2. tech-talk
  3. 170449-3610

Isolation Feet Recommendation for Equipment Rack

I just bought a 4-tier equipment rack to set up a 2nd system. It’s not audiophile standard and comes with standard spikes. The sound quality of the system is decent with this rack but I intend to replace the spikes on the rack with something else in the near future and was wondering about the available options.

The target support weight inclusive of the rack is up to 150 lbs (on a more accurate level it's around 130lbs). Apart from the Isoacoustics Gaia, are there any other worthy options around the same price range? What about the Finite Elemente stuff such as Cerabase and Cerapuc? I have the FE Cerapuc installed on the equipment rack in the main system but did not compare the Cerapuc with anything else for the past 15 years of ownership.

I would appreciate experiences from folks who have switched from spikes to any of the "audiophile standard" isolator options on the equipment rack, going from coupling to decoupling. These isolation feet will need to bring some noticeable if not significant change or improvement to the sound quality of the system after they replaced the spikes on the equipment rack. If the difference is subtle to the point of negligible, or the sound becomes worse instead of better, I’d say forget it.
ryder
Post removed 
vinylvalet
862 posts
 
+3 AV RoomService EVP.
fleschler
1,923 posts
 
I use steel spikes under my two racks into a 12" thick, 3000 psi steel reinforced concrete slab.   Nothing from the ground goes up into my racks.   However, the racks are welded steel with 50/50 mix of sand/shot.  They are relatively damped before getting to the shelves.  Most of my shelves are HDF 1 1/8" and others are 1" granite.   Then a mix of ultra and mini Stillpoints, one Audio Technica footer set and a Townshend Seismic Sink (turntable).  Some components are not footed (COS Engineering D1 DAC has excellent designed spikes/very solid cse and VPI 19-4 which has rubber & springs).   
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
I have just ordered 3 Giai feet to try under the turntable. Stunning that some of the isolation units for speakers cost more than some speakers I've owned. I'm sure the law of diminishing returns applies to these.

Sorry if I wasn't clear, it sure seems you got the wrong message. There is no such thing as diminishing returns, not if you do it right. If you compare for example going from dirt cheap Nobsound to Gaia then yes totally diminishing returns. You pay a small fortune for only slightly better, if that. Mostly what you get is convenience and appearance. Performance is a wash.

Going from Gaia to Townshend, now you pay a lot more but you also get a lot more. So no diminishing returns there. Actually the last time I heard this was moving Pendragon XL to Podiums, it was like a whole system upgrade. Brandon was saying it was like the whole room was treated.

That is why I abhor the diminishing returns canard, it is simply not there other than in the imagination. In reality you are as likely to find accelerating returns. If for example you had some expensive cones or spikes that cost more than $30/set of four then going to Nobsound will be better for less. So it can go both ways making diminishing returns more something comforting to say than anything connected with reality.

You can find out real easy, simply order a set of Nobsound and compare. It will take a bit of effort, they work a lot better after a little trial and error to get the number of springs just right for the load. Once you do that though I think you will find they come real close for a lot less. Then if you do Pods, they are not just a little better than Nobsound, but a lot.

Podiums are a big chunk of the cost of my Moabs. But they elevate them to Ulf level performance. So it is all question of adjusting to the fact the components themselves are not what it's all about, but what you put the component on is equally as important. 
unsound
7,315 posts
 
Locking wheels are convenient.
More to discover