I replaced my Rega turntable feet with Symposiums Rollerback jr+, almost reasonably priced at a nice 20 percent discount, and I do think it changed the sound to the better, more clarity overall, but it also could all be in my head, but who cares it sounds better to my brain which translates into more happiness for me !
Regardless they upped the coolness factor of a really oddly designed TT. The owner lives 15 minutes from me so I can vouch for him amd his product. He's very approachable. And I think they have a return policy.
Next I was advised to look at decoupling the speakers from their stands with Ansuz DARKZ but they are Uber expensive. Anyone familiar with that product? |
After all of my experimenting, I found the best place for the Oreas under the footers of my integrated and SACD player. I was told by Isoacousitcs and musicdirect that directly under the chassis was the best place to start.
No matter where I placed them, using direct contact with the chassis, the highs were affected. I had some wonderful mids and lows having an almost 3D effect but I missed that last bit of air and reach.
Now I have the best of both worlds with just a minor shift back in that 3D effect but all the air, extension and realism that the highs add to the mix. The isolation offers a lot of that see-through into the recording that all the spinning and whatnot of the SACD player masks. The focus just from the integrated is appreciated as well.
On the Black Keys Brothers CD, on one track a guitar is now playing about 5’ to the right of the right speaker, which places it outside my apartment. I have to close my eyes to complete the soundstage image as it’s kind of jarring to just look at it.
On Jacintha’s Jacintha Is Her Name, on the Light My Fire track, the bongos, instead of coming from one point, are coming from three distinct places. Close together, but distinctly separate. I think I’m done tinkering for awhile.
And, like someone else said about their footers, it looks cool to see the gear situated up off the media top shelf, adding a kind of elegance to the whole affair.
All the best,
Nonoise |
facten1
The puck is signed by a buddy of mine that played in a local adult recreational hockey league in Denver. He scored a hat trick and I asked him to sign and send me the puck. He never played organized hockey beyond high school. |
I had very slight woofer pumping when I was using my Manley Chinook phono stage playing over 80 decibels. I bought a Pass Labs XP-17 phonostage & the woofer pumping was out of control even at mid volume levels. The floor to ceiling drapes behind the speakers were moving. I tried everything to contain the pumping because I liked the XP-17, but with no success. I then purchased a T+A phono stage (amp is T+A) and have no woofer pumping from playing vinyl. Sound is also even better. System synergy between matching components prevails. |
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rlb61,
Great suggestion trying these EVA's. I am using them under some components and the 4"X4" cork-laminated ones under my heavy amps. I can't honest attest to greater SQ, but the cost is a trifling so it is a sensible place to start on the quest for component isolation.
I put the GAIA Orea's under my Spatial Audio speakers and they perform exactly as advertised. Frankly, they outperformed many component upgrades I have done in the past. |
@whitestix I used the cork ones for a long time. However, I have found that the EVA pads work a bit better than the cork. Either way, you’ll likely achieve the results you want at a fraction of the price of the "audiophile" sanctioned isolation footers. |
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Oh, a further thought. I initially used these pads nude and they left permanent blemishes on my audio rack so I clad them with self-adhering felt, which is also inexpensive and allows one to move the components more easily. |
@whitestix
@rlb61
When using the EVA pads, do you remove the stock feet?
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@ericsch I don’t remove the feet. I place the component directly on top of the EVA pad, feet and all. |
3/4"MDF and casters. My amps weight 85Lbs each. The great results are not hearing me groan or pull a muscle while cleaning.
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All my components rest on Machina Dynamica Springs. The science is sound, the result is amazing, and the price is right
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@tweak1 , Geoff has been saying "mass on springs" for years, and after the past two months of trial and error I have ended up with springs under my heavy speakers and amps. The spring stiffness (i.e., spring rate), load capacity, diameter, and height are all important considerations. I have used heat shrink to damp the single springs and even that was a learning experience wrt the size and thickness of the heat shrink used and how those factors affect the performance of the spring, as well as the need to put a hole in the heat shrink to prevent an air lock. The heat shrink also improves the look (pics on my system page) and prevents scratching on the bottom of your components or the tops of your rack shelves. I also have a bunch of Herbie's products here (Giant Fat Dots and Gliders) and based on my experience so far I would have a hard time deciding whether springs or Herbie's footers sound better. |
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I have only used one isolation vibration product and that’s the EVP’s. I used these under my speakers. I placed them under the speakers for about a week a just let the music play. I then set aside several hours where I played music I was very family with and would play the music w the EVP’s then remove them and play the music over again. The EVP’s definitely have a positive affect on the sound. When I removed them it sounded as if the life was sucked out of the music. With them the music sounded cleaner(more transparency), more dynamic, just overall more musical. I still would like to experiment with more isolation systems bf making a purchase, EVP’s made me a believer that concept of controlling vibration and its affect on the music isn’t just selling snake oil. |
The EVPs by A/V RoomService Ltd. seem to have a strong following by those seeking a decoupling alternative. The primary isolation appears to come from an "air spring" resulting from Owens Corning 703 or 705 one-inch thick rigid fiberglass board, which is then faced with
#4 brushed Stainless Steel sheet and either felt or rubber. I have considered making these and believe you could probably get most of the way there by simply installing the board. I would also be curious to try using the board to make equipment platforms but since I already have platforms and am using springs under my speakers I have not yet been motivated enough to spend the time to make the stuff. |
