CDP isolation options for improved HF?

Ernie you must experiment some, and add to your collection of isolation devices. If you are looking for detail cones are useful like Polycrystal or DH or Black Diamond racing, my experience with cones is you get an exciting sound but tends to emphasize upper midrange and treble, not my cup of tea. Bearing devices like Rollerblocks and Aurios MIB give detail without disturbing tonality, however they can be hard to use in practice especially if you have heavy AC cord to deal with. I use partially inflated 12" bicycle innertube under my CDP (cost $6)I find this gives me the best tonal balance, after trying the above items, commercial versions of this include Bright Star Air Mass and Townshend Sinks. Your Dac has great influence on HF quality, you may need to explore this area, also Auric Illuminator can remove some HF edge/glare,Sam

My experience with cones (tiptoes-aluminum) is exactly as Sam states above: midrange and treble emphasis giving an "exciting" but ultimately tiring and irritating sound. I'm using budget gear, like you, and find that I want to smooth things out, not zing them up. I would strongly recommend Vibrapods-very inexpensive and in my opinion great results-will improve just about every area of your sound, not just clean up the high end. You should hear more happening in the midrange and better bass definition as well. I have 12 in my system now and another 4 on the way for my integrated amp, whose stock feet are about to be removed! I'd suggest ordering 8 (at $6 each) for your CD player, 4 to go under an MDF shelf (the guy in the US selling on Audiogon and Audrioreview is also selling MDF shelfs for $6) and another 4 to sit under the player on top of the MDF shelf. Before you order, fill up a couple of zip lock bags with sand and put them on top of your CD player, getting the total weight so you know which pods to order. For about $60 including zip lock bags, sand, vibrapods and MDF shelf, I think you'll have an upgrade that will really surprise you-you'll be getting much more performance out of that CD player than you thought possible!

HDM, I also like vibrapods and use them where my partially filled innner tubes won't fit, like under DAC. If you want to use them under CDP without taking feet off I place them on 4x4 ceramic bath tiles, this height will clear most component feet and allow flexible positioning of vibrapods, as they should directly contact component body. The partially filled inner tube does the same things as vibrapod only slightly better. Some people also damp body vibrations by using "little rock" or DIY alternative. It also pays to use small level to make sure CDP is level after tweaks are applied, Sam

I 3rd the use of Vibrapods which I use on my CD player under an MDF platform, with great results. I also have two wheelbarrow intertubes (smaller than the bike tubes) that I use under our mini system (two box unit) in our bedroom. I don't know if they make these anymore, I found them at an old hardware store and they only had the two. I experienced the same problem with racing cones but was told that I may not have used the "right" ones on my CD player.