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This Sistrum stuff works

Hi. I just got a bunch of Sistrum products to add to my system. The package arrived, with 2 Sistrum Speaker Platforms, 2 Sistrum Equipment Platforms, 2 sets of AudioPoints, a pair of Sonoran Plateau Desert Speaker Cables, and a pair of Sonoran Plateau Cactus RCA Interconnects.

I wanted to try an entire line of products that were designed to work together, using the unique vibration management system that the Sistrum and Sonoran products have. I thought this approach could have some merit.

I put the products into the system, 1 by 1, and listened for differences. I started with the speaker platforms. I immediately noticed that the slight "boxiness" that was present primarily in the lower midrange was almost eliminated. And the bass, and midbass was much more defined than before. Overall clarity seemed improved, but it was already quite clear to start with. One of the more interesting benefits was that I could play louder than before, with less audible distortion. Then I tried the equipment platforms under my preamp and amp. This improved the focus of the entire presentation by several percent. And again, I could play even louder before noticing any distortion occurring. The next candidate was the Audiopoints under my Teres TT. This was where I noticed an increase in detail and lowering of the noise floor. I had already used BDR cones and Cocobolo Cones under the TT, and these beat both of those quite convincingly. The final thing was the Sonoran Cables. These need some time to break in, but after about 4 hours of playing, this package is giving me the best sound that I have ever gotten from this system. The cables, even right out of the box, were quite open and detailed, with no high-frequency rolloff that I had experienced with some other cables I've tried, like Cardas Golden. After just a few hours, the bass was really showing excellent tonality and control. The mids were as open as my DIY cables, which had previously slain all comers. I expect these Sonoran cables to improve over the next couple of weeks, and that will be a nice treat, because they are already sounding quite good indeed.

Now, I have to admit that I have not tried a boatload of different cables, but I have tried a few. My cone and support situation was in need, and I didn't have a very good vibration control system in place before I got this stuff. Maybe other stuff can do very well too. But I can say that this Sistrum and Sonoran stuff does exactly what it says it does, and I am very pleased with the results that I got on my system.

In addition, I really like the appearance of these products, and that never hurts, even though my audio room looks more like a workshop than a living room. I go primarily for performance, and not looks. The sound is the key issue for me. But good looks are always a positive, if the sound is also good.

I would say that I recieved an honest 15% improvement in the clarity, tonal quality(especially in the low end), and in maximum SPL that I can now attain. Although I didn't measure it, I feel that I got an additional 3db SPL over what I was getting before. And with the improved clarity and tone at the same time. With my low power tube system, this was a very big plus, because it was like getting more power out of my amp. Sistrum claims that when you use their products, you get better efficiency from your system, including amps and speakers, due to proper vibration management. I now believe that this is true, because I experienced that in my testing with my system.

I could heartily recommend these products to others, because I feel that if they work on my system, they will work on others. The technology works. I'm happy.

While other isolation products may be very good, and also other cables may be very good, I feel that these are doing a great job, and have good neutrality, but let the sound and dynamics come through crystal clear, and from top to bottom.

This package wasn't cheap, at about $3000 retail for all the items I got. But it is not anywhere near the high price that alot of other cables and racks cost. I think it strikes a very good level of performance for a reasonable price. I can't buy $8k speaker cables, or $5k audio racks.

I'd recommend them for anyone to try out. They really do work, just as the manufacturer claims.
twl

Showing 5 responses by dekay

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,394 posts
 
Warrenh:

I isolate my complete system (with the exception of 4 feet of speaker cable per side, the speakers and the stands), from "most" airborne vibration and doing so was quite a simple task (plus it did not cost anything). I have been using this type of setup since the early 1970's, but mainly in the past to isolate TT's (never thought that it would make much of a difference with amps and such before, but of course it does, especially with tube amps). Click on my system for the details.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,394 posts
 
Warrenh:

Looks like you missed my post One only has to place the electronics in a closed room/closet (outside the listening area) in order to do away with most airborne vibration.

If I had to choose between a special rack/shelf system (which I already use) and placing the electronics outside of the listening area I would definately go with the latter.

As I do not have to choose I do both.

Anyway, it seems a bit odd (to me) to spend thousands of dollars on an isolation system for the electronics and then place them/it in the listening room.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,394 posts
 
Tweak:

Of course anything in the listening room is exposed to airborne vibration. However the rest of the system (placed elsewhere) is not, to a much greater extent than if it were placed in the listening room and incorporated with anything that Sistrum produces. You need to get real and why are you even attempting to argue this point?

Draining airborne vibration once it effects a unit is far less productive than eliminating the airborne vibration in the first place (surprised that you have not figured this out, given 35 years to do so).

My speakers are wired with single runs of 26 gauge solid core wire which is contained in a very thick Teflon surround and the amount of energy transmitted back to the power amps is much, much, much less than they would receive if they (the amps) were instead situated in the listening room (common sense dictates that the difference is @ least 100 to 1 and it's probably considerably greater than this).

Again, I find it odd that one would go to the great expense of using special racks/shelving and then end up placing them in the listening environment.

Warren: In the dozen, or so, places that I have lived over the years there was a suitable closet (or adjoining room) in all but two of them (most rooms are located off hallways which contain closets and the next best thing is to use an in-room closet). I'm married, have had kids living in the home, etc., and as far as I am concerned most closets end up being filled with junk unless used for a better purpose. The hall closet was used for linens and a bit of my clothing which has since found better homes in a couple of bed chests and a shelf in my wife's clothing closet. We are planning on converting a living room closet to store LP's as 90% of it is also filled with junk. Power to the closet I use is supplied by my two power conditioners, though having a line installed would have cost much less tha the two inexpensive conditioners.

I am not dissing Sistrum products @ all, just the ridiculous claims which often accompany them, (guess Pogo was right afterall:-). I use Neuance shelving on a modified rack, so am not unaware of the basic pricipals, but instead am making the point that much better results can be had by placing such rack/shelf systems outside of the listening environment.

If you are attempting to address vibration then first do so (as much as is possible) at the source and then follow up treating the symtoms of what's left over.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,394 posts
 
Tom/Tweak:

Huh?

As you are either unable or unwilling to comprehend and/or to logically respond to the subject matter (content) of a post directed @ you, let's not chat anymore, OK?

People love your products, but how they also put up with the BS is beyond me.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,394 posts
 
Tom:

I still find a decent rack to be needed. The differences between footers and shelf material seem even more pronounced with my current setup. Many of the items that were OK when used in the listening room are no longer used as they just do not sound right anymore.

I doubt if I will be able to budget any Sistrum speaker stands in the near future, but I might consider their floor spikes once I build floorstanding speakers for the living room (have not owned floorstanders since the late 70's, but they will be a nice change as I am tired of looking @ metal stands).

I ended up with a pair of Stephens Trusonic 8" full range drivers that I will be using in BR cabinets (don't think that they would work in TL's like yours).
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