Grand Prix versus Stillpoints

Tbg, I have been back and forth with Paul at Stillpoints and finally have tried every unit with inserts and hardhats down and without inserts and hardhats up. I have to agree with Paul's assessment that most sound better with inserts and hardhats down. The difference was small in some instances and fairly big in others. Thanks for your input. Ebm, whether the Symposium rack is the best is probably system dependent. But one thing I am certain of is the rack is just a starting point and not nearly enough. A rack does little to nothing to deal with vibration from air and, just as important if not more, does not deal with internally generated vibrations which have surprisingly been some of the most important.(amps, pre-amps, CDPs and TTs)

New Stillpoints stands on the way. These are the triple shelf model, 28" tall and 26" wide, two complete units.

Hope to have an idea about performance late next week or early the week after, before I fly out to cover Salon Son and Image show in Canada.

Albert, I had the Stillpoint stands before the new technology and thought they were the most effective isolation I had ever heard. Then after hearing the new Ultra SSs and being shocked at their performance even on the StillPoint Stand, I learned that you could install the new technology on the stand's rails. I did that and again it was a massive improvement, but still the StillPoint Ultras on the acrylic shelves greatly improved the sound. I think you are in for a treat, but the Ultra SSs will give you further improvement. I have said all of this in my StereoTimes reviews.

There has been a racking and platform system whose design from the outset was to deal with self generated resonance within components as well as airborne disturbance within the listening environment. Isolation is only possible in the absence of matter. Tom

Tbg,

I read your review, that was part of my encouragement. That and previous experience with standard Stillpoints and the new Stainless Ultras.

The stands will be the new version, so I expect to be suitably impressed.

My listening will probably be interrupted before I come to any conclusion. I jet out for Salon Son and Image (Canada) the day before Press day which is two days prior to regular attendees.