The MCRU PWC Record Stabilizer

The MCRU PWC record stabilizer design has its roots in a problem that arose 25 years ago in the age of making sensitive mechanical hard drives to save datastreams correctly under the vibration spectrum of a hovering military helicopter.

Tests were carried out to damp rotor frequency vibration using polymers supporting a plate to which the drives were fitted, and adjusting the mass of the plate until vibration at the rotor frequency (rotor rpm and number of blades) was successfully nulled. The combination of mass and polymer Shore hardness and density created a mechanical filter which absorbed the vibration effectively and was broader in spectrum than expected, due to the mass of the plate.

25 years later, now retired from designing defence systems, the designer wondered if the same principle could be applied to damping vibration in a record playing system, and our new PWC stabilizer was one product of these thoughts. Working in a similar way, the mass is suspended on three compressible polymer towers, which sit on point-contact stainless steel balls to provide a rigid path for low frequency noise within the system.

In use on a large direct drive transcription deck and on a heavy idler drive turntable we noticed a ‘clearing up’ or tightening of low frequency information, drums, leading edges of bass instruments and clearer piano notes. The unit weighs 325g and requires this mass to work correctly, so it is not suitable for suspended chassis decks with compliant springs. The stabilizer will work with most mats, it also works exceptionally well with raised-point mats from Hexmat etc.

Available now the finished production version will have either orange or black pillars.

HiFi Pig Review 

“I have always used a clamp to hold the record flatter and tighter to the platter, but haven’t before explored the idea that a puck, weight, clamp, or whatever MCRU don’t want you to call it, could actually reduce that inaudible low-frequency modulation that affects the arm, cartridge and stylus to alter the music unfavourably. Come in, David Brook from MCRU, who wanted me to hear how a lump of polymer could actually get rid of that noise and improve the music. Did that mean I wouldn’t need the bass-trough on my Rock 7 turntable and not need to spend £10,250 on a Seismion anti-vibration platform? Well, perhaps not, but at £149 this is a very good-looking device that notably focused my music”…… Janine Elliot