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WHAT HAS WORKED FOR YOU? ISOLATION PLATFORMS, FOOTERS, ETC. for a DAC?

What is reasonable to expect in SQ gain with respect to a DAC, since there are no actively moving parts?

Footers only? Platforms only? Or is a combination of both best?

Keeping this open ended (as well as budget wise) to see what Audiogon Members recommend and advise.

However, thoughts on Gains v.s. Spend with the specific products you are recommending are welcome and will be very helpful.

The only footers I have used in the past are those from Herbie's Audio Lab.  I have used two different 'audio' racks (which have been dismantled) and I am using their shelves as isolation platforms for my speakers and other components (but not the DACs).

The DACs in use are a Schiit Yggdrasil and an Exogal Comet Plus. The stock rubber footers with the Yggdrasil are as basic as they come; The Comet has an acrylic plate with rounded metal screws.

THANK YOU!
david_ten
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Just get a bag of steel or lead shot at the sporting goods and put it on top of the DAC.  Make sure this does not block cooling.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

david_ten OP
5,480 posts
 
@gwng8   Great that you are getting the Level 2 and 3s in for yourself.

I think it will depend on the component and the only way to really know is to try them out for yourself.

The Level 3s (version 1) with carbide bearings had a significant impact on sound quality and performance for my Schiit Yggdrasil DAC. Quite Amazing actually, and instantly delivered.  I am using the Level 2s (I have 2 sets) under my server and under my Preamp. 

I plan to order two sets of the newest Level 3s so I can swap out the 2s for both the Preamp and it's power supply.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Lol. Lead is one of the worst materials for sound that has ever been perpetrated on naive and gullible audiophiles. Yes, I know it seems like a good idea, all soft and heavy like. 😛 Even the esteemed Pierre Sprey at Mapleshade grew to detest lead although he was a big fan for a long time and, according to your humble scribe’s sources, had one of his employees cart out 200 lbs of the stuff to Las Vegas for use in CES shows.

Besides, mass loading simply changes the resonant frequency of the component. It is not really a substitute for real vibration isolation. I.e., mass on spring. If one is determined to use heavy mass on top of a DAC or anything else, you will have much better luck incorporating a viscoelastic material under the heavy mass, I.e., constrained layer damping.
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