Ceramic insulator cone under phono stage shocker!


I have used small ceramic insulator cones underneath my phono stage for quite some time.
Previous phono was a Gold note ph10 and it did not make ANY audible difference I could detect which way up the cones were so I had left them cone upwards.

When I changed my phono to a Manley Chinook I just left the cones same way.
This afternoon I decided to flip them over so cone down just to see.

I honestly could not and cannot believe the difference!
I may have lost a smidge of low bass but everywhere else is improved in spades.
Much more detail, resolution, air, imaging, dynamics.
Just completely shocking how much better a small change has made.

But I am perplexed why such a huge change on the Chinook where I noted nothing on the ph10?

Any theories here?
128x128uberwaltz
I’ve heard the “one up two down” theory before. It actually doesn’t make any sense. We’ve been over this before not too long ago. Same thing goes for the all points up theory. It doesn’t make sense. And if it doesn’t make sense it’s probably not true. I suggest filing that theory under old wives tales.
Geoff, 

The MIGs are a different shape (domed), not sure of the material they're made of. I assume these factors might be different from the usual point/funnel/cone shape. I just think it maybe a possible look to someone who's willing to experiment. There was a set offered here at $100.
I have heard the same thing from a user/customer of DH Cones, the quote is probably still on Golden Sound’s web site. But as I already said that theory doesn’t make sense. People say a lot of things, some of which might not be true. There is no theory I can think of, you know, as a theoretical physicist, why that one down two up theory would ever be true. Whether a the shape is domed, or ballistic or conical all cones act like mechanical diodes. Otherwise you could have a double-pointed cone or one that looks like an egg🥚 We had this class last week. Obviously there are a lot of theories about this stuff floating around.
@slaw   The SR MIG 2.0s work as advertised. Additional detail from SR's website:

"MiG 2.0 builds on the performance of the original MiG with the inclusion of a specially tuned high frequency transducer similar to our HFT room treatments. The 2.0’s balance is extended with high frequency air that makes music sound as if it is decaying into infinity. Perfect for high resolution systems that are well sorted, tube based systems or systems that need help with high frequency extension, simply experiment with your two placement options, Pin-Point and Ambient, to find your perfect system match. You may also want to experiment with MiG’s and MiG 2.0’s for a bespoke solution that fits your system and personal tastes to a tee."

The MIG is also offered in Version 1 form.