is the ultimate resonator if not properly layered and attached to additional mass. Carbon fiber's design strength does not yield the results on a flat, load bearing surface so minimal weight handling gains are achieved. Carbon fiber fabric is applied to a substrate causing solid-to-solid connection and marginally increases viable load bearing strength. The high-mass neting properties yield some vibration controlling opportunities. Mass loaded designs employing carbon fiber resonate more than other material types unless properly decoupled (this is a solid-to-solid connection and is usually used for exotic and aesthetic purposes without true function for shelf application(s)). Using the high mass as a layer to make the slab resonate less can be gained, but frame-to-shelf isolation cannot be gained without variable low mass layering.

 

Counterbalance Systems– Usually a large structure needed to offset mass of equipment. Most designs only hold one component. Many designs still employ solid-to-solid contact to restrict movement limits and/or hinging. No shielding properties.

EMI Shielding Cloths, Plates and Films- Cloths involve slivers of dielectric and diamagnetic materials. Small particles do not effect EMI as they cannot saturate, attenuate or absorb since radiated field can pass through gaps. Floating particles may reflect some interference back into source. Single plate or foil shields do not attenuate other than the minuscule distance for the EM wave to creep to other side through a process called "Skin Effect". Plates and shielding films induct current and re-emanate from other side. All known single shield types, regardless of materials, process or thicknesses have little to no result on attenuation within the EMI/RFI band.

Glass– Thermally conductive; therefore transfers heat. Can shatter, chip and/or break. Highly resonant and can cause ringing within audible range. Requires thickness for strength. No shielding properties.

 

Magic Rocks– Useless and causes distortion. Only possible sonic changes result from reflected interference distortions from close proximity of materials/metallic(s). Changes in sonic characteristics are due to "re-injecting" of electro-magnetics.

 

Magnetic Decoupling– Causes magnetic interference. Greater the weight handling, greater the magnet strength. Requires guide posts to center load posts on rounded magnetic fields causing solid-to-solid contact. Limited weight handling due to field push limitations.

 

Pegs– Only allows for predetermined height adjustment(s). Traditionally low weight handling. Sometimes used with hard durometer bumpers, sleeves or firm plastic discs transferring most jitter and vibration throughout system frame to other components.

 

Plank Wood– Strength depending on thickness, grain, species and ply. Poor resonance characteristics with little to no jitter absorption. No shielding properties.

 

Plastic Pods– Vibration absorption dependent on durometer rating and size for actual load. Firm type bumpers, grommets, sleeves and/or hard plastic discs transfer the most jitter and vibration throughout system frame to other components.

 

Polycrystalline– High-mass, man made blend of acrylics, resins and/or minerals. Manufacturers may claim mystical properties or conversion of vibration to heat. (While it is possible to convert minuscule and nearly immeasurable movement to heat, the marketing statements are in no way in line with the Laws of physics and is incapable of making any type of measurable difference in real world vibration (scenarios). A classic variant of a solid-to-solid connection. Material veins, streaks and markings are actually filament veins of impurities and are extremely susceptible to separation and breakage along grains. No shielding properties.

 

Pneumatics– See Air & Fluid Bladders. Designs using pneumatics are usually large and can only accommodate one component. Due to more moving parts and design limitations; may cause the additional parts to be more susceptible to vibration. Many have solid-to-solid connections to contain excessive horizontal drift.

 

Rubber Bands– Low weight handling. Continual adjustment needed for weight load changes and eventual failure due to time deterioration of material.

 

Rubber Bumpers– See Plastic Pods. Vibration absorption dependent on durometer rating and size. Firm bumpers, sleeves and/or hard discs transfer the most jitter and vibration throughout system frame to other

components.

Sand & Filament Boxes– Classic solid-to-solid connection. Outside box has a hard connection to sides and top/bottom, so contents of box do not decouple structure. Only advantage is adding load weight.

Screws, Nuts, Fasteners & Bolts– Creates solid-to-solid connection transferring jitter and vibration throughout system frame. Most models do not allow adjustment and many require long setup time with loose parts. Threaded designs vastly extenuate setup time(s).

Soldered, Welded or Fixed Designs– Creates solid-to-solid connection transferring jitter and vibration throughout system frame. Do not allow for any height adjustment.

Spike Feet- Creates solid-to-solid connection transferring jitter and vibration throughout system frame. Advantage of spiking lies in precise leveling on rough flooring. Many designs include rubber o-rings, washers or gaskets with internal threaded bolt connectors resulting in a classic "solid-to-solid" connection. Transference of vibration does not occur due to "coupling" unless fabricated with soft material(s) for dampening and must be without solid bolting or fixed inner thread pole in multiple piece designs. Manufacturers may claim conversion of vibration to heat and vague decoupling properties. Spiked feet can be aesthetically pleasing and aid in solid mating with sub floor if shelf platforms are extensively decoupled or floating from frame.
Spikes are designed to couple surfaces– not decouple (Spike feet can couple the cabinet of a subwoofer to the floor for improved bass response).

Spiked Shelves- Creates solid-to-solid connection transferring jitter and vibration throughout system frame, unless made from semi-solid. Many designs include rubber o-rings, washers or gaskets with threaded bolt connectors resulting in a classic "solid-to-solid" connection. Only advantage of spiking lies in precise leveling and coupling if adjustable. Transference of vibration does not occur due to "coupling" unless fabricated with soft material(s) for dampening and must be without solid bolting or fixed inner thread pole in multiple piece designs. Manufacturers may claim conversion of vibration to heat and vague decoupling properties.
Spikes are designed to couple surfaces– not decouple (example use is mating subwoofer cabinets to floor for lower tactile reproduction response).

Suspension & Hanging– Most models are solid-to-solid connections transferring jitter and vibration throughout system frame. Few designs decouple shelving from frame and do not decouple the suspension unit from shelf-to-shelf vibration transference.





Audiav’s World Reference Advantages:



· Multi-layer, high-low-high-low-high-low mass decoupling

· Specific Interference Shields EMI, EFI, RFI, ESD

· EMF, Magnetic Gauss Block

· Massive Weight Handling

· Thermal Transference Block

· Specially Designed Airflow Paths

· Infinitely Adjustable Shelf Height(s)

· Add & Remove Shelving Platforms

· Shelf platform, weight-loaded design

· Lightweight, Portable Frame

· Simple Setup & Adjustment

· Attach same series at 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270 & 315 Degrees

· All Setup Tools Included

· Grounding Post Topology

· Selectable Low Durometer Decouples

· Balanced Mass, Twin HPL Coated Composite Material

· Endlessly Upgradeable, Expandable & Compatible

· Décor Matching Side and Fascia Panel Kits

· 18/8 SS Gemstone Emblem Mounting

· Versatile Wire Management Separation









See our shelf platforms here.
See our framework designs here.