"Great, great post, @prof"
Agree! @prof's commentary is consistently well thought out and interesting.
Charles |
@grannyring, well stated. There are so many individual variables in play. In the end people must choose what sounds best to them regardless of how others may judge their choices. .The vast options available in High End audio allow and encourage these very individual outcomes.
Charles |
@prof,
Obviously the demands of your professional work requires intense listening concentration (Analytical approach). When at home can you shut this down and just listen in a relaxed state for musical pleasure? Or does the intense listening remain intact (You can't shake it completely)?
Charles |
"Those who don’t do it for a living have no idea."
This job seems rewarding yet simultaneously stress/anxiety provoking.
Charles |
@tsushima,
2am“ But in the audiophile Zealot world, the only subjective experience that counts is someone who claims positive results. Negative results never count against a claim , are to be ganged up upon and belittled “
Regrettably true.
J
@prof, @grannyring and @Holmz, I appreciate the respectful/thoughtful exchanges and not resorting to childish attacks.
Charles |
"As to "when did he start" I know the question is of course not genuine but born in jealousy. Anyone truly without an axe to grind would ask only, "Does the stuff perform as he says? Are his evaluations accurate?"
It does. They are. This only makes the haters rage all the more. Sad. So freaking"
With all due respect I don’t believe those who are asking straightforward questions are motivated by jealousy. At least it does not appear this way from my vantage point. You seem to feel any reasonable inquiry is an attack against you. How so?
I say best wishes to you, and again I just believe people want open disclosure on products you frequently tout/promote ’if’ there’s a business or financial connection. I do not believe that is an unfair standard or expectation.
Charles |
@tvad,
"However, consider Townshend products that followed the pods and podiums and received positive commentary from him: Townshend Audio F1 Fractal Speaker Cables, Townshend F1 interconnects, Townshend Super tweeters.
Seemed at the time like a lot of expensive gear being acquired by someone who espouses low hanging fruit, and bang-for-the-buck products like Tekton Moab and Raven Blackhawk.
Now, it makes more sense."
Agree. If this is a in fact a business endeavor I hope it works out for him.
People do however appreciate upfront disclosure and clarity of motive when repeatedly praising specific products.
Charles |
@tobes,
I did mention that it is certainly possible that speaker enclosure construction could be a variable that favors the choice of a particular isolation product. As more data points are accumulated It seems as I wrote earlier in this thread, that multiple factors are in play.
Thus my contention that both products will be quite effective in mitigating vibration and resonance.
Congratulations in regard to getting the Townshend Podiums. I am sure they will be an asset to your audio system.
Charles |
@grannyring , thanks. Your contributions are always thoughtful and informative. Appreciate having you on this forum.
Charles |
"I think Wilson would fall into the ’inert cabinet’ group, so I think that busts your theory."
@tobes, there is no theory to "bust". I thought my position was very clear when I wrote earlier in this thread that both (Star Sound and Townshend) are exceptionally good at what they do. That is how I genuinely view this.
It is very apparent from the testimonials on this thread if I’m interpreting them right, ’Both’ are excellent approaches to manage vibration and resonance. @tvad and @grannyring have used both products and praised both of them.
As is nearly always inevitable with High End audio products the results that people report are going to vary precisely because of numerous variables that have to be accounted for. So it is no surprise that some who have "inert" speaker cabinets will prefer spring isolation and others with same type of speaker will prefer the alternative solution (Richard Vandersteen).
Those who own speakers with less inert and more lively cabinets will also find success with either type of vibration management approach. It would all depend upon what are the addition variables or circumstances involved.
I just don’t think that lines drawn in the sand has to be the default stance.
In my opinion this thread raised some insightful commentary and questions. For those interested in addressing speaker/audio component isolation from resonance/vibration there is perhaps more awareness of ways to tackle the problem due to this thread.
Charles |
@three_easy_payments, Thank you for your kind comment, much appreciated.
@holmz,
"It seems like most of the people that like spikes and/or sound anchors seem to have cabinets that are not ringing and resonating?
I could easily imagine that people with “I’ll say better made” speaker cabinets, prefer spikes and mass to pin them spatially.And that the isolators may help actually people who’s cabinets tend to excite the floor.
I am in the first camp"
That certainty appears to be a contributing factor (Speaker cabinet construction and type of floor/surface they are sitting on). ) Seems what Richard Vandersteen was alluding to given his post testing comments and results in his two seperate rooms. You have to give him credit for actually trying a product with his own speakers.
Charles |
@mglik,
The Star Sound Apprentice platforms have provided those similar results in my audio system. The effect is as if the speakers disappeared in my room. I think it is fair to conclude that both products get the job done exceptionally well. I don’t believe that one product/solution has to be denigrated in order to support the other. Both can coexist and be excellent choices.
Charles |
"I do still thing that the Sistrums are pretty amazing"
@roxy54 they are for certain. A straightforward direct comparison between them and the Townshend would be informative.
Charles |
"Dear Mr. Richard Vandersteen, Spikes?"
Well unexpected result or not , in his room with his speakers he said they outperformed the springs. High End audio is curious and simultaneously fun.
Charles
|
@roxy54,
I've had the Star Sound Apprentice platforms beneath the speakers and every audio component for the last 6 or 7 years.
Charles
|
"The speaker rocks. Either way. Virtually the same amount. Main difference, springs make it easier to see. Real difference, springs allow the vibrations to dissipate much faster. That is why they sound so much cleaner, in spite of superficial appearances"
Good points but to be fair R. Vandersteen did listen to both springs and 3 point isolation and did not find the former to be cleaner. Again how do Moabs versus his speaker factor in to the differences heard? I don't know.
Charles |
@tvad,
"BTW...I used Starsound platforms under Silverline Sonata III loudspeakers. They were phenomal: three dimensional image floating free of the speakers, tighter and more controlled bass."
Yep, agree 100%, absolutely my outcome with Coincident speakers . I haven’t used the Townshend podiums. They could be every bit as effective for all I know.
Charles |
@roxy54,
Star Sound platforms versus the Townshend would be a very worthwhile comparison of two highly praised products. Based on the Richard Vandersteen experience I would not be surprised if the chosen speaker/ room favors one over the other.
Charles |
"I thought the best results were whatever sounds best to you in your listening room"
@chayro, I agree that actually listening is the final arbiter. Well Richard Vandersteen did exactly that with his speakers in two seperate rooms. He found that springs resulted in "dynamic compression " and "smearing".
It does raise the spector of speaker enclosure construction, rigidity, internal bracing and resistance to resonance and vibration. Given the differences between his Vandersteen cabinet implementation and say Tekton or another speaker, could this be responsible for his outcome variance compared to what others report?
It seems logical that speaker cabinet design and construction is a significant consideration to explain the relative effectiveness of springs versus the alternatives.
Charles |
