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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
 
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
twl OP
3,251 posts
 
Garfish, that's an interesting idea. I know Steve M. is a very knowledgeable guy. I wonder what the idea behind the dual-method is? Maybe he is just covering all the bases, in case one method isn't working, the other one will. I don't know.

All I know at this point is, that what I have now is an improvement over what I had before. A pretty good improvement, and it uses the resonance transfer method. I previously tried all the typical things like tennis balls cut in half, and styrofoam platforms, and different cones, and all the usual stuff. This Sistrum stuff did alot better for my system than any of the other things. So, that's good enough for me right now.

I'm not selling any of this stuff, just reporting on it.
maxgain
526 posts
 
Twl, I do appreciate your reporting approach rather than the, jamming it down my throat, this is the only way it could possibly be, dumb ass, approach I have gotten before about the Systrum stuff. I think you have done a good job with the review and welcome the info.
twl OP
3,251 posts
 
Max, I have a floor that is very similar to yours. I have a wood floor on traditional suspended joists, over a crawl space under the house. I don't have a carpet. I use rugs on the floor in front of my speakers to keep reflections down. But my floor is just like yours. I think what is happening is, that somehow the vibrations in the equipment are carried down to the floor, but the vibrations don't go up from the floor into the equipment. I don't know exactly how they do this, but this seems to be what is going on. Something to do with the geometry of these cones and platforms. They work differently somehow. And the results are unmistakeable. My system really sounds better, and I can play louder with less distortion. That is a big plus for me. Some unwanted colorations were eliminated from my speaker system. That was really nice. If these items didn't work like they said, I wouldn't have gotten this kind of result. That's the bottom line for me. And if I didn't like them, you can bet I would have boxed them up and sent them back. I'm not a millionaire.
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