Any comments on Symposium Svelte Shelf?


Hi everyone,
My girlfriend just bought me a symposium svelte shelf (don't ask why, I don't know). I took a look in previous threads on Agon and I only could find 1 or 2 msgs stating that the svelte shelf was worse than having no platform at all... I'm hesitant to open it (still sealed).

Does anyone have comments or experience with this shelf. I use a Sim Audio Eclipse CD player with some YBA amplification...

What should I expect when using the Svelte shelf under my CD? Right now I'm using a custom made MDF rack. The cd player sit on a 2 inch thick sycamore wood slab (one piece, 20X20).

Thanks for the inputs...
lgregoir
To make any component sound better seek out a Sistrum platform or better yet their complete rack. They let you, for the first time hear your system under real dynamic conditions.
I have never liked the Sistrum platforms or rack, they are completely outclassed by the Symposium products. Unless of course you really like upper-midrange glare !?
If you use isolation devices in your system then you are only masking and dampening the glare that is stored in your components.
Audiotweak,

Why would the makers of the Systrum support recommend the use of a damping material for the vertical leg members if not to damp?
I'm in agreement in the logic of rapidly spreading excess resonant energies over a broad spectrum as well as the reality of ultimate failure when attempting to completely "isolate" from internal and externally sourced vibrations but am puzzled as to where the leg filling fits in the concepts.
Using the principles as I would understand them, would it not make more sense to use vertical members with varying wall thickness or solid members of varying material, shape or density to efficiently transfer those energies to the substrate?
From my vantagepoint, it appears that the upper component support spikes are collectors and filters of component generated and airbourne vibrations.
The horizontal framework appears to a broadband frequency modifier and energy transfer conduit with the vertical legs serving to sink,damp and dissipate these energies both from the component as well as to damp and block those vibrations sourced from the floor.
Please correct me if I am misunderstanding what's going on here.Thank you.

Best,
Ken Lyon
GreaterRanges/Neuance
Hello Ken Lyon,the fill material for the Sistum product is not a dampening material,it is actually a steel alloy.The steel bearings are smaller in diameter than a human hair.You drop these babies and they are hell to chase around and get up.Anyway you fill the interior void between the inner steel rod and the outer stainless steel shaft that you see.The micro-bearing was choosen to continue the high speed transfer of noise to ground. As I understand these processes, all the materials in the Sistrum products were chosen for energy transfer and extraction and not dampening.When I first received my Sistrum platforms for my Dunlavys and was on the floor adjusting them.I noticed as the music was playing you could feel them vibrating, almost like a bee buzzing, of course this was inaudible. You think about the basic design principal involved and this type of reaction in response to the speaker cabinet is exactly what you would want and hope for.Tom