Isolation Feet for Laptop

I suppose we all follow a different path on our journey to audio quality.

The only isolation I use in my current system except for rubber feet on various components are paving blocks I purchased at the local Home Depot, i use them under my speakers. I think the cost was 0.89 each.

I used a laptop as source into a Schiit DAC for quite some time, but the idea to remove the laptop from the equation seemed to be the best step I could take on this journey. 

I wanted a streamer, but couldn't afford the one I wanted, decided to go the raspberry pi route. I now have a raspberry pi 4gig with rune audio (not related to roon), a 1TB ssd storing flacs and it is connected to my Denafrips DAC via a decent USB cable, then the next step in my system is a passive XLR preamp then XLR into Bryston mono amps. then onto Von Schweikert speakers. this cobbled up system is near audio heaven for my ears, I don't see myself changing anything any time soon. Well, except perhaps selling a cd transport I have not turned on for almost a year.

Logically you have a valid point.  To stay consistent you must ask if the vibration isolators are NOT necessarily beneficial to the rest of the system.  In fact, do you notice it?  They may not be, and I am not intimidated by those who claim they do. 

You are talking about acoustically isolating a computer. Have you considered MAGNETIC isolation?  The CPU STREAMS OUT tons of 3 GHz white noise.  You should measure it.  There is HUGE RF there.  Let alone 5G and the RF in your house.  Do you think isolating your cables from micro-vibrations holds a candle to the voltage induced by these devices?  Or even a lowly DA converter.   

No.

You would be smarter to cut some thick steel plate and shield it all.  I reduced my TT noise -20 dB that way.  I get over -100 dB S/N from my MC cartridge.  Unheard of?  You bet. 

Now do I "believe" in acoustic shielding?  It has its place.  Far behind others. 

I may have missed something - you are doing all this for a $700 pair of speakers?

Your sense of humor is spectacular

@kellyp 

The incoming Synergistic Research Tranquility Basik is specifically designed to handle the magnetic isolation and additional EMI from the computer. It also has mechanical acoustic vibration mitigation.   I have the Townshend AIr Platform also incoming that will handle acoustic vibration traveling to the computer from the desk/floor. 

After what I just witnessed with the isolation feet on my subwoofer, I am confident that adding more acoustic treatment to this setup will be beneficial.

@jonwatches1

You missed nothing. Who cares what a speaker costs? It’s all the same tech. No matter how much you spend, it’s still a magnet with a cone attached using Copper wire using copper coils to separate frequencies in a crossover. OOoooh, maybe they use some high dollar capacitors! Sure, some companies use different tech, like electrostatic tweeters or planar technology. It still has to produce a frequency. It usually comes down to efficiency. How well what driver produces what frequency range at what level of power given. If it’s well designed, who cares what it cost? Besides, 60% of all that "cost" you think makes good sound, is profit margin for the company.

As it happens, the engineers at Audioengine have made a fantastic speaker. They made their own drivers and didn’t have to contract them out or purchase some off-brand. I am not using this setup to fill a living room with articulated, well positioned and clear sound. To do that, I would need larger speakers with more drivers. This is a small office space and this is a near-field setup. I have a larger setup for my main system.

Ridicule all you please, if it makes you feel better about yourself. It’s not going to stop me from building this system. You’ll just have to continue suffering my special brand of humor. :D