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The Best Isolation/ Vibration Footers per component - what's your experience?

Hi everyone,

There are probably a dozen of threads out there on Isolation/ Vibration footers out there, but there hasn't been thus far one been that combines the following two assumptions:

1. Isolation/ Vibration effectiveness differs per type of component (from source to speaker).
2. The above with Most Popular brands available as per July 2020.

Some of the most recognised brands thus far:
  
  • Arya Audio
  • Artesania Audio
  • Aurios
  • Black Diamond Racing
  • Critical Mass Systems
  • Gingko
  • Harmonic Resolution Systems
  • Harmonix
  • Iso-Acoustics
  • Shun Mook
  • Silent Running Audio
  • Star Sound Technologies
  • Stillpoints
  • Symposium
  • Townshend

The reason for starting this thread is that in the past few months I have been reading that the Critical Mass Centerstage 2 footers are beating all or most of the above solutions from the other named brands. However, it seems that the Arya Audio Revopods are also beating most of the brands in some high-end select forums and groups as well. 

Do you use and or have/ had any experience with the above and where did you place them and why?

Here is my setup currently.

1. Source/ Network player: Star Sound Technologies Sistrum platform
2. Pre-Amp: No footer yet (Artesania Audio rack)
3. Amplifier: No footer yet (Artesania Audio rack)
4. Power conditioner: Harmonic Resolution Systems Nimbus & HRS platform footers
5. Power supplies for source: Stillpoints
6. Router: Stillpoints
7. Speakers: Stillpoints

I found out that this works the best in my system, but would like to know your experience as I found that using these footers and their effectiveness really depends on the component. Specifically, I would like to hear your experience with Arya Audio and Centerstage 2 footers?
128x128richardhk
richardhk's avatar
richardhk OP
39 posts
 
The bass tightened up but it was all there this time. The soundstage widened and deepened. I even gained some imaging-which is not the strong suit of these excellent loudspeakers. I was going to return the Orea Indigos. Now, I don’t think so. I will likely remove them from the preamp for a while, and then replace them under the preamp and remove them from the amp to see if the benefit is mostly from one or the other.
Yes, I have tried just about every type you can imagine. Stillpoints, Mag-Levs, solid panzerholz wood blocks, various carbon fiber cones...
I am very impressed by Isoacoustics at the moment.

How did the Stillpoints work for you? Which did you try and where? In general, the Stillpoints are still reviewed better, but are more sensitive to placement.
fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
938 posts
 
How did the Stillpoints work for you? Which did you try and where? In general, the Stillpoints are still reviewed better, but are more sensitive to placement.

They are every bit as good, maybe better. Just very expensive. I kept one set, which are under my Garrard 301 as you can see in my profile. 
kennyc
1,227 posts
 
From what I’ve researched, the Critical Mass Center Stage 2 seem to be the best by a significant amount. For most positive reviews I’d expect perceivable, good, very good, and the very rare great, after around 10 days of declined performance, the system settles to a WoW (sorry, had to choose some descriptor)! Now I equate their descriptions as at least to the level of a major component upgrade. At say around $1k per set, is the component upgrade worth it? At $5k for 5 component upgrades, some would say this is a bargain.

Yeah, I know for some of you this may sound like abstract dribble, but if you get what I’m trying to communicate, then maybe you’ll benefit... or not ...
tuberollin
42 posts
 
+1 for AVRoomService EVTs. Jim Smith knows what he's talking about. If I hadn't already bought some other iso products for most components I would have many more than the 8 I purchased. The effects were instantly recognizable.
ron17
607 posts
 
I use a combination of isolation for my system. Under server: Stillpoints Ultra 6's / amp: Critical Mass Black Diamond shelf & Center Stage footers (4) / Under speakers: Nordost SortFut / REL subs: Arya Audio RevOpods / Under conditioner, grounding station and other conditioning products: Ultra 6's and Nordost SortKones (TC).  

I have mixed and matched all of the combinations possible with these products and have my preferences.  

I find the SortKones (TC) and the RevOpods equally effective with the RevOpods being warmer and the SortKones (TC) being a little more detailed. SortKones are tall and components tend to slide around a lot. RevOpods are much shorter but also have a hard surface on the narrow end (component side) so components will slide around if pushed or not handled carefully. If space (height) is an issue, the RevOpods will be more accommodating .

The Stillpoints Ultra 6's and the Center Stage footers were far more effective than the above. The Ultra 6's are extremely detailed, focused and somewhat analytical. The center Stage footers (1" & 1.5") are just as detailed but add a warmth and realness that the Ultra 6's don't. The holographic layering of the soundstage with the CS footers is spooky good. After talking with other Critical Mass owners and dealers I decided to add a Critical Mass shelf to the mix. Using the shelf in conjunction with the CS footers was cumulative and by far the best I have ever heard under a component. I plan to add 1 more CM shelf and 4 more CS footers.....Critical Mass is ridiculously expensive but nothing comes close to what their products can do for your system.  
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