Can I go wrong with Stillpoint Ultra Mini anti-vibration isolation feet?

Rsf507, I’ll look uo the Ingress Engineering roller blocks you mentioned today. What did you like better about their performance?

Testpilot, good point,

Mike

Fsonicsmith, you didn’t mention how you liked their performance. I’d be interested in your input on that.

Rsf507- thanks for the description of how the Ingress Roller Blocks sound better in your system. I have been reading about them today. They sound promising and at a much better price point. Do you have the black Version 2 or silver Version 3 Ingress Roller blocks? They look the same other than color and height but the newer Version 3 costs twice the price ($199 CA vs $95 CA). I wonder what you get for double the money.

Twoleftears, there are Aurios on Galen Carols list, but not Oreas. I’ll look into them. Thanks.

Slaw, I’d read about four Stillpoints being better than three. You’re absolutely correct about finding out how level and flat your shelves are, especially any wooden ones. They tend to warp over time, and vary in level and flatness seasonally with humidity too. Good you’re pleased with your Stillpoints. I read up on the DH cones you mentioned also.

What difference do you note when you place Stillpoints under your Hydras?. I’ve been wondering if there was any advantage to placing them under a power conditioner which would warrant the purchase of an additional set of isolation feet. Thanks for your advice.

Mike

I don’t know if its permissible or not, but since this is my post I don’t mind either. The moderators can always delete your entry if it’s a rule violation of some sort.

Mike.

Chorus, I am in the process of learning about these anti-vibration devices, and trying to figure out who the top players are in and around my price point, before making a purchase. I think from the recommendations given here, and after some research I've thus far gotten it narrowed down to a top three choices of the Stillpoint Ultra Minis, the Ingress Audio Rollerblocks, and the IsoAcoustic Oreas I'm looking online for some more side by side comparisons tonight.

I also need to figure out why the Ingress Version 3 Rollerblocks cost over double the Version 2's when they appear to be almost the same other than color and height. If anyone know please share this info. Thanks.

Aubreybob, I'll read up on the CS2's you mention. Thanks for the recommendation.

Anyone out there who has any thoughts on Stillpoint Ultra Minis versus the Ingress Audio Rollerblocks Version 2 or 3 versus the IsoAcoustic Oreas please chime in. Your input would be appreciated. 

Mike

Jtc925, what didn't you care for with the Ingress Audio Rollerblocks when you had them? And what components did you use them under? What do you use now under each component that works better for you.

 And I thought this was going to be easy to figure out. Its almost as crazy as figuring out which cables and interconnects to use. 

Mike

Slaw, I’d been wondering about whether ceramic ceramic balls might be better in roller block applications. It’s interesting you’ve tried them. . I think McMaster-Carr carries them, but I’m not sure of the quality or smoothness of those..

Selecthi-fi, since you asked. I’m not trying to achieve anything specific with the anti-vibration devices. I’ve read that, like modern cables and interconnects, these devices can make your system sound better. I only bought my new system about a year ago. My older equipment was all purchased in the late seventies, where most of us used zip cords and I’d never heard of anti-virbration products. So if these anti-vibration footers work, like so may attest they do, I’ll soon find out. If they only make the sound different, not better, I’ll find out too. It makes sense they might work, so I’ll try them. I’ll look up the Townsend site you recommend too. Thanks

Rsf507, thank you.

Jtcf, maybe I’ll make up a sand box, I think I’ve a bag of sand out in the garage somewhere. I’m kind of leaning towards the Oreas you also use with the sand box too pending a bit more research and listening to everyone’s advice here. So maybe sand boxes could be a later tweak if I go with them

Geoffkait, I’ve been reading some of older posts recommending the springs for vertical vibation isolation. Do you recommend putting them under the component as footers under a roller bearing device, or under a floating platform. And if you have a minute, what do you mean by a "double layer mass-on-spring system". Thanks

Discopants, you’ve put a lot of thought and effort into your system. I’ll take a look at some of those products you mentioned as I keep learning here. Thank you.

Tt1man, you additionally have gone the extra mile way beyond my skill level. Appreciate what you have done.

