Best Isolation HRS? SRA? Zoethecus? Symposium?

Guess my last post was denied by Audigon, I'll try and rephrase. First I thanked David for his post and do appreciate that not everyone can afford, or think a $5000 isolation device is worth the funds. We do make the passive version at $1850 which is sonically identical to the active version except without the compressor. The active is more convenient and that's it. Once someone hears what the VP actually does they usually buy a 2nd or 3rd unit, we actually have a customer who now owns 13 units in one system! A world record I would think. Our US government just purchased another 8 active units. (Thank you Uncle Sam). So I do respect and understand these expensive devices are not for everyone, neither is the $8000 unit Norm has talked about, one that we also sell but even I don't think it's worth the extra $$$ over the standard VP.
A very Happy and SOUND New Year to all.
Steve
SOS

Elberoth2, I cannot really answer your question about whether it is worth the price of admission nor that about whether investment in other components would be more worthwhile. In my experience the answer for me was regretably, yes. I suspect that it would take a demonstration in your home to decide. It certainly was not my intent to put so much money into isolation. I do not know whether SOS has demonstrated their active unit as conpared with the pump up or compressor versions of the Vibraplane, but clearly that would be what would be needed to make a choice. Although I once owned the pump up Vibraplane and have heard the compressor version, I never heard the other unit he speaks of.

Again, I meant only to suggest that isolation and firm grounding are not the only choices.

Hi Norm, No we have not demonstrated or even marketed the active unit. At it's price we feel there is not a large market and yes, it is better than the Vibraplane, no questions asked, but at $1850 vs. $7500 we would hope.

There are many of these "Active" isolation devices out there, all come from the same source. Look at Herzan (http://www.herzan.com/ts.html) or do a search for TSI in Germany. HWL Scientific in germany is another source. We all source from the same manufacturer all are just rebranded. The "original" Vibraplane was designed and is manufacturered in the good old US of A. Hope this helps.
Steve
SOS

Steve, not that I really care, but it is not true that Herzan makes the Halcyonic units and rebrands them.

From hwl SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS GmbH web site:

1987 John Sandercock founded JRS Scientific Instruments to develop active isolation systems for the growing market

1991 Introduction of the modular system MOD-2

1995 Introduction of a self-contained unit MOD-1

1996 Worldwide distribution by efforts of Herzan and Halcyonics. The cooperation between JRS and Halcyonics did not developed as intended and ended finally in 2002

2002 Halcyonics bought the non-exclusive rights to the MOD-1 and MOD-2 technology from JRS.

It seems that Halcyonics product is indeed not the same.