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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
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,598 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.
twl OP
3,251 posts
 
Max, from what I understand about the Audiopoints, they use a specific type of brass, and a special geometry in the cone shape that is designed to transfer resonances in a better way than just normal brass cones. I have used different cones of different materials, and read alot of copy about cones. Mostly the normal cones are working off of having a very small point of contact, to minimize vibration transfer from the floor. The Audiopoints are using a different idea, which is to transfer the resonance from the equipment to the mechanical "ground" of the floor and the earth. They may both be cone shaped, but there are differences in the shapes, and materials, and the idea is totally different from a normal cone, brass or otherwise. The design is patented, and I don't know everything about it, and the stuff I know is available from their website. However, they did work very well for me, and I have always been a proponent of "coupling" instead of isolation, especially with TTs. That was one reason that I decided on Sistrum and Audiopoints, because they have a similar philosophy on coupling and resonance transfer, as I have.
I'm not saying that there are no other good cones out there, but I am saying that these worked real well for me, and better than the other cones I used, including BDR. I also believe that using the consistent approach to vibration control all the way through the system, was a proper way to approach this problem. I don't say that everyone will want to use this, or should trash their existing stuff and rush out to buy this. But I do think that it worked for me, and if people are in the market for a set of points, equipment stand or a rack, then maybe they should take a look at this stuff. It performed well and it looks nice, in my opinion. That's what points and racks are supposed to do, and this does it. And they have a money back guarantee, so if you don't like it for some reason, you can return it. I don't see how it could be any easier to find out if you like something. I liked it, and I see from some of these posts that others do too.

As far as air bags and stuff like that, I never was a proponent of that type of isolation on TTs. Every soft isolation I ever used under a TT totally killed the sound. I even have posts that are almost a year old about that in the archives. I now find that coupling works well on the other components too. It may not be for everyone, but it is good for me.
sean
6,231 posts
 
As far as "cones" go, different shapes, materials and the placement of the cone under both the equipment being supported and the point that it makes contact on the shelf will all effect things. Try reading the article below. It is not an "end all" in regards to coupling / isolation by any means, but it is very interesting none the less. Sean
>

Stereophile article "Bad Vibes" by Shannon Dickson
maxgain
526 posts
 
Twl, thanks for the reply.

I do wonder if it is dependant on the type of floor you have? I have a carpet covered, plywood and wood joist floor, over a shallow crawl space, for my listening room. I can't imagine wanting to transfer any more vibration into it.

This is why I asked you and Lak specifically to respond as I sort of have an idea where you both are coming from. I find MOST of the other posts to be of value as well. I asked this question because there seems to be such a high degree of polarity on this topic. Yes I am an isolation"ist" and can see from my system listing what I have been up to. Just trying to get as much info as I can soak up.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Twl; an interesting thread. Just a point re coupling vs decoupling: all of Steve McCormack's early DNA amps use BOTH. The DNA amps have big Sorbothane feet for isolating the amp from degrading vibrations at the front of the amp, and they also have a steel spike located toward the center rear of the amp to drain vibes from the amp into whatever it sits on.

I've owned many DNA amps and have found this dual system to be effective, and of course Steve McCormack was one of the pioneers in the field of vibration control in high end audio equipment with development of his "Tip Toes". I've also found that additional vibration control with the DNA amps to be effective depending on circunstances. Cheers. Craig
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