2. misc-audio
  3. 997821622

Please help me choose CD isolation

I am suffering from a mild case of Audiophile burnout this week and need advice in choosing effective CD isolation relatively inexpensively (under $150 ). I put my CD player on top of my rack in order to make room for a new tuner. I have some Vibrapods underneath, and they are doing a nice job, but honestly want something more appealing visually that doesn't change the tonal balance too much, and maybe adds a touch more detail. I am listing my system in order to get the best advice possible, THANKS in advance for taking the time to read this and helping me out. Martin Butler.

* Musical Fidelity HT600 5 channel amp w/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference interconnects,Yamamura Quantum power cord.

* B&K AVP3090 pre-amp w/ Harmonic Technology Pro-11 AC power cord)

* Sony DVP-9000ES SACD/DVD player (w/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference interconnects, and an Acoustic Zen Tsunami pc)

* B&W Nautilus 805 speakers w/ matching stands, HTM-2 center, LM-1 surrounds (w/ H. Tech Pro-9 plus bi-wire cables)

* REL Strata III subwoofer , XLO custom Neutrik Speakon conector and DH Labs BL-1 for 5.1 out, and H. Tech Pro-11AC pc)

* Denon MD-1000 Minidisc recorder (H. Technology Truthlink interconnects, and Audio One "Reference" toslink cable )

*Musical Fidelity A3 Tuner

* Toshiba 40X81 Widescreen HDTV (Monster component cables)

* Monster HTS-3500 power center

* Salamander Synergy Systems rack

* Hubble 8300i outlets

* Cardas RCA caps
bmpnyc

Showing 2 responses by rcprince

rcprince
3,061 posts
 
I have been very impressed with the results of putting my SCD777ES on a silicone and air-filled inner tube/sand/lead base made by one of the members of the NJ Audio Society, a similar concept to the Seismic Sink I have used but a little more effective because you don't just use air and don't have the metal plate of the Sink, which compromises it a little. Not as nice-looking as the Sink, although I don't they're bad-looking. Also, another of our members makes a set of three rounded supports called Pon-Tunes, which are not isolation devices but do improve the sound of the CD players I've put on them in that they seem to make things a bit cleaner and livlier, at least in my system. Their chief disadvantage is that, like the rollerblocks and similar devices, the equipment on them can slide around, not the greatest thing when you use audiophile-approved garden hose type cables. I prefer all of these to the Vibrapods, although for their cost the pods are tough to beat. As far as visual appeal goes, the Seismic Sink is the most polished looking product, and it works quite well too. By the way, I live just over the river, if you want to see any of these things or try them out.
rcprince
3,061 posts
 
Bmpnyc: In response to your last question, I found that the inner tube base appeared to have the effect of making the player seem like it sounded about 2 db louder; essentially, it lowered the noise floor and made the soundstaging much better, as you could hear the small ambient cues better. The Sink had a similar effect, not as pronounced. The pon-tunes (which are small cylinders made of some hard compound) focused the sound and images better than the stock feet, and gave a little more sparkle in the high frequencies than either the inner tube or the Sink, but didn't present the soundstage as well. I'm always vacillating back and forth between isolation (as with the Sink and the inner tube base) and channeling vibrations elsewhere (like cones, or the Combak stuff); I am ultimately coming around to the view, since most of my equipment is tubed, that isolation from underneath, perhaps with mass damping above (if practical, as with a front-loading CD player), is the best road for me. Other supports change the sound, perhaps in a way you like better, but they are still not working as well to isolate the unit from vibrations, and with tubes I think that isolation is most important. Just my view from my experience; others will give you their's, I hope.
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