The triaxial acoustic cell is used to propagate compressional (P) and shear waves (S1/S2) through a rock specimen at overburden pressure and ambient temperature.  The specimen is placed between two movable loading pistons and compressed by means of a load frame. A special sleeve isolates the sample from the hydraulic confining fluid. This unique design allows rapid loading / unloading of samples without the necessity to drain the confinement fluid and remove the core sleeve. The cell comprises a hollow steel cylinder with threaded removable ends, two hard-resistance spherically seated acoustic loading platens, two female spherical seats and a sleeve. A compression testing frame and confining pump are required to operate the cell.