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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
maxgain
526 posts
 
O.K., Lak and Twl, we have had some discussions in the past that have been great and very informative.

Can you explain to me why the Systrum stuff is any different than any other cones? I have been playing around with cones starting with the Mod Squad Tip Toes for years. They do change the sound. The Systrum stuff appears to be just two cones, one pointed up and one pointed down. There's a guy here on AGon that pushes this stuff at me like the follower of a cult ministry stuffing literature in my face at an airport and parroting the Audio Point manifesto. Yet I am quite sure he has not tried the alternate method he so adimantly puts down. (you know who you are)I hate to say that this approach tends to turn me off and my reaction is to write it off as "kooky" talk along with everything else he has to say. I am trying to keep an open mind here and hope you two guys can shed some light on this for me.

I tend to be more in the camp of an article written by Doug Blackburn in Soundstage, under the link, columns, "Exploding the Myth of the Cone Footer". Blackburn feels that they are(pun intended)somewhat pointless. He makes the case that the scientific community relies on pneumatic and hydraulic devices for use with devices like laser support platforms and microscopes and that no other apptication can be found for cone points other that in high end audio.

To use another example to ilustrate the devide among some of us, who seem to agree on many other topics,I piont to Alan Kafton at Audio Excellence. You guys seem to be on the same page with him on many items, like Vouight Pipes, cryo treated Hubbell outlets,& tube electronics, yet Alan(though I can't speak for him) is selling and obviously belives in the Tounshend Audio products such as the Seismic Sink.

I have no direct experience with the Systrun stuff so I am not syaing it does not do what you say it does. I don't have an unlimited budget to try every device, cable,& tweak out there(I wish I did!). I just wonder what gives here?
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
The secret to their point is patent pending, believe it or not. Top secret 'til then. There's a lot more science to that cone then you think. Get the point? They have a moneyback guarentee on their stuff. What do you have to lose, but a little face...
ksales
228 posts
 
I have noticed a difference in the general soundstage of my equipment since getting the sistrum racks. How much is rather hard to quantify. Frankly I am not quite as bowled over by the cones as others, although for the money the rack is a great piece and worhwhile. Most high end speaker manufacturers reccomend spikes so to a certain extent the cones certainly have credibility. With my system it is more difficult to evaluate the full impact of the racks because so much else good is going on. However, the cable and amps without question made a huge positive contribution. When my wife, who prefers a boom box to almost anything, remarks at the difference in sound when the cable was added, and then noticed even more improvement with the amps without having any knowledge that I had done anything to the system, you know something good is happening.
maxgain
526 posts
 
but a little face...
Warrenh, is this directed at me? What the hell are you getting at?
jcbtubes
400 posts
 
Max- The main difference between the applications is airborne vibration as Warren stated. I don't know of any lab situations that include a pair of speakers playing at 105 dB peaks in close proximity to the pneumatic tables (often with 300 lbs granite slabs). The pneumatic table that I used with telescopes was close to 10 ton. They work very well in isolating the equipment from ground based vibration. The question is which form of vibration is more detrimental during the listening event, the occasional truck rumble or earthquake, or the near continuous influence due to in-room airborne vibration? This is just my interpretation from a limited understanding of the subject. I'm sure that there are others that could provide a better comparison. Good luck.
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