"Sistrum SP-101 or SRA V 3.0"

I've played around with the following vibration control productsin my system now:

1) SRA Ohio XL Plus (squared) under preamp
2) Sistrum SP-101, SP1, SP-004
3) Symposium Ultra Shelf
4) Stillpoints ESS Rack

Sistrum stands really liven up the sound and give you the "you are there" feeling. They take about 2-3 days to settle down (I don't know why but I do hear the system change sound character for the better over time). Note delineation is very articulate and there is a nice tone to the sound as a result of absent vibrations. I would buy Sistrum stuff for tube equipment without a doubt.

SR Ohio Class XL Plus (squared) are phenomenal sounding. Soundstage expansion was very obvious to me. Noise floor dropped quite a few more notches and the unfettered tone of my preamp (Ray Samuels B-52) just seemed to come through. This platform seemed to just let the component be all it can be without making its own sonic changes known. Sistrum does very deliberate things to the sonic character of the sound. Silent Running Audio just extrapolates the most out of the component without adding or taking away. Naturalness and massive soundstage expansion were very obvious things that stand out with the SRA platform.

Symposium Ultra shelf is something that increases resolution or extracts so much detail from anything it is placed under. Need to be careful here because it can throw off a very well balanced system. If you're system needs speed, detail extraction and fast transients, I would look at the Symposium / Sistrum camp. Seems like metals have a sonic character that matches their color. Sistrum brass has a beautified tone and the Symposium aluminum has an extravagant detail and speed like no other. Somewhat like cousins of the same family :) I will use the Symposium Ultra shelf for a future turntable purchase, but right now it is under a power conditioner.

I settled on a Stillpoints ESS rack which seemed to belong to the SRA type of sound family. Naturalness and note decay are just outstanding. This rack adds nothing of its own and just lets individual components do their thing. This rack seems to allow for a massive soundstage, precise instrument placement and articulation. I preferred this rack to the Sistrum SP-6 I was auditioning.

In the end, I think all these vibration control mechanisms bring something different to the table and if you can match them up to your taste, the final result can get you much closer to that ethereal sound in our heads. I have to say, this "path" requires much dedication, experimentation and willingness to learn and adapt. Thats right up my alley :)

Hope my comments help shed some light on these things.

Also, has anyone tried the Ultra shelf from Symposium usa? I am curious how this would compare?

Buffering energy on top of Sistrum defeats the whole system and the entire transfer function on which it is based. Think of it as a collection device in which resonance is channeled and then passed to ground. If you put a giant storage capacitor {a so called isolation device} in the way or between then you slowed down the pass thru and increased the transfer time by alot. I would not mix these devices. You will change the sound, but you will not have better sound. I'm a dealer. Tom

Shaizada,

Can you share your findings on the Sistrum/SRA platforms?

Shaizada, please post back when you get your SRA's. I welcome your comments because I too have a number of Sistrum stands, speaker stands and points, and have found them to be outstanding.

I too am considering SRA's for some of my gear, but my system and some of the individual pieces are in too much flux right now to commit to SRA.

I think the ultimate would be to use both - the very fast brass Sistrum to conduct the vibration away from the chassis, and the SRA to sink the energy and to buffer vibration from the outside world.

Both devices are very top of the line vibration/resonance control devices.

I already own multiple sistrum bases, SP-101 under by speaker stands, SP-004 coupling stands to speakers, and another pair of SP-004 under my amplifiers. Sistrum completely hard couples with the devices and allows for a mechanical ground to suck out vibrations and channel them to the earth. The nice brass Sistrum uses really makes a profound difference in the system. Noise floor drops a lot, dynamics take a huge jump up and macro/micro details are more readily differentiable. Definitely a good thing. However, they do seem to liven up the sound as a result. There is a typical change in sound in all Sistrum products that I feel is very welcome in most tube based equipment. The change in sound is from pure drainage of all these vibrations. Very nice products.

My SRA Ohio XL Plus (squared) platforms should be here by next friday or so.
I'll have a better idea about them at that point but what I am reading about them is a sound that lowers the noise floor while giving a lot of clear and weighty bass. At the same time clearing up the highs and in essence, letting the actual component shine through. I like the sound of that and many higher end setups seem to be very happy with the SRA line.

Anyhow, its a journey filled with discovery and I hope you get a chance to travel through yours. SRA is a more risky proposition because the pieces are custom built to match your very component. But it is a custom isolation solution made for your very component. If you're already happy with your component, it might be the way to go to maximize your investment.

Good luck!

I think this would be a tough call as both are excellent products. I have used the Sistrum 101's under a variety of tube monos over the years and they have always performed well. I have used the SRA Ohio Class product under a Hybrid and Tube amp and it also performed very well and on at least the level of the Sistrum.
Maybe the one you can get the best price and like the looks of??