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The Best Isolation/ Vibration Footers per component - what's your experience?

Hi everyone,

There are probably a dozen of threads out there on Isolation/ Vibration footers out there, but there hasn't been thus far one been that combines the following two assumptions:

1. Isolation/ Vibration effectiveness differs per type of component (from source to speaker).
2. The above with Most Popular brands available as per July 2020.

Some of the most recognised brands thus far:
  
  • Arya Audio
  • Artesania Audio
  • Aurios
  • Black Diamond Racing
  • Critical Mass Systems
  • Gingko
  • Harmonic Resolution Systems
  • Harmonix
  • Iso-Acoustics
  • Shun Mook
  • Silent Running Audio
  • Star Sound Technologies
  • Stillpoints
  • Symposium
  • Townshend

The reason for starting this thread is that in the past few months I have been reading that the Critical Mass Centerstage 2 footers are beating all or most of the above solutions from the other named brands. However, it seems that the Arya Audio Revopods are also beating most of the brands in some high-end select forums and groups as well. 

Do you use and or have/ had any experience with the above and where did you place them and why?

Here is my setup currently.

1. Source/ Network player: Star Sound Technologies Sistrum platform
2. Pre-Amp: No footer yet (Artesania Audio rack)
3. Amplifier: No footer yet (Artesania Audio rack)
4. Power conditioner: Harmonic Resolution Systems Nimbus & HRS platform footers
5. Power supplies for source: Stillpoints
6. Router: Stillpoints
7. Speakers: Stillpoints

I found out that this works the best in my system, but would like to know your experience as I found that using these footers and their effectiveness really depends on the component. Specifically, I would like to hear your experience with Arya Audio and Centerstage 2 footers?
128x128richardhk

Showing 3 responses by mitch2

mitch2
3,711 posts
 
@vinylvalet , thanks for the EVP recommendation. Surprisingly, I have not heard of them before now and a search of these forums did not give me many responses. Interesting that they use (fiber) glass and rubber, which are typically not considered optimal for damping or isolation, and that they don’t discuss any differences between rubber or felt facing other than being able to slide one but not the other. I am impressed that they have actually measured the performance of their footers and that they have a white paper. I also appreciate the guidance on how these respond to different weights of equipment, similar to Herbies, Stillpoints, SRA, and other isolation/damping products. I suspect they would work well to isolate large speakers or subs that are supported on suspended wood floors. If I were starting over, I would give them a try.
mitch2
3,711 posts
 
@vinylvalet , I suspect the differences between Herbies products and EVP would be less for lower weight components and would also depend on the rack/platform the component sits on.  I use a variety of aftermarket footers from Herbies, edenSound, and Stillpoint, and my components all sit on Zoethecus Z-slabs supported in a heavily braced wood cabinet, except for my 70-pound amps that are each supported on a purpose-calibrated SRA Ohio-Class XL+² isoBASE™ over a low profile heavy Sound Anchor stand spiked to the underlying concrete floor. 
My two heavy subwoofers are also supported on Sound Anchor stands that are spiked to the concrete floor, but I would be interested in hearing any differences that might result from using the EVP footers under the subs.  I suppose I could sit them directly on the carpet over the concrete.  Unfortunately, $105 x 4 per sub seems a bit steep when what I am using seems to work just fine now.
mitch2
3,711 posts
 

I see below that a couple of years ago I was considering EVPs and other decoupling methods.  I have since stumbled on damped springs and believe they do a very good job of isolation, particularly with large loudspeakers but also with individual components.  I have taken a three part approach to my equipment isolation, first having a very solid and heavy base, whether a heavily reinforced wooden equipment rack or something even more solid like a steel Sound Anchor stand.  Second, provide a damping platform such as the constrained layer Zoethecus Z-slabs I use under my electronics, the SRA stands I use under my amplifiers, or the thick wood platforms I use under my preamp and volume control.  Finally, third use some sort of decoupling footer such as damped springs or something similar to EVPs or Herbies, or just plain sorbothane, which are all elastic and a type of spring.  Under speakers, it is a heavy damped platform (Sound Anchor stands, which are damped with sand filling) and then decoupling using damped springs.  The key to decoupling with springs is to have an appropriately matched spring for the weight supported, and to provide some form of damping such as a thin membrane around the spring or perhaps foam inside the spring.  While some things do cost money, such as the Sound Anchor stands, Z-slabs, and SRA platforms that I use - reinforcing/bracing of wooden equipment racks, constrained layer platforms, EVP type footers (made from Owens Corning materials), sorbothane, and/or damped springs can be implemented at a comparatively low cost.  This stuff doesn't need to be overly expensive, and just spending a lot of money doesn't guarantee the best results. 

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