Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Wow. What a day!

Here’s the list of things I compared (thanks for your help Larry!!!):

IsoAcoustics Bordeaux
IsoAcoustics Gaia 3
StillPoints Ultra5
Ansuz Darkz ceramic
HRS Nimbus
HRS Vortex
HRS M3
Symposium RollerBlocks double stack
Symposium Ultra Shelf

Compared under my DAC and music server. Footers under my amp were Gaia2’s (screwed in). I had tried multiple footers under my Preamp and found it to be practically immune to changes in footers when placed under the massive steel sub plinth the pre-amp sits on. Rack is my Adona rack and shelves.

Brief summary.

Under the Memory Player Server the HRS Nimbus (which is correctly matched to the sheet metal case) did a better job of extracting details and harmonic layering then the Gaia3. But the Gaia3 are crazy good for the money! The Nimbus are more expensive but justify their price. The bass was slightly deeper and more taught and trailing edge was subtly better defined. I didn’t, but I will, compare the Nimbus to the Bordeaux; just because that needs to be done.

Under the DAC I compared (again) the StillPoints Ultra5’s to the Bordeaux and both my friend who joined me and I preferred the more top to bottom coherence of the Bordeaux over the analytical leaning Stillpoint Ultra5’s. Both are easy to live with, but the Bordeaux, at a fraction of the cost, bested the mighty Ultra5’s in creating a more natural, even, musical environment, that was more believable.

Also tried the Darkz. Very good although similar in overall result as the Ultra5’s. I liked the Ultra5’s more. If I didn’t have the Ultra5’s i would consider them. You get more for your money with the mass of the Ultra5 considering they are similarly priced.  But the IsoAcoustics make you wonder if it’s worth buying any of them.

Now it got interesting. Time to bring out the “systems”. The Symposium Ultra shelf with the RollerBlock double stacks and The HRS M3 shelf with the Vortex footers. This was to see what something closer to the full HRS and Symposium rack would attain. What resulted was an obvious improvement that shows that the more you do to isolate the better the result.

The HRS and Symposium shelf/footer combos bested anything else I tried previously and with a large margin. Just better in every way. But which one was better then the other??? Much harder to say.

The Symposium system improved clarity, resolution, provided layering that I had not heard before, and deepened the soundstage a touch. The trailing edge became extended and very well defined. Very very nice.

The HRS system gave MORE. More dynamics, more bass, more extension, more wow, more sizzle, more live.

Both are awesome and both provide dramatic improvements in system performance overall. But which one do I want?!? Oh man that’s a hard question!!! Can I get the best of both worlds? Maybe by using one rack and the other footers....

My friend was concerned that a whole rack of HRS “MORE” might be too much MORE. And an HRS rack would literally be twice as expensive as the Symposium rack.

So there you have it. I can’t go wrong with either but they DO have different voicing. Clearly a full shelf/footer or rack/shelf/footer system surpasses what footers alone can do. 

I shall perseverate and let you all know my decisions. 

@mattnshilp, Interesting review,thanks. I came across this brand on WBF where it has good user reviews: http://stacore.pl/en/

I’m not a dealer for Stacore or have anything to do with Stacore. Anyhow it seems that they only sell direct. They work on a damped pneumatic basis.

For our studio I have been experimenting with silk thread isolation furniture of our own design, which has turned out to be extremely effective. Some customers have said they want one, so I’m going to make on a custom bespoke basis. I can send you a photo by PM if you like? I haven’t yet tried any footers under yet to see if it further improves isolation, so your review was timely. 

Matt, thanks for doing this.  I have heard the HRS systems in so many places and they are amazing.  I don't think it would be MORE of everything or overkill staying within the system. If it was, then that would lose the point of what their engineers are trying to achieve.  Same with Symposium.  If it was all of their gear, then would there be TOO much detail etc....?  No, I doubt that would be teh case.  I think there becomes the point of diminishing returns, just like everything else. 

What I'd LOVE to see happen next (and I forgot to text you this), if for you to get Sam to bring two of his active isolation platforms his imports from Germany I believe, that are used for special microscopes.  As you know they are out of this world expensive, but I don't think you need a special rack for them.  To me, that is the next logical step in your journey to isolation 101.

@mattnshilp   Thanks for sharing your findings. Very informative and good to know your specific results/outcomes.

I just spoke with the guys at Symposium after reporting to them my findings. He said he was not surprised. He designed his equipment to be ultimately neutral top to bottom, and I can absolutely attest to this. It is REALLY good stuff!!! I’m going to listen again Wednesday. I need another session to confirm and reinforce my findings. Then I need to decide which one gets me more lost in the music and gets my toes tapping.

Hey I may have arranged for the top level Tidal DAC to grace my room. That should be fun!!!