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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
sean
6,231 posts
 
Brulee: Why not discuss the matter in a logical manner ? I have presented my side of the how's & why's and all that you have done is throw stones. Can you not understand "any" of the logic or responses that i've posted to you here ? Sean
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theaudiotweak
2,801 posts
 
Brent Riehl designed the original Audiopoint in 1989 not Michael Green. Green was a pretty boy front man smart enough to capitalize on a good concept when he could grab one. As TWL stated a company north of Detroit makes a try to be knockoff of the Sonoran cable, also a Brent Riehl design. Sistrum Platforms and The Science of Resonance Transfer a unique and controversial concept is also a Brent Riehl design. I suppose the fact that most people--------------- " have not gotten it" has protected Brent and Robert of Starsound from being ----- off again! As I understand it Brent and Robert are two of the principals of Starsound. Nelson Pass patented class A designs of the early 80's were borrowed by JVC and other Japanese companies. You have to have big money to protect your published ideas from becoming public domain so they do not become an unearned profit vehicle for the fasthanded.
theaudiotweak
2,801 posts
 
Sean, I agree with your negative comments about the Michael Green clamp rack. Like all methods of dampening and so called isolation systems they serve to kill the dynamics and hence the music. There is only one parallel between the Green rack and the Sistrum rack and that is the Audiopoint. Green used the Audiopoint to collect and focuse resonant energy but then succeeded in dampening the exit of the noise . By having points at the bottom and a point at the top dampened by a shelf Green never allowed for the resonant energy to exit the device at all. As a result you had a system that was dark and dynamically depressed. You are totally incorrect in trying to say a MGD rack and a Sistrum rack are similar in any other way.. The Audiopoint is used in an entirely different method. Sistrum is a resonant energy transfer device it is not a music killing machine made of lead rubber or carbon fiber. Sistrum is designed to provide a high speed path for electromechanical as well as airborne resonance to exit the attached device. My daughter is quite a classical guitarist. I wonder how she would sound if she played a guitar with rubber and carbon fiber strings attached to a lead instead of rosewood body? Let the music be heard! Tom
sean
6,231 posts
 
I was not so much talking about the racks themselves, but the idealogies. Michael Green believes in "live" or "resonant" rather than "dead" or "damped". Your last response to me basically focuses on many of the same attributes that he seeks to achieve, but using different methods. He even allows one to "tune" his speakers so that the effect of box resonance can be added or reduced as one sees fit.

As far as that goes, are you trying to tune equipment and racks to become actual "musical instruments" and / or actual contributors to what we hear ? My thoughts were that the gear should be as neutral of a messenger as possible and neither add nor subtract energy from the recording being reproduced.

As far as i know, i thought that Steve McCormack was the "inventor" of component footers aka cones known as "Tiptoe's" and dampers known as "Soft Shoes". Are we talking about the same thing here ??? Sean
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jcbtubes
400 posts
 
I may be wrong, but much to do about nothing seems to have generated when Sean interjected his post which, intended or not, suggested that the philosophy and/or design concept of Grand Prix racks was "scientific" as opposed to the "gimmickry and marketing" of "audiophile approved" racks. Since this thread dealt with Sistrum, there is no other way to interpret Sean's comments except to conclude that he felt that Sistrum racks lack scientific basis and are only audiophile approved, as if this were some kind of negative trait.

Though I've looked at the Grand Prix website before, I went there expecting to see something new in the way of specific technical data or scientific support for their products. Sadly, all I found was a mildly interesting definition of terms with a "white paper" link that was still under construction. I'm at a loss as to what technical data currently exists at the website that in any way supports any claim that they have to offer.

Since I found nothing there to support their position or of the specific test parameters that were referred to in the text, I have nothing tangible to offer on their claims. They may have supporting data - shake table test specs, duration periods, impulse amplitude, or XYZ parameters, but I found nothing.

In contrast, I have experienced Sistrum products in a controlled environment, my home. I've done listening evaluations that support the positive attributes that others have mentioned. I find the basic scientific premise behind Sistrum to be in agreement with my sonic experience.

I'm sure that Sean didn't intend for this thread to be sidetracked over inferences and suppositions. Barring any technical or experiential data suggesting otherwise, I'm at a bit of loss as to why he felt inclined to post as he did. However, I think he has made it clear that he has no personal experience to suggest that Sistrum's claims are untenable.

The most disturbing aspect so far has been the comments suggesting that personal experience is somehow too subjective to trust in any evaluation. This is audio, folks! Audio is subjective! Electronics can be objective within the limitations of the tests and test equipment that are available to date. However, the sonic "quality", perceived by the human ear, is the final test. To suggest otherwise is simply foolishness. If a comparison is not performed "side by side" so to speak, giving each item the best possibility to exhibit its sonic strengths (whether this may take hours or days or weeks), then how else is a comparison to be performed?

Preconceived ideas about a product can be useful I suppose. However, rarely do they benefit our sonic evaluations. We each look for certain aspects or attributes of a component to help with narrowing our focus to a manageable few for consideration.

Obviously, the specific triggers of interest can and will vary from person to person. It all depends on the "open mindedness" of the individual if he or she is able to set aside biases and give a product a fair evaluation before passing judgement.

Will one person's experience be true for all others? Of course, it won't. However, as more people come to share the same or similar experience and the experience level of the individuals of the group is considered, a greater measure of value may be assigned to the personal experiences as related to a particular product.

With this in mind, those on this thread who have experience with the Sistrum products and considering the level of the audiophile experience supporting such claims, I feel very safe in recommending the Sistrum products to those who might be in the market for racks and stands. Just one man's opinion.
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