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Vibration Control

I have always been skeptical about the effectiveness of under component vibration absorption/control equipment. I can't say that I have tried all of them but the ones I have,  I found them to have little effect or adverse effect on the music. Furthermore I have always expected that a good rack should do the job just fine and I use Finite Elemente reference equipment to do just that.

Well to my amazement I recently had the opportunity to try out a product from Zanden Audio. Yes Zanden audio  the master Japanese electronics Guru who gave us 5000 Dac and the great 1200 Phono stage. A new product ZVA-1 ( Zanden Vibration Absorption).  These little round rubber like material with a steel disc atop sit underneath the feet of your components. I am told they will even work under speaker but I did not attempt to shift mine.

I placed these under my Phono, Line stage and power amp and put on an LP. I was amazed at the impact on the sound. If I am to summarize the impact,  the whole sound just cleaned up and not by a small margin,  it was considerable. 

I was won over and purchased the 12 I listened to and as an owner of a fairly expensive system the few hundred dollars I spent on the 12 discs was the best value for money upgrade I have made in some considerable years.

For anyone that does not have any Vibration treatment under their components I would highly recommend you check these out.

For those of you that have something I would be interested to hear their experience with whatever they have.
128x128rainteaut
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
There is often talk here of "repeatability" when folks try different tweaks.  By changing the footers in my arsenal, I can always detect sonic changes.  The trick is finding the best combination of footers and mass loading of the component chassis to yield the most desirable results.  

I am having best results with a combination of Herbie's Audio Labs regular Tenderfeet and Firm Tenderfeet.  Years ago I went all in with Black Diamond Racing cones and pucks but have found them, with my current upgraded system, to impart a hardness to the sound.  Going back and forth between them and Herbie's the problem area for the BDR stuff is in the upper midrange.  Here is where my personal listening tastes come in as I cannot tolerate an emphasis in that frequency range.

Bottom line...I cannot see how any system can reach its full potential without dealing with floor and air borne vibrations/resonances.  It takes trial and error and considerable patience but the efforts will be rewarded with a more satisfying system.  🎼


lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
What is the price and where did you purchase?
I use Herbies, myrtle wood blocks, and DH Cones depending on the component and situation.
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@lowrider57  Are your questions referencing my post above?  If so, what product do you want info on?
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
@hifiman5 , sorry, I was addressing the OP. I can see why you responded since we are in agreement on how footers can affect the overall sonics of a system.

@rainteaut... pricing of the Zanden Vibration Absorption?


browndt
97 posts
 
In my opinion the best thing that I have done for my system is to have a custom made walnut and maple unit made by Custom Wood Racks.
It cleaned up everything dramatically, I mean dramatically. They will
custom design a rack for you system that will fit it exactly and that will
have exceptional stability and integrity while minimizing resonance.
Mine weights 320 lbs and they delivered it to my door and placed it.
This firm is run by an experienced furniture maker in South Carolina
that uses only the best wood from the area. He has many years of 
audio experience and knows both tube and SS systems.

They are on Audiogon as "Custom Wood Racks". I have no business connection with them.

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