2. misc-audio
  3. 148861-75799

Ingress Audio Engineering

I recently discovered the benefits of isolation. Don't know how many of you are familiar with Barry Diament's  recommendations for his hip joints. The recommendation for the economical DIY set up worked well for my stereo; (lightly inflated bike innertubes, wooden egg holders supporting stainless steel balls).

http://www.barrydiamentaudio.com/vibration.htm

A month ago I bought Isoacoustic Oreo's. 3 per component (weight appropriate) and was very impressed...at first. After several days of settling my music sounded dull and lifeless. I reread the optimal weight recommendations, re-calibrated weight limits with temporary improvements. To my disappointment I realized the Oreo's could only be compressed (especially after the suction seal was formed between them and the component or platform the component sat on). Sure they rocked in all directions, but they didn't glide in all directions. Only horizontal isolation was taking place so I coupled the Oreo's with Barry's economic hip joints which has greatly improved the SQ. I'm loving it but I still feel there's room for improvement. Mainly because I own the Hfiman HE-6SE HP's and I run them through my power amp's speaker taps. So I want Barry's upgraded hip joints under my amp. I'm interested in Ingress Audio's vibration isolation rollerblocks.

http://www.ingress-engineering.ca/products-and-services.php
I've looked up info about their level 2's and 3's but specifics on their differences aren't given. I know Barry says the blocks should be machined smooth to a certain degree. I left a message with Ingress, but I'm impatient and wondering if perhaps the level 2's aren't as smooth as the 3's. The smoother, the greater the improvements. My question is does anyone know the differences between their Level 2 and Level 3 rollerblocks?
mewsickbuff
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

@geoffkait, by "secrets" I meant how your springs differ from the commonly-available, off-the-shelf springs. I doubt you make them yourself, but you do cryogenetically freeze them. Anything else you care to divulge? ;-) Not that I expect you to; I wouldn’t!

In one of his video (viewable on You Tube), Max Townshend demonstrates the difference between his Seismic Pod and a bare spring of the same rate. Very interesting.

toetapaudio
474 posts
 
We import Ingress footers into the U.K., available for free test drives if interested.

Our best set up so far, consists of three Ingress cup and rollers with titanium balls arranged in an equilateral triangle around the centre of mass of the component sitting on top of a 30mm thick plate of slate which is cut square on plan. This in turn sits on 12 inch diameter inner tubes inflated to around 3 psi. We use a digital gauge. We have found tubes by Specialized to keep their inflation better than some other brands.

Result: massive improvements in sound quality, one of the best and cheapest upgrades you can make imo. We sell other brands of better known isolators but they don’t come close to this set up. If you are concerned about losing air in the tube overtime then you could use something like IsoAcoustics Orea’s but they don’t work as well as the tubes in this set up and only cost £3 each. Geoff’s springs might be the answer under the slate platform, I will try.

We also use Ingress footers in a double cup arrangement under our solid maple audio furniture to further isolate. If your speakers don’t have an effective isolation system (like spikes for example) then the Ingress footers should be used there as well. We have no need because the Boenicke speakers we sell have a built in swing base system which comprises of a metal bridge which is hung from cables with a ceramic roller ball and bronze cup arrangement built into the front underside of the speakers. This works a treat.

Btw we are looking into cementing on another valve on the outside of the tubes so it would then be possible to inflate without moving the equipment.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
If I told you they wouldn’t be secrets, would they?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
My springs are more cost effective than the pods. Besides, I don’t advertise or recommend my springs for speakers, anyway, except medium-size speakers and subwoofers (low center of gravity). My springs are primarily for amps, turntables, CD players and subwoofers. I suspect most of the cost of the Townshend pods is the attached framework that allows the pods to be widely spaced underneath speakers with a high center of gravity,

Even when speakers ARE isolated, front end components are still subject to low frequency vibration from the floor. My springs allow someone to *cost effectively* isolate everything -except big tall heavy speakers. Actually, a large 2’x2’ maple board under the speakers will solve the problem using my springs for speakers with a high center of gravity. The 2’x2’ board allows a wide pattern for my springs, thus building up the lateral support needed for stability. Problem solved!
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Uneven loads are handled by moving one or more spring slightly so the load is equally distributed among the springs. 
More to discover