SRA or Symposium?

Chris, I wasn't sure from your original post if you were considering the premium version of the SRA Chicago Class platform, so I mentioned my experience with the Grand Masters. However, Critical Mass has a couple levels below the Grand Masters at more affordable prices. I have not had any experience with those, but I've heard that they are excellent.

John

John, the Critical Mass Grand Masters are ultra expensive stands, even more expensive than the VRA Ohio Class component stands.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Sand grains allow movement in all direction of the horizontal plane and they absorb kinetic energy in the vertical plane, so in theory a sandbox should deliver the goods.

As the great Yogi once said "In theory, theory and practice are the same; in practice, they aren't." I had the sandboxes under my components. They added some sonic improvement, but the Symposium Ultra platforms with the Rollerblock 2+ and 2+ with grade 3 bearings were superior to the sandboxes in my system. Sonically, I didn't like the couplers that came with the Ultras. I used the Rollerblocks instead. However, I'll strongly endorse Teck5's suggestion to consider the Critical Mass platforms. These are greatly superior to anything I have tried in my system. I now have three Critical Mass Grand Masters (the new Black Label version) in my system and will soon have a fourth. The Grand Masters have raised the performance of my amps and CD player to a new level. A short note can't do justice to all the marvelous improvements they have already brought to my audio system. Therefore, I plan to post a more comprehensive review of the Grand Masters after I get my fourth platform. Stay tuned.

Best Regards,
John

Krisgel - Had the same experience with the Symposiums. If I used the aluminum couplers, the sound was bright. I wondered if I was imagining it, but then tried them with some hard rubber feet under the electronics (from Brown Elec. Labs, that makes the BEL 1001...and this was at the recommendation of my dealer...it's how he told me to set up the Symposiums, but I did it by the book first, out of curiousity) and thought the Symposiums sounded better... the brightness was gone. Glad to hear I'm not the only one that had that experience. Now, I use the Symposium stands but don't use their couplers...just set the equipment on them with the BEL feet, and the sound is pretty clean. Overall, there's some improvement, but it's not night and day.

Are the SRA bases made of corian like material or very dense material like the one Dave Wilson uses (X-material)? Are sandboxes inferior to the sota bases? Could you also explain why? Sand grains allow movement in all direction of the horizontal plane and they absorb kinetic energy in the vertical plane, so in theory a sandbox should deliver the goods.

Chris

Chris,

I agree wholly with Ed (Cipherjuris)...Furthermore, you have a balancing act to do with feet...where do you place them, will it topple, etc...

When i put in my SRA amp stand, the bass tightened up very quickly and nicely...in my untreated room...

Another product that you may wish to consider is the Critical Mass Systems which I am considering next for my Pre and Source...

I have tried HRS Nimbus (not so good), Stillpoints (good), SOund MEchanics (okay), Cardas Blocks (okay)....

instead of looking at individual products, think of your needs...do you want to put your components separately or on a rack...this will help your decision making...

Hope this helps...

Chris,

I have not had access to a Symposium. Previously, I had several less than state-of-the-art isolation systems. Frankly, none were very good.

After months of research last year, including to talking to several designer-makers, I decided on SRA. I am extremely pleased with the results and can give the highest recommendation to SRA.

Ed

Krisgel,
"....Symposium was not nearly as natural sounding. It makes things sound artificially bright.."
Which component were you using with the Symposium & did you use their couplers? Have you tried Symposium's RollerBlocks with their platforms?
So far my experience with the Symposium has been largely positive (& musical) & I do not have access to SRA product in Oz to compare.
FWIW, I was using Maple wood blocks & metal cones/spikes under my components before switching to Symposium which is a significant improvement particularly in the retrieval of details.
Cheers,

I have had both, and still use the SRA. The Symposium was not nearly as natural sounding. It makes things sound artificially bright, mostllikely due to the aluminum construction. The SRA come with feet that are supposed to be used as part of the isolation system.