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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
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
Hey, I've got to laugh at myself. These threads on are so damn long, that I said just about the same thing 6 weeks ago, thinking it was a different thread. Got's to laugh. It's a beautiful day here. carpe diem my fellow audiophools. warren
theaudiotweak
2,801 posts
 
Fbhifi you are correct. The points on a Sistrum rack are with the point side up, facing the bottom of the equipment. The point itself is is directly coupled to a much larger tuned Sistrum collection device, namely the shelf. The shelf if it where simply a solid rectangular piece of metal, wood or resin would not act as a resonance collection device. Shelves as discribed would act much like any other branded shelf namely to dampen and store. The Audiopoint in this application is only effective when mounted to the Sistrum shelf. It works like mechanical amplifier/megaphone, when mounted to the much larger Sistrum shelf.. If the point where mounted upside down directly to a much larger mass such as Earth the Audiopoint would be rendered totally ineffecvtive. Tom
fbhifi
108 posts
 
Theaudiotweak- You state that "The point was designed to be an exit point only, it is not a re entry point." How then can it function as a re-entry point when attached to the shelf on the Sistrum rack ? It appears that it is not actually a "... one way in, one way out purposeful design..." How do you explain this obvious contradiction ?
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Fbhifi, you need to understand Voodoo magic. If you use the point down it is a "one way drain". Flip it and it becomes a "megaphone"...
sean
6,231 posts
 
I posted quite a bit about energy transfer and cone points over in AA about two years ago. Jonathan Scull compiled some of these posts and assembled parts of them into what became the majority of his February 2001 "Fine Tunes" column. Bare in mind that much of what i wrote was based on "logic" and "common sense" / "hands on experience" as i am not a physicist. So as not to confuse anyone out there, i don't play a physicist on tv either : )

Having said that, those that do understand physics have informed me that mechanical energy that can be passed from one device in one direction can in turn be fed back in the reverse direction. While i do not doubt this as the two points are obviously in contact with each other, i have to question if the level of energy transfer occurs at the same rate in both directions ? My thoughts are that a cone does act as somewhat of a "mechanical diode" ( a "diode" is an electronic version of a "one way valve" ) and the effectiveness of the "diode action" will depend on the shape, materials used and the mass of the devices. That is why there are SO many variations on cone shape, size, material, etc... and why some seem to work better than others in specific situations. I've never seen any studies on this subject but would love to. If anyone knows of any, please turn us onto them.

I am also of the belief that one can't "survive" or "fine tune" an audio system optimally by using one specific method ( isolation, coupling, mass loading, absorption, etc...) by itself. In my experience, some components respond to a combination of the above, whereas others might work best using only one method. Obviously, this will vary with the specific type of support structure / rack / shelf being used. What i found to work best with one type of rack failed miserably with another type of rack. One would only know this though if they had actually tried several different racks and tried various tweaks on each of those racks. I did this very thing and could not believe some of the differences that i heard in the process.

Personally, if i could, i would build an open structured rack(s) out of wood using as little metal as possible in the actual construction of the rack. I think that this type of rack sounds best. Obviously, one could play around with various types of wood used, how the shelves were suspended or anchored, etc... Personally, i do NOT like having the shelves anchored and / or part of the support structure of the rack. What someone else prefers from a structural vantage point or sonic preference might be very different though.

Having said that, i don't have all wooden racks as i could not achieve the versatility that i was looking for in such a design. As such, i had to deal with the fact that what i wanted would compromise the sonics to some degree. Such is life. With that in mind, I took an existing design ( Premier ) and manipulated it to fit my needs / desires as best possible. I did this because i could not find any commercial design that met all of the criteria that i set forth when shopping for racks. With the help of a few knowledgeable folks, i arrived at something that is both versatile enough to keep me happy AND is suitable to my sonic preferences. I am still experimenting and learning, but that is the great part about "tweaking" i.e. you can do as much or as little as you desire or can afford.

With that in mind, i hope that i have not discouraged anyone from buying / trying ANY product that interests them. Obviously, this includes the Sistrum's or other similar products. Learning via first hand experience is a great thing and taking the desire away from someone to do so is disgraceful. As such, i apologize and would like to encourage all of you to experiment with as many variables as you can within your system(s)and come to your own conclusions about what works best. If you end up thinking i'm a quack regarding some of my suggestions / comments, so be it. You'll never know what you like best until you try things out for yourself though.

Once again, i do apologize to those that i've offended / stepped on their toes in this thread. Sean
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