Ebm, where are you applying the Magico Q-pods. I’d only read one comment on them while researching yesterday by someone not caring for them, so its interesting you prefer them to the Stillpoints.

Dodgealum, thank you for sharing your experience with the Ultra-Mini’s. Have you tried any other product to compare them with?

Steakster, thanks for your comments. I have been learning a lot by reading old posts and product reviews on these devices. I never expected it to so complex a subject. I was all set to go out and but a few Vibrapods not knowing all that was involved in ani-vibation devices. I had read up some to help design my cabinetry housing the components, but the footers were previously only an afterthought.

My flooring upstairs where the system’s located is 3/4" tongue and groove oak over 3/4" plywood nailed into denser SYP (Southern Yellow Pine) 2x10" joists. the nails are the steel twist type and located in the 3/4" oak planks to screw directly into the 2x10’s. So the floor is pretty rock solid, but not as solid as the slab on grade downstairs.

Thanks for you input on the Symposium Rollerball and Isoacoustic products, too. (By the way, get yourself a good pool table. Basically the same game as golf without all the unnecessary walking around, frustration chasing balls, or putting up with poor weather.)

Auditionaudio, Sounds sensible, but does complicate matters that different devices work better or worse with given components. Nothing good ever comes easily though. Kind of costly to be trying out different devices on each component though. I wonder if certain types of devices work better on certain types of components. Have any of you found that to be true?

Atagulkula, if I had some hockey pucks, I’d give ’em a shot on you say so.

Rixthetrix, maybe I could retrofit my floating Baltic Birch plywood and marble platforms to accept springs rather tham lay on the rubber like shelf liner they are currently on. sounds like a future experiment to consider for sure. I’ll wait and see what Geoff recommends on spring placement. Thanks.

And thank you all for so many replies today. I was really surprised and pleased to hear from so many of you, and will carefully consider all your advice.

Mike

Tomic601, I’ll do some research on the HRS (Harmonic Resolution Systems) Nimbus couplers and other products. I’m looking on their site right now. Thanks for the recommendation.There sure are a lot of anti-vibration products out there.Do you use any of the HRS products, and if so how do you find them to perform relative to others?

Wolf_garcia, the vibrapods certainly are an excellent bargain. I’m probably going to go with a product with a bit higher rating on Galen Carol’s scale though. I’m glad you’ve gotten good results with yours. I’m completely unsure of how much sonic improvement ant-vibration feet will provide, so I really don’t know how much improvement is to be had by products that are considerably more expensive.

Mike

Audiorusty,seems a number of you like the Townsend products. My platforms are already built in is why I'm primarily looking at only footers at present. The IsoAcoustic Oreas you are considering for your set-up are still high on my list of possiblities. 

Tomic601, thanks for describing what you have. You've surely put a lot of effort into your choices. I hope I get the kind of results you've undoubtedly achieved. Have you used any other products you've since upgraded to achieve better results? Pardon me if I'm asking you too many questions. 

And the winner once again is twoleftears for suggesting the Isoacoustic Aureas. After much research they seem to best fit the parameters of both performance and budget. I ordered seven of their Indigos for the Marantz Ruby CD player and Luxmann 507uX Mk2, and three of the Bronzes for the Shunyata Denali power conditioner. For about $500 that accounts for a one portion of the yet to be received economic stimulus check. Might as well stimulate the audio industry first.

Seriously though, thank you all for your ideas and input. Two days of voluntary stay at home self quarantine (no, not sick, thank goodness) were hopefully well spent reading and replying to your advice, and doing research on vibration isolation and related products. Hopefully the Aureos will perform well and make an audible difference.

And to Geoff, reading some old posts of yours on vibration isolation in six dimensions, which referenced the LIGO gravity waves project were quite interesting. I couldn’t run down with certainty what if dimensions, including vertical, the Aureos addressed, so maybe I’ll have to retofit my floating platforms with springs under mass later on, rather than only the compressed layer of mat the shelves are currently riding on. We’ll see.

Again this has been interesting research and thank you all for sharing your knowledge on the subject. I wish I had the resources to try all your suggestions and recommended isolation devices.

Mike