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Vibration isolation

Looking for feedback.  I have a very resolving system with Synergistic Research Atmosphere Level 4 IC's and SC and all Elemental Tungsten power cords....McIntosh 601 Monoblocks, MCIntosh C2300 Tube pre, Lumin A-1 streamer with upgraded Kenneth Lau Silver Edition Power Supply all on 3" solid Maple stands / rack.  All this drives a pair of Sonus Faber Guarneri Evolutions mated to a pair of REL G-2 subs.  I have been experimenting with different vibration / isolation control from Herbies soft feet to Rollerblocks to VooDoo Iso Blocks
as well as Synergistic Research MIG 2.0's.  I've discovered that with most of the "bearing" type systems, while I like the pin point accuracy and detail, they make to system so bright that I can't listen to it....and my gear isn't typically associated with "brightness".   The VooDoo Iso Pods are the least bright with the MIG 2.0's falling in between.  The best sounding, detailed but not teeth grinding bright appear to be the Herbies soft feet.  They also seem to produce a soundstage with more body, highly detailed without the ringing brightness.  Results seem really odd to me with much that I've read.  Has anyone else had these sorts of results?  I'm really pretty stunned....my listening room is acoustically treated by GIK, so that's not the issue....would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks!
ptrck887
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james1969's avatar
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james1969
347 posts
 
If you are experiencing brightness from using Symposium products, I would try to track down the brightness in your system that you don't like.  I have not experienced brightness from Rollerblocks, only what you described above as positives.  In my system the Rollerblocks on top of the Ultra shelves, my phono preamp, and mono blocks sound sublime.  Have a look at my system and you will see I use Symposium under all my gear, speakers included.  I have Rollerblock 2+ double-stacked under my speakers, what a big upgrade.

Good luck.
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@ptrck887 As far as I can tell you are right on track. I use a combination of Herbie’s Tenderfeet and Firm Tenderfeet under all of my components. Just as you stated earlier, they reveal the best overall sound. Detail with good soundstaging without overdoing it. What I have found is that if the regular tenderfeet render a bit too warm of a sound I switch in a pair of the firmer tenderfeet to compensate.

Years ago, I was on the Black Diamond Racing Cone bandwagon only to discover that as my component and speaker system quality improved, the sound took on an upper midrange/lower treble hardness that I found unmusical.

Example of tweaking with the Tenderfeet. I upgraded the tubes in my SACD player and power supply. As they ran-in the sound took on a slightly warmer quality. I began mixing tenderfeet with firm tenderfeet to tune the player to the most accurate/musical sound I could get. I find the sonic response of the Tenderfeet to be very predictable which helps to facilitate tuning your system.

Stay the course. Your compass is true.
ptrck887 OP
84 posts
 
Thanks hifiman! I'm just shocked that the simple, reasonably priced Herbies seem to deliver a soundstage with more body, warmth and musicality than the roller bearing designs.  Wondering if perhaps they extract too much detail from an already detailed system??  Does our search for greater detail inevitably bring us to a point where we lose the music?  Interesting hobby!!!
toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone
840 posts
 
I've not tried the roller bearings yet, but have had great luck using compression springs I buy from Grainger. They usually list the load of the spring, so the math is simple: weight of component/number of springs you want to use = spring load.
The fewer the springs, the better. I also put cork on the bottom of each spring so they don't scratch my rack when I'm moving them around to level the component.
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