SRA VR vs. Ohio

Speeddeacon,

I have twin Craz plus racks and a pair of Ohio Class XL plus2 isoBASES for my amps. This was way more money than I ever believed I would spend to support and isolate my components, but these SRA products and my dedicated AV electrical circuit system are the best money I have ever spent on audio and video. Other components may come and go in my system, but these are here to stay.

I researched audio isolation platforms from January to May last year. In the course of that research, I not only combed through the available threads here on audiogon and manufacturers' websites, but I spoke by phone with the manufacturers on my resulting short list. I also talked to some of my engineer and physics professor friends for help on who really knew what they were talking about.

It became apparent to me that Kevin Tellekamp knew more about audio isolation than all of the others combined. Besides that, he is a total perfectionist and a really great guy.

SRA is at the top of the food chain of audio component isolation. For sure, there are less expensive alternatives to SRA. I have not heard any of the SRA products other than the Craz plus racks and the Ohio Class XL plus isoBASES. However, personally I would prefer an entry level SRA product over any of the competition because I trust Kevin's science and art and I trust Kevin's character.

If you can swing the VR series over the Tremorless series of isoBASES, I would recommend that you do so because SRA's component specific platforms like the Ohio and VR classes are significantly better than the nonspecific platforms like the tremorless isoBASES.

Some SRA products are upgradable to support a variety of components and some are not. SRA products with the squared option are upgradeable. This includes the Ohio Class XL plus2 and the Craz racks. I don't know whether it includes the VR class, but you should ask Kevin.

It appears to me that you have reached the point in your research at which you should speak directly with Kevin Tellekamp if you have not already done so. Whatever you finally decide, I guarantee that you will be happy that you spoke directly with Kevin.

By now you can see that I agree with most of the comments made by others on this thread who have SRA products.

Best wishes for satisfaction in your component isolation search.

Ed

Tom,

You have an excellent system, and I'd be interested in your comments on the Zyx Universe. I must tell you, I swallowed hard when pulling the trigger on the Craz Twins as we refer to them. But the sonic and artistic results are worth every penny. Wife and her friends love the look. I love the sound and the clean organization of the gear.

Also easing the burden on the cost was the realization that I can and will keep the Twins for the rest of my life and probably pass them on to my kids, a fairly unique statement about audio gear in my experience.

Ed

Tom,

That's pretty funny. It remains true. The combination of SRA resonance isolation and a dedicated AV circuit system separate from the rest of the house beginning at the meter gives each component the ability to perform as well as it can. I also suspect that there may be a greater difference with well-designed but less expensive components because a lot of what you get as you go up the cost scale in high end is better isolation within the component and better power supplies.

That said, I'm still amazed at the difference cables can make even in my system.

I recently bought a cable cooker and have just gotten around to cooking my power cables. The difference is not quite as great as with signal cables, but it is still immediately noticeable. Not sure why cooking power cables improves the sound of the system, but it definitely has.

My room is pretty good acoustically, I have not addressed room acoustic treatments yet. Acoustics is such a black and difficult to predict art, I hesitate to address it at all.

Best,

Ed