Halcyonics under my tt. Wow

18 months ago i had the Halcyonics in my system for one evening.....unbelieveable! and that was compared to my Grand Prix Audio Monaco SE with formula shelves which is among the very best passive isolation approaches. i had it under my digital transport. it focused the sound in a perfectly natural way that was a revelation of what is possible.

i then spent quite a bit of time investigating this approach. if you can afford it; you would want every piece of gear you own, including your speakers, on an active isolation platform. these platforms were developed for use with an electron microscope where there is no place to hide from the truth.

the 'Minus K' is a passive device and not nearly in the performance realm of an active device like the Halcyonics.

if you really want to understand this technology, you can read a tutorial for the Herzan 'Table Stable' which is the same technology as the Halcyonics, but a generation better.

tutorial, read the whole damn thing

to optimize active isolation one must eliminate any passive isolation since it defeats the effectiveness of active isolation. the tutorial speaks to putting the lab on a ground level with a concrete floor......since a building (let alone a suspended floor or rack with active isolation) basically has it's own frequency.

active isolation does have a limit of effectivness at higher frequencies.

BTW, the only way the benefit of active isolation is system dependent is with the limitations of one's floor, rack or cable influences. every piece of gear will sound considerably better with active isolation properly applied.

As stated by Stringreen these isolation devises are very system dependent.Therefore before I take the plunge and possibly make another costly mistake I ask:Has anyone had experience with any isolation shelve beneath a Kuzma Stabi Reference Turntable ?
Tbg,where are your other two Halcyonics placed

Lewm, I have an experimental psychologist friend who did buy one of their larger units for his lab. You can google halcyoniics.de if Audiogon doesn't allow my thread. http://www.halcyonics.de/en/index.php

I think its not having a resonant frequency is key to why it is so exceptional. There are no other such devices. I have tried multiple other inner tube (home made and other), magnetic (SONY and SAP), and other spring devices, such as Tvad is recommending without the magic of this device.

I don't really know what the price is presently as it may be increasing from the $8000 retail price. Mine was used. When I bought my first Model 1 it was $6000. The US importer was hoping to make it less expensive, such as in the US or eastern Europe, but that has not proven possible. Fmpnd is right that I am bemoaning its cost.

Elberoth2, yes the first place I used it was under a cd player. Presently I use my Model 1 under my dac. I tried using my Exemplar Musicserver on the Model 1 with the dac on top, but the second piece suffers. I think the Halcyonics removes the noise from the unit directly on top of it as well as isolating it. If you can remove the feet of this device, it will sound better placed directly on top the Halcyonics. My Shindo Labs/Garrard 301 had expensive optional feet which I initially used when placing it on a Halcyonics. Fortunately, I experimented and removed them placing the tt directly on the Halcyonics. It was far superior used this way.

What shocked me was the benefits of a solid state amp on the Micro 40. Clement Perry told me to try this.

Fmpnd, I think a reviewer found the Halcyonics interacted with his turntable suspension. My tt has none, so I have no experience of note.

Lewm,

I think Tbg is bemoaning the fact that these DON'T cost around $2k. From what I remember, these are around $8,000 for a typical size component. They certainly do look like they provide excellent isolation. As with any audio purchase, the potential buyer does his/her own cost benefit analysis.

From what you said, even at $8k, if you can take a $10,000 analog front end and equal or surpass a Caliburn, you may not be doin too bad.

I have an SME 30 on a Silent Running Auido base so I am not too sure I would experience the same degree of improement. Then again, I've been wrong enough times in the past . . . .

Tbg - did you have a chance to try it under a pre or a CDP ?

Tbg, I stumbled across the Halcyonics website while looking for some equipment for my lab. (I'm a virologist.) The possible use of their products in audio did not escape me. Can you tell me/us which model you've got and what it's weight limits are and how much you paid? Have you ever tried a Vibraplane? The Halcyonics looks to be similar in that they claim similar benefits (i.e., isolation in all planes of motion, something you do not get with a $6 inner tube). Also, NO resonance frequency! How cool is that? If you can really equal a Caliburn or the like for the cost of a Garrard plus ~2Gs, that's quite a bargain.

a marginally inflated inner tube under a shelf that supports the source equipment (or preamp) has consistently proven a major winner. --its not like norm's, but the principle is the same: removing microvibrations in the line level gear is well worth the investment (whether they be norm level, or $6 for those who won't step up, like me).

(incidentally, i really wonder sometimes why we audiophiles change gear when we've yet to fully remedy to critical problems endemic in every rig: AC quality & microvibrations).

enjoy

Rhyno, how dearly I wish any of the air spring devices I have tried approached the active Halcyonic device. I do totally agree that too many totally ignore micro-vibrations and crap on their ac line.

With the Halcyonics under my Shindo Labs, I doubt that the Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn can equal it.

Stringreen, I know that one reviewer suggested that the Halcyonic base might interact with the suspension of a turntable, but I doubt if any suspension on a tt is as fast as the Halcyonic.

a marginally inflated inner tube under a shelf that supports the source equipment (or preamp) has consistently proven a major winner. --its not like norm's, but the principle is the same: removing microvibrations in the line level gear is well worth the investment (whether they be norm level, or $6 for those who won't step up, like me).

(incidentally, i really wonder sometimes why we audiophiles change gear when we've yet to fully remedy to critical problems endemic in every rig: AC quality & microvibrations).

enjoy

I'm glad your new base is working for you, but I must caution everyone that bases are very system dependent, and none should be used (especially expensive ones) that doesn't come with a money back guarantee of satisfaction.