Grand Prix versus Stillpoints

Albert, I had the Stillpoint stands before the new technology and thought they were the most effective isolation I had ever heard. Then after hearing the new Ultra SSs and being shocked at their performance even on the StillPoint Stand, I learned that you could install the new technology on the stand's rails. I did that and again it was a massive improvement, but still the StillPoint Ultras on the acrylic shelves greatly improved the sound. I think you are in for a treat, but the Ultra SSs will give you further improvement. I have said all of this in my StereoTimes reviews.

There has been a racking and platform system whose design from the outset was to deal with self generated resonance within components as well as airborne disturbance within the listening environment. Isolation is only possible in the absence of matter. Tom

Tbg,

I read your review, that was part of my encouragement. That and previous experience with standard Stillpoints and the new Stainless Ultras.

The stands will be the new version, so I expect to be suitably impressed.

My listening will probably be interrupted before I come to any conclusion. I jet out for Salon Son and Image (Canada) the day before Press day which is two days prior to regular attendees.

Theaudiotweek, like written earlier,the rack is just a stating point. Without some additional hardware, either couplers or some vibration absorbing devices such as those from stillpoints and others you will not hear your system near it's best. Your vague inference about a rack plus platform only backs up my contention that a rack is just a starting point and to drain vibration from our audio units we need to contact the case of the units with a conduit for dealing with vibrations.

Isolation only exists in the absence of matter. If you design a product based on the false premise that isolation is possible in the dimensions in which we exist then you wasted your time and energy. The much more effective resolution is to design a pathway for resonant energy to pass to ground. Even in archaic and so-called isolation systems resonant energy will eventually find its way out and to ground but very slowly leaving vague musical memories of notes of the past. Much like an inferior capacitor distorts and blurs the sound stage. All of my components and boards, speakers, drivers....they are all assembled as a conduit to ground. No mud or rubber or carbon fiber in between. The racking system has been on the market for years...

Theaudiotweek, only you speak of isolation. I said a rack is a starting point and to hear your system at its best you will need some devices that control and dissipate vibration from the audio unit's (CDP,amp,pre,ect.) outer case in order to hasten the removal of the resonant energy and the vague musical memories you referred to in your thread. I use no mud, rubber or carbon fiber either so I am not sure why you mention that as we were discussing ultras and their ability to act as conduits for vibration with either hardhats against units case or attached as footers. You still do not mention which rack you use, but even in your thread you mention rack AND PLATFORM SYSTEM,not just rack. And that is my point, you need more than just a rack, so your comments about isolation seem misplaced as vibration control is where the subject was. Also your statement to design a pathway for resonant energy to pass to ground is exactly what the ultras do and what I have been saying is needed BESIDES a rack.

Theaudiotweak, I have another axiom-you cannot ever have too much isolation, or at least too many Ultra SSs. I have heard the benefits of Ultra SSs on the sliders on my StillPoints Component stands. A substantial improvement. I have heard also the benefits of Ultra SSs as the feet under this stand. Another major improvement. A friend reports the benefit of using an Accapella platform on the Ultra SSs on sliders above and with another layer of Ultra SSs on the platform.

Even with the "new technology" in my StillPoint Rack, I found major improvement with Ultra SSs under components on the acrylic shelves on the Rack. StillPoints even notes that putting the Ultra SSs directly on the rails of the Rack and not using the acrylic shelves is a major improvement.

What impresses me with all of this is how insidious vibration is. No one has mentioned the vibration of cables, but again I know all too well, that there is great benefit for isolating them from vibration.

There are many who have been consistent for the last twenty years in the applications of resonance collection and transfer to ground. The collection of resonance is supported by material selection { not plastic not carbon fiber not delrin not acrylic ] as well as several other key techniques. Your welcome to discover these on your own.
The same rack technology has been applied to the entire signal chain including internal and external cables. The platform is the same technology applied to a single device such as mono amps stereo subs..devices that sound better having their own separate path to ground. Some also need to brush up on their reading and comprehension skills. I have already repeated myself two and half times.

Norm

The application of resonance control to the cables was started many years ago. Though these materials added are considered passive by nature they become reactive to the electron flow as well as to floor borne and airborne vibrations. My system is wired in this manner. Thanks Tom

Theaudiotweak, I have been engaged in controlling resonances since the days of marble suspended on slit racketballs and Mode Squad TipToes. Most of these efforts amounted to spring with a resonant frequency somewhere. I have made comparisons of many such devices and chosen the better of the two tested, but always with most modest gain.

At one point I got a Halcyonic active device with no resonant frequency and thought it was quite good but very expensive. I could never afford more than two of these. The first StillPoints Rack with all components on it was far better than two Halcyonics and with the other components on Mana stands.

I think that the Ultras far surpass any prior device I have tried. They greatly reduce vertical vibrations. I also very much like the SR MIGs but have no idea why these cups should be effective.

One last point i want to make is that total isolation is not even desirable as there would not be a conduit for the vibrations generated inside and outside each units case to dissipate quickly. The ultras through contacting the units rid the vibrations as friction and heat. Obviously this cannot be done in total isolation as the ultras must contact unit in order to remove harmful vibrations. I just as Tbg have found the ultras to far surpass any prior device in improving the sound of my system. In fact, i was not happy with my new system until the ultras were applied.To explain why i am so sure, later this week when time allows i will write about my Odyssey of spending a 100k+ on my new system and not being happy and in fact left pining for my previous stereo until ultras were put in.Marc

Not too many audiophiles want to spend money on a Stillpoints rack.

But it is the only component in my stereo still left from 2016

(besides an Oyaide R0 outlet).

I am always amazed at how much it improves the performance of a component.

I still use the acrylic shelves, since I can fit multiple components onto one shelf (versus the grid where you can only place 1 component on each shelf).

I would probably never listen to music without the rack.