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Footers- Break In? Such A Change.

So, I know components and cables break in and this has always been a source of mystery, not to mention the EE’s and the naysayers who believe firmly it is just not possible.

I am of the mindset based on my actual experience that electronics need power run through them for a time to perform their best. And that may mean hundreds of hours of electrical energy running through the item to fully form.

So, with this understanding I use this as the preamble to what I will describe next.

Footers. You know those little devices we put under our components, speakers etc., to isolate or stabilize the item.

Well, I must disclose that I have always been a tweaker and have tried many of the accessories we add to get the best out of equipment. I have also tried so many footers, many brands, types, even some DIY etc.

Critical Mass makes racks and footers. I have always wanted their racks, but due to my needed configuration just never have tried a rack. But I have tried the footers. The ones I have are called the Center Stage 2(CM2). I have them in the 1.0 and the 1.5 versions. There is also now a newer version called the 2M.

Anyway, these CM2’s is amazing. When you first place them under the equipment the