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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
 
Thanks everyone for responding and keeping this thread up and running. I haven't been able to respond to each of you with all great ideas. Ofcourse there is no problem in adding more vibration/ isolation brands to the list mentioned in the original post, just keep them coming for us all to know and learn more. Also great to see the thread expanding to other subjects in lowering the noise floor, such as the great ideas mentioned by Mahgister and Millercarbon. I understand that vibration/ isolation is only one of the solutions to improve sound. I have tried crystals and working on the acoustics as well. However, for now I am looking at vibration/ isolation footers before I will do more with crystals and acoustics. There is a lot to try and improve.
richardhk's avatar
richardhk OP
39 posts
 
In addition, one of the things I am trying is removing the rack (I am using Artesania, with 3 levels) and see if the sound improves if the equipment is on the floor or at least closer to the floor. I have heard some experts say and also saw on Avshowrooms that it's better to have equipment as low as possible if it's positioned in the centre instead of being on the sides. A lot of us probably don't have dedicated listening rooms and prices of long cables lengths can be high, so putting equipment on the sides and further away from speakers is not always possible. Any more input from you guys on getting the equipment away from the soundstage?
richardhk's avatar
richardhk OP
39 posts
 
A/V RoomService EVP (equipment vibration protectors) are very effective and less costly than most of the commercial products listed in this thread.I haven't tried many of the products listed above but I've found the EVP to work well in all the applications I've tried.Jim Smith (Get Better Sound), Tom Gibbs (Positive Feedback) and Neil Gader (TAS) have praised their performance in their systems. TAS 2020 Editors Choice Award for what it's worth.

Thanks for this. May I know under which components you have tried these?
richardhk's avatar
richardhk OP
39 posts
 
I've experimented with several...Symposium Roller Block Jr, Rollerblock 2 +, Ingress Engineering (Canada), Voo Doo Iso Blocks, Still Points and Synergistic Research MIG's. All components on 2" or 3" solid maple racks or stands, all with Symposium Svelte Shelf Plus under everything including Ethernet switches and LPS. I found the Svelte Shelves to be a must....otherwise HF in my small listening room got way too "hot"....here's what I found....I love what the Stillpoints do under my pre amp and LPS, under amps and sources too much of a good thing. I ended up with Ingress Eng. RollerBlock 2's (open faced) under monoblocks (detailed, great bass and smooth), Ingress Eng RollerBlocks (top & bottom piece) under REL Subs, Symposium Rollerblock JR under streamer and SR MIGs under both SR PowerCells. I tried all styles under all pieces and this combo game me the best detail, focus and largest most open soundstage yet with great tonal density and musicality. It's easy to swap out any footer and hear the difference.  Good stuff!

Great sharing!

I have found similar results to yours.

  • I also found that the Stillpoints works best under the LPS. I haven't tried the pre-amp yet, but will do. I tried the amps and sources, with Stillpoints, but it sounded very forward and not real, there was no music anymore.
  • All components on 2" or 3" solid maple racks or stands, all with Symposium Svelte Shelf Plus under everything including Ethernet switches and LPS. >>> How do you this? You mean you have a Maple rack and on top of this you put a Symposium shelf as well? So, maple>symposium>equipment? Any pictures?
mitch2
3,716 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.
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