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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
richardhk's avatar
richardhk OP
39 posts
 
@millercarbon

I found this on your page 

This is why The System looks the way it does. It is extremely difficult to make a rack as good as no rack, ie the floor. A rack puts everything up high closer to ear level and reflects sound more because its all in one block. So The System is mostly on the floor, and with components at differing height and spacing the components diffuse more than reflect. This also provides for shorter and more direct cabling with greater isolation between signal and power cables. 

This is all very interesting. I think a lot more must be going on if a rack, any rack, is placed in the centre instead of the sides of the room. Especially if the rack has more than 2 levels. I also have the Get Better Sound book and it was recommended to put all or most of the gear on the side walls. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t work in a normal living room space especially if you live in HK. Hence, it might be that placing everything on single platforms with 1 level only would already improve the soundstage instead of using racks. I am currently using Artesania Audio, but it might be that even this brand or more expensive will always decrease the soundstage.

fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
957 posts
 
I recently bought eight Isoacoustics Orea Indigos for my Devore O/93's. 
They made a huge difference, but not one I liked. Things sounded spacey and disconnected. It was fun to listen to, and my bass both tightened up but became much less extended. One of the strangest things I have ever encountered in 40 years with the hobby. 
Last night on a pure whim, seeing my eight footers just sitting on a nearby table in an adjoining room, I placed four under my ARC Ref 150SE amp and four under my Ref 6 preamp. Please note that my amp is already sitting on a massive 80lb butcher block and my preamp is sitting on a top of the line Symposium rack. Wow. The change was more subtle than the change placing them under my loudspeakers but this time they were all positive. The bass tightened up but it was all there this time. The soundstage widened and deepened. I even gained some imaging-which is not the strong suit of these excellent loudspeakers. I was going to return the Orea Indigos. Now, I don't think so. I will likely remove them from the preamp for a while, and then replace them under the preamp and remove them from the amp to see if the benefit is mostly from one or the other. 
Yes, I have tried just about every type you can imagine. Stillpoints, Mag-Levs, solid panzerholz wood blocks, various carbon fiber cones...
I am very impressed by Isoacoustics at the moment. 
richardhk's avatar
richardhk OP
39 posts
 
The bass tightened up but it was all there this time. The soundstage widened and deepened. I even gained some imaging-which is not the strong suit of these excellent loudspeakers. I was going to return the Orea Indigos. Now, I don’t think so. I will likely remove them from the preamp for a while, and then replace them under the preamp and remove them from the amp to see if the benefit is mostly from one or the other.
Yes, I have tried just about every type you can imagine. Stillpoints, Mag-Levs, solid panzerholz wood blocks, various carbon fiber cones...
I am very impressed by Isoacoustics at the moment.

How did the Stillpoints work for you? Which did you try and where? In general, the Stillpoints are still reviewed better, but are more sensitive to placement.
fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
957 posts
 
How did the Stillpoints work for you? Which did you try and where? In general, the Stillpoints are still reviewed better, but are more sensitive to placement.

They are every bit as good, maybe better. Just very expensive. I kept one set, which are under my Garrard 301 as you can see in my profile. 
kennyc
1,472 posts
 
From what I’ve researched, the Critical Mass Center Stage 2 seem to be the best by a significant amount. For most positive reviews I’d expect perceivable, good, very good, and the very rare great, after around 10 days of declined performance, the system settles to a WoW (sorry, had to choose some descriptor)! Now I equate their descriptions as at least to the level of a major component upgrade. At say around $1k per set, is the component upgrade worth it? At $5k for 5 component upgrades, some would say this is a bargain.

Yeah, I know for some of you this may sound like abstract dribble, but if you get what I’m trying to communicate, then maybe you’ll benefit... or not ...
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