To couple or decouple? That is the question.


This is one of my favorite subjects and pet peeves.Is this just a matter of semantics or a misrepresentation of the principles applied in the set-up of equipment. My experience tells me that coupling is what you work for. This is the principle that is expoused in the early Linn literature. The mechanical connection that doesn't introduce or take away any information. This seems important with componets with transducers primarily turntables and speakers. Different materials, like sorbothane, are used to attenuate frequencies but are used in conjunction with metal cups to physically couple to your stand, shelf, floor, etc. Coupling also allows mechanical/acoustical energy to travel away from a componet. The designers at Mission in the early 80's were right on to this. Questions or comments please.
rickmac
In response to 11-28-03: Psychicanimal

Good-day:

Robert from Star Sound Technologies, LLC here as I feel the need to respond and request that a correct understanding and terminology be employed here.

This “cult” image and proper name calling as some of the members here have assigned to our clients is rather absurd and intellectually incorrect wouldn’t one think? Shall we call our clients audiocults or philecults or better yet - Starcults?

We have manufactured the Audio Points® product for fifteen years as they remain the oldest surviving yet flourishing retail product of its kind in this industry. Sistrum Platforms are a well defined advancement of that invention. Would not all these Audio Point clients be labeled cultists as well? That would mean there are now over 80,000 satisfied cult members out there, somewhere.

Plus, let us not forget to include some of the finest writers and editors in our industry who review and employ our products within their reference rooms, shall we label them and their publications as cultists too?

We always relate to our clients as passionate listening enthusiasts or even more so our very good friends. In order to achieve such a high standard amongst these people, who always seem to rally around each other, you must first have to provide them a product that musters all that energy, vitality and musical feel and always be there to answer all of their questions maintaining customer service as the premium product within our inventories.

We do take a very personal offense to this on-going negative correlation between our products and clients who favor them. Therefore we request that this name association stop. We value our client’s reputations and recognize them as some of the keenest listeners in the world.

Please do not associate our clients or products again with the term “cult”.

Thank you and as always – Good Listening!

Robert Maicks
Star Sound Technologies, LLC
If I respond to you in my unique style Audiogon will throw you the towel once more and delete this entire thread.

I own your Audiopoints and I plan to buy more. They do not work best in all scenarios, but they do have a place in my system. Given my previous sales experience (including audio/video and industrial international sales) I have privately spoken to TWL of products and ways you guys can improve sales and market penetration--just ask him. As to how I call a few of your fanatic customers, that does not concern you at all.
Robert,

Perhaps you could explain your insistent need to come onto the Audiogon discussion forums and argue with its members. As far as I can tell, you are the only manufacturer who engages in this type of business practice. What do you feel will be gained by your actions. Do you feel your techno-babble and sales pitches are going to change people's minds about your products? I would have thought after the last embarrassing exchange (Sistrum vs. GPA)that was thrown out, you would refrain from these types of exchanges. The fact that you, one of your employees, and a couple of your dealers appear to be monitoring/lurking in these forums for just these threads IMHO, is an act of desperation. You need to get a thicker skin.
If one is coupling to the floor, doesn't the floor itself have a resonance and resonate? Can't energy from the floor be passed back up the rack into the component? What is to stop vibration floating in the air from resonating the rack itself? Since a cone point is a "coupler" of energy, doesn't having the cone point facing into the gear couple energy that the rack picks up from vibration in the air and through the floor couple that energy into the component? What direction does a cone transfer energy the most efficiently? Inquiring minds want to know. Vinylphile