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
Psychicanimal, does your grandmother have any experience with phrenology? I'm a coupler. Some of you are decouplers. Sistrum: we know where they stand. Mixing the two, however, is kind of like buying beauiful leather furniture, and putting plastic slip covers over them. One nullifies the inherent characteristics of the other. If you're a coupler: stay true to that, and get rid of your absorbing, ruinous, little, resonance blockers. If you're a decoupler? Hey, I don't care where you go. Have fun though. peace, warren
TWL: My ONLY reason to be spending my time on this thread is because I'm interested in purchasing a rack better than the one I already have. In order to not throw one's audio dollars away on a rack which yields little or no improvement, or possibly is WORSE than what one already has, some research into the new products available in the marketplace must take place. These forums CAN be valuable, because objective opinions from helpful fellow Agoners can usually be distilled from the gang fighting and grudge matches taking place alongside them. If a member chooses to tackle complex technical issues, that's fine. He, or she, may or may not be qualified to make the statements that they do. But if they do make a technical statement- they should have the courage to defend their contentions in the face of logical, in fact in this case- obvious, arguments against their initial position. Most importantly-after it's all said and done- I will decide if, possibly, any constructive information was forthcoming. This information, if any, will be used as the 1st step in gathering technical data- not the last and definitive decision making device. In regard to contacting the manufacurer with ones questions- I agree that that can be productive, but only when armed with some amount of general, current, product knowledge. Otherwise you risk repeating the disturbing exercise of going to a car dealer for the 1st time to purchase your 1st car. Stated another way- If you have a SOME general product knowledge you will be better qualified to divine some reliable information when you ask the Ford dealer how his Explorer compares to Chevy's Tahoe.
Gentlemen I feel I have tried to answer your inquiries as accurately as possible and with all of my personal integrity. I have stated many times before that I have used Audiopoints and Sistrum for almost ten years. It is and will continue to be my personal felling that these are the finest products available in there respective catogory. The controversy I feel can be answered by going to the Starsound web page and read the science presented for yourselves. Let me state that the Sistrum and the Audiopoint are two different devices. The Audiopoint is only a minor part of the actual device know as the Sistrum. I suppose the explanation is beyond my ability to geometrically as well as verbally articulate. Like I said I believe in and can demonstrate in my own personal system what I feel are huge sonic improvements with the use of Sistrum Science. My sincere apologies for trying to describe and failing to deliver the full 100% scope of the engineering behind these complex shapes..Tom
Starsound Technologies will refund your money if you're not happy with their products. Infact they give you 30 days to find your happiness. Whattaya got to lose? Shipping? Small piece of change, given the cost over 30 days listening. The Sistrum Systems have delivered. I'm coupled to the EARTH, and very happy. peace, warren

P.S. Let's see: The original thread started in January. Will it be too long, come July? It's too long already. Just listen to these ( Sistrum) babies. You'll be freed....
TWL, I posted why I came in here: Lak asked me to check out the Sistrum and also to call the owner. I told him calling him would be pointless, as I would be bombarded with useful information interspersed by a sales pitch. I think the Sistrum does one thing right and that is an advantage over an attempt at doing several and not a single one right. I still do not know how much it costs, so that bias has not been introduced in my brain...

I told Lak that I think he would be better off with Jahaira's design. I find it way superior and more flexible in terms of how to address individual components. With this design one can choose to couple, decouple or use *resistive damping* of individual components. The rack is coupled by means of heavy stainless steel rods with spikes and bolted Brazilian Cedar plywood boards (12 ply) that have a routered rectangular cavity. It is a heavy rack and extremely rigid by all means. The combination of granite slabs, cork/rubber sheets and cones/DIYumas and or Moca wood will allow each individual component to be properly tuned. You could even use Neuance shelves, graphite boards, anything!

Warren, I had to look up that phrenology word. No, my grandmothers did not know that. I learned a few things related to metaphysics and the use of quartz crystals, and Central American Indian "reiki". Never messed with the bad stuff...don't want to go to hell! A lot of this stuff has to do with how we are in tune with ourselves and the environment. An analogy would be that our lives develop a *vector* in the metaphysical realm, much like what the Hindus call Karma; that vector gives our lives a momentum that is sometimes not good. That's why some people go to Psychics like my friend Milvia. I have this very very clear. Milvia's mother told me one day: "We pull them out of the cesspool and they jump right back in..."