Hi Redkiwi; I'm surprised to hear that you did not like Vibrapods-- in fact, yours is the first negative report I've heard. On my 1st order to Audio Advisor, I ordered just two sets because I just wanted to try them out. Well, AA screwed up the order and sent me a set of #1s, and a set of #2s-- I had ordered #2s and #3s. The only component I had that was light enough for the #1s was a Sonic Frontiers Jitter Bug, that was sitting on top of my Muse M-2 DAC (a temporary thing). Anyway, I put the Vibrapods under the Jitterbug, and under the DAC, then fired up my system and could hardly believe the improvement in detail/clarity of music. I obviously had a significant vibration problem between these two components. Anyway, based on that experience I got really enthusiastic about Vibrapods and put them under everything. I noticed a further slight improvement with them under my Line 2 pre-amp, but beyond that I could not actually identify an improvement by putting them under other components. I had heard of the inner tube technique but didn't have room for them under the UJB and DAC. |
Hi Garfish, Carl, sorry if I can't act on every suggestion but I do value your opinion and am impressed with your experience with so many products. I am most interested in The Harmonic Tech. coax. I am also curious about the Truthlink. I need something that leans toward forgiving. Garfish, there seems to be conflicting opinions regarding Vibrapods, I would most likely want to try something under my DVD player first, CD player second. Carl, Are AQ little feet expensive? |
Hi Bmp; I've read literally dozens of positive reviews or comments on Vibrapods, and you'll note that Redkiwi (above) admitted they were "good" under some components. He did not like them under "his" speakers. I did see a magazine review where the reviewer put them under his large speakers to good effect (as I have carpet, I have not tried them under my big 3A speakers). I've not tried Audioquest Little feet (they also make big feet), but I think they work on a similar principle to Vibrapods, and I wouldn't hesitate to use them. They have been well reviwed. I also like Vibrapods because they are relatively flat and don't take up much space under a component. They come in five different weight bearing capacities, so you have to use the ones that best match the weitht of you components. At $24. bucks for a set of four, if you don't like them under your equipment, you could put them under a potted plant and smile:) Happy listening. |
The AQ little and big feet were made with Sorbothane (a Dupont invention, I think). Now they're made with a gel that might be related to Sorbothane. I've not heard those latest ones. The little feet made an incredible improvement between many different monitor speakers, and sand-filled stands (especially on suspended wood floors). I don't use them under my other components, because there wasn't significant improvement. I attribute this to their higher mass, and being less affected by vibration. The HT Truthlink would definitely be better suited than the Silway. If you want something even cheaper, try the Straightwire Encore. It's as neutral as any interconnect, just not as hi'rez or low in distortion as the more expensive ones. It worked perfectly with my Panasonic DVD player. DOES ANYBODY LIKE THE ORIGINAL BEDINI CLARIFIER??? I'm trying one right now... |
|
Hi Garfish. Perhaps I should elaborate concerning Vibrapods, to see if we still disagree. In the context of their price they are very good. But in the context of a system that costs more than $15k, I would strongly recommend trying Townshend CD Sinks instead - at a cost of around $200 each (I am guessing a bit as to price because I do not live in the US) - under light weight components. As it happens I do not like the effect of the bigger and more expensive Seismic Sink products (I own some but they gather dust in the cupboard). I tried Vibrapods under my tube monoblocks but found there was a very odd resonance effect in the middle of the midrange that was intrusive - hence my preference for an inner tube - a Sink product not being practical in this application. Like all vibration products, there is the potential for vibration interactions that are very different from component to component. When I first tried Vibrapods under my speakers (both Thiels and Martin Logan) I was very impressed at the improvement in soundstage and the reduction in cabinet resonance. But it took me about a week to realise that I was getting a lot less enjoyment from well recorded vocalists. For some reason there was a problem with articulation and coherence in the midrange with the Vibrapods in place. As soon as I took them out, the thrill of listening to a great singer returned. I can very well imagine that someone with different musical tastes would not notice the problem that I found. As a result of all this I have come to the general conclusion that without some form of compliance in your vibration control system, you get some nasty and intrusive narrow band resonances that often make the sound unmusically forward and which collapses the soundstage. When you introduce something compliant such as Vibrapods, Sorbathane, various polymer footers, various bladder or sprung products, you move the resonances down in frequency and they occupy a broader band. The effect is generally an improvement as it can take away what was previously an irritating edge to the sound. But having played with as many of these as I could get my hands on, I concluded that the CD sink managed to not only remove the edge, but retain dynamics, leading edge definition and coherence. Many of the others remove the edge, but at the expense of one of the other characteristics I just listed. Vibrapods are better than having only the rubber feet on your components as the "compliance" I refer to - except perhaps in the case of some (but not all) Sonic Frontiers products which use very good polymer feet (there are probably others too). I also prefer Vibrapods to Sorbothane (I have not tried the Gel version yet). But if you get just the right bladder product, the result is very much better in a top flight system IMHO. |
Hi Redkiwi; I bet you're from "down under"? Thanks for your thorough and articulate response. I can see that you've done much more experimenting with vibration control than I have. At about $25k, my system is not obscenely expensive, but based on your experience, it sounds like some of my components could benefit from the well regared seismic sinks, and I'd like to try them (don't know if I have enough room though). Regarding Vibrapods, they were really my first attempt at vibration control under digital products, and the improvement was so spectacular that I became a really enthusiastic supporter of the little buggers. Thanks. |
Oops-- just noticied that it's the Townshend sinks (small) that you recommend, NOT the seismic sinks. My mistake. |
Hi guys, I heard the Sony SCD-777ES today. There was a distruptive noise nearby the listening room so I could not thoroughly audition them, but it was still an enlightening experience. My first impression was that this was almost it!...The Holy Audio Grail. Remember, that this is a Sony product and although they certainly are one of the better manufacturers and innovators they usually end up not making the best machine. The superior Pioneer DVD players are an example that comes to mind. The standard CD aspect of the SCD-777ES is very good but not as good as some, it has a little bit of that Sony digital hardness. The SACD is another story, it is remarkable. I could pick out few minor critiscisms, but no matter what improvements they could make to it, there is an almost spooky realism, unlike anything I have heard before. In my opinion it truly does combine the bests aspects of digital and analogue. If they improve the format and recording techniques I believe there is enough of what people love about high end audio to please just about everyone. I heard this with the new Macintosh amp and preamp and the Vienna Acoustics Mahlers. Hope you all get a chance to hear one soon. |
Yes Garfish - I am from down-under. I live mostly in New Zealand and sometimes in Fiji (hence two stereo systems) and am looking to do more of the latter in future. Unfortunately for me, Internet connections are somewhat transitory things in Fiji. By the way, the big sinks sound absolutely wonderful in the mids and highs, and even in the deep bass. But the upper bass gets smeared and thereby robs the music of too much life. The CD sinks only get half-way there in the mids and highs, but the bass is not compromised - indeed it improves the bass, particularly in pitch. |
...spending one week on Morea island was much better than any "gear" i could have bought, for the money...Redkiwi, you know what i am talking about? |
'Deed I do Eldragon - a relaxed listener is one of the best tweaks I have come across. |
