Affordable Isolation

[jmusica]

Stock feet may be a cost compromise. The shelf or platform the equipment is placed on plays a factor in what isolation is optimal.

I do not understand the bellyaching about trying something.

My goal is to optimize the room and ancillary equipment. Experimenting with isolation is not a crime and not "daft". In fact it makes perfect sense to me since I have experienced positive results in the past.

Yep

Saying it’s “daft” to do that, fwiw, is calling probably >75% of the people on this site daft. And, goes against the real-world experience of many of us, including what very knowledgeable people, including dealers, put in their home systems. Are they also daft, or maybe they just like to waste money.

I really wish people would stop being so dismissive of others on this site. Not agreeing is one thing, but telling people they’re basically stupid because you disagree with them is uncool.

 

[Hear Here]

Stock feet may be a cost compromise. The shelf or platform the equipment is placed on plays a factor in what isolation is optimal. Equipment manufacturers have no control over final placement.

I have ordered some OREAs. For what I have invested in my system they seem like a very affordable option with technology behind the design. I use GAIAs on the speakers in the room with a tile floor.

I do not understand the bellyaching about trying something. If it works, great. If it doesn't move on. I consider the speakers in my two systems endgame. I am not looking at other brands. Moving up the line is out of my comfort zone for expenditures. I also don't have the space for the next level of speaker.

My goal is to optimize the room and ancillary equipment. Experimenting with isolation is not a crime and not "daft". In fact it makes perfect sense to me since I have experienced positive results in the past.

I'm sorry Dizzie, but you misunderstood the motive for my post that was really aimed squarely at the person I was responding to as he seems obsessed with add-on stuff eg cables, feet, etc.

I too use GAIA Is under my own speakers as I don't want the supplied spikes between the speakers and my timber-on-concrete floor. Yes, they make an audible improvement and well worth the cost. However I don't try to improve on the rather carefully designed feet under my amp and streamer.

Earlier in this thread I asked if lifting the units with one’s finger (so totally isolating them from their normal surroundings) would identify if the supplied feet could be improved upon. So far no comments - rather disappointing! Frankly I would expect the SQ to improve by lifting the unit if the existing feet were less than great at the job they perform.

Good luck with your Orea tests. I also asked if anyone had compared audiophile Oreas with pro audio Pucks also from IsoAcoustic - again sadly no opinions offered. Peter

 

[Dizzie]

Earlier in this thread I asked if lifting the units with one’s finger (so totally isolating them from their normal surroundings) would identify if the supplied feet could be improved upon. So far no comments - rather disappointing! Frankly I would expect the SQ to improve by lifting the unit if the existing feet were less than great at the job they perform.

Peter

Peter,

I tried lifting equipment by hand but by the time I got back to my listening chair to check for differences everything had fallen again. :notreally:

However, your suggestion could be the ultimate test. The best isolation I ever tried were devices that were weight rated to magnetically isolate by levitation (Spike Sound Will). They worked very well but were hard to place especially if the overlaying equipment had severely uneven weight distribution like transformers. Like OREAs, they were rated for specific weights. I think the company went out of business.

 

[Hear Here]

Peter,

I tried lifting equipment by hand but by the time I got back to my listening chair to check for differences everything had fallen again. :notreally:

However, your suggestion could be the ultimate test. The best isolation I ever tried were devices that were weight rated to magnetically isolate by levitation (Spike Sound Will). They worked very well but were hard to place especially if the overlaying equipment had severely uneven weight distribution like transformers. Like OREAs, they were rated for specific weights. I think the company went out of business.

I think the hand-held lifting test needs a second pair of hands! I'll sk a friend to lift and return my amp while I sit at my listening chair hoping (or not) to hear any difference.

Hold your horses regarding magnetic levitation feet! HiFi Collective in the UK list them here - and at a not unreasonable price too.

Sound Will Spike | HIFICollective

I'm sure they can be found your side of the Pond too. HiFi Collective are the same poeple as distribute Duelund cable (I've just ordered a pair of Duelund speaker cables but keep that under your hat please!), so perhaps Parts Connexion in US?

Peter

 

[brodricj]

Do you not have vibration management under any of your gear? The Magico’s for instance, or under the gear that sits on your racks.

Oh yeah, for sure. My components sit on Critical Mass Systems CS2, which sit on YG Rack shelves. My Magico M3's were ordered with Mfeet but I upgraded to Mpods. Also had Spods and Qpods. What I'm saying here, if I only had the budget for S3Mk2 + black magic isolation (for example)...instead of buying all that expensive vibration/isolation gear I'd be better off with a pair of M3 for the same investment.

And as for Denali, swinging it off velcro straps on the wall sounds no different to having it sitting on its own feet in the normal way. Drop 30 kg on it from ceiling height, then drop it on the floor, doesn't bother it at all. Dust it off and you're good to go. Unfortunately for me, throw the screen in the bin and order a new one.

 

[Dizzie]

Peter,

I had seen the HiFiCollective but thought it was out of date like all the other references I saw.

 

[Spock]

Like noise you aren't aware of until it's gone...

:congrats:

I do not understand the bellyaching about trying something. If it works, great. If it doesn't move on.

:Bow:

 

[JCS123]

Number 1 by a mile:

CD player.

Number 2 (close second): Streamer

Number 3 preamp

Number 4 amps (leave until very last. My findings have been mixed here. Big heavy SS amps, meh. Light flea watt tube = yes!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks, Mike. I suspected that you might say source components first, and very happy that is the case.

 

[brodricj]

What I find interesting is what Esoteric is doing for vibration control in it's latest generation Grandioso products. They think isolation is important for good sound. The top cover is now floating instead of being fastened with screws. Because it sounds better. Where the pin point feet interface with the chassis has been optimized. Because it sounds better. Some critical circuit boards aren't fastened with bolts/risers to the chassis, they are suspended in isolation mounts. Because it sounds better. I think if we end-users start messing with our own ideas on vibration control, after the manufacturer has gone to this much experimentation and design effort, we risk upsetting the whole manufacturer optimized ecosystem.

 

[Hear Here]

Peter,

I had seen the HiFiCollective but thought it was out of date like all the other references I saw.

Dizzie - HiFi Collective currently has stocks in all 3 sizes, see Sound Will Spike | HIFICollective

I've just contacted them to ask about trying a set before I purchase. They don't have demo units but they have offered a refund if I'm not happy with them. I think I'll ask members here what users think of them first. I see they've been around since at least 2009 as I've seen a review dated then.

I'm concerned that, if they were as good as described, why they are not better known about and chosen in preference to Gaias for example. The big levitating supports are good for 70-120 Kg so match Gaia Is and (at £350 for a set of 4) are about the same price. The smaller ones look very good value at £150 + VAT for a set of 4. Peter

 

[Dizzie]

Dizzie - HiFi Collective currently has stocks in all 3 sizes, see Sound Will Spike | HIFICollective

I've just contacted them to ask about trying a set before I purchase. They don't have demo units but they have offered a refund if I'm not happy with them. I think I'll ask members here what users think of them first. I see they've been around since at least 2009 as I've seen a review dated then.

I'm concerned that, if they were as good as described, why they are not better known about and chosen in preference to Gaias for example. The big levitating supports are good for 70-120 Kg so match Gaia Is and (at £350 for a set of 4) are about the same price. The smaller ones look very good value at £150 + VAT for a set of 4. Peter

Peter,

I have two sets (8 units total) of the 20-40Kg version. I sold the monoblock amps I was using them on. They worked well (on those amps) but are very hard to position especially on heavy equipment with uneven weight distribution. The floating plug that contacts equipment is supposed to be positioned so it does not contact the cage that keeps if from escaping captivity. That can be difficult.

I am past the point of being able to lift heavy amps up with one hand while trying to position footers with critical placement requirements. All while laying on the floor trying to use a flashlight. So the Sound Will Spikes remain in the closet. I wish I had the lower weight rated versions for my DAC or preamp. That would be an easier task.

The SW Spikes seem to only have one retail seller and no website I could find. I recently saw two different brands/designs of magnetic elevation. This is one. I can't find the other one right now.

Amazon.com

I have OREAs on order, the lazy-man's isolation footer.

 

[Hear Here]

Peter,

I have two sets (8 units total) of the 20-40Kg version. I sold the monoblock amps I was using them on. They worked well (on those amps) but are very hard to position especially on heavy equipment with uneven weight distribution. The floating plug that contacts equipment is supposed to be positioned so it does not contact the cage that keeps if from escaping captivity. That can be difficult.

I am past the point of being able to lift heavy amps up with one hand while trying to position footers with critical placement requirements. All while laying on the floor trying to use a flashlight. So the Sound Will Spikes remain in the closet. I wish I had the lower weight rated versions for my DAC or preamp. That would be an easier task.

The SW Spikes seem to only have one retail seller and no website I could find. I recently saw two different brands/designs of magnetic elevation. This is one. I can't find the other one right now. kg speakers are tricky to lift and lower carefully down precisely on 4 fussy feet!

Amazon.com

I have OREAs on order, the lazy-man's isolation footer.

Thanks for that - all very interesting and somewhat off-putting as my 95 Kg speakers would be very tricky to lower down precisely onto 4 fussy feet! Even changing spikes to Gaias was hard work, done 2 at a time by using air jacks (pump wedges) to raise the front or back of the speaker sufficiently to unscrew the spikes. I'm happy with the Gaias anyway. I hope your Oreas arrive soon and they do the job you want them to do. Peter

 

[Spock]

I am past the point of being able to lift heavy amps up with one hand while trying to position footers with critical placement requirements.

I use these...

 

[Mr Peabody]

You are assuming too much. Just because a component has feet doesn't mean they have been "optimized" to prevent vibration. I know Merrill audio discovered his amp feet could be improved on and began shipping them with Stillpoints and selling that as an option. Not all manufacturers go to the extent of Esoteric. As Dizzy mentioned, it doesn't hurt to experiment, as I read toward the end you are intending to do.

I am looking forward to feedback here on what you all find when trying the products. Especially how much better the feet Mike suggested are over the Tender Feet.

Do you not think that the ultra $ components in the system already have very carefully designed feet, crafted specifically for the unit they support? Chucking more dosh at already very costly and properly designed kit (including feet) seems somewat daft to me!

 

[Rich4284]

Whats everyones thoughts on avroomservice EVPs ?