Bearing Isolation "Arms Race" Begins


Well soundstage.com has new review of Aurios new products: the Aurios 1.2, the Aurios Pro, and the optional tungsten balls(which everyone will get that upgrades since it is "only" another $50 for set of three balls).

The good news, according to author, is sound has improved over original Aurios MIB and set-up is now somewhat easier as bearings self center easier. The bad news is this improvement in sound will cost much more, set of three 1.2
version MIBs $399(+$50 for tungsten balls of course) and three Pro MIBs $599(+$50).

Author spends long time in general praising new MIBs and how they improve sound in general, but he did not go into detail how they sound used with any given component, wish he would have talked about his results when used under speakers. His idea of just using some MIBs to float entire rack is interesting, wish he would have gone into more detail here. I have a feeling we will be seeing a few sets of original MIBs go up for sale here, as upgrade fever takes hold.

Anyone using any of the new Aurious products and care to share your experience? RedKiwi should soon be giving us
his impressions of Aurios.
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I can't comment on the Aurios, however I can comment on your curiosity of the effect of isolation between bookshelf speakers and their stands. I use another product called the 'Feet of Silence' by Solid Tech (another bearing-type product) under CDP- very nice effect- produced better, more natural frequency extension, less smearing and a tad better resolution- you know, the usual benefits...

I also tried them under bookshelf speakers- similar positive effect. Anyways, regardless of the isolation tweak product of choice- be it the Feet of Silence; Aurios bearings; Symposium rollerblocks; etc., I can vouch for the positive effect I noticed when decoupling bookshelf speakers from their stands using these type of devices (as opposed to the old rigid 'Blue Tac em' to the stands' approach.). Just my $.02...
Please post a direct link to the review not just to www.soundstage.com. I looked everywhere and cannot find the article. Thanks
Eric, sorry my mistake I meant stereotimes.com, here is link

http://www.stereotimes.com/Aurios_Pro_and_1_2_Media_Isolation_Bearings.htm

Must have spaced out there.
I've been using the Aurios Pro for about 2 months and it's been a very positive experience. I live in a wood frame house with suspended wood floors in an area where there are several nearby train lines. The Aurios are placed atop a 1/2" sheet of MDF on top of which I place a large Black Diamond Racing Source Shelf. A Target equipment stand is then placed upon the BDR. Individual components are further isolated by additional BDR or Vibrapod products. With this setup I've been able to employ the Aurios to isolate my integrated amp, digital processors, digital transport, turnatable and CDR. The musical effect is an increase in overall clarity and instrument separation. It takes less mental effort to distinguish between different insturments playing in unison. Notes also seem to stop and start a little quicker. I wouldn't call the impact dramatic, but it's definitely hearable and IMO, quite worthwhile.

The BDR Source shelf was the most expensive part ($1,100) of the setup. Substituting some other material (glass, acrylic, wood, MDF, granite, etc.) could substantially lower the overall cost of suspending a rack with the Aurios Pro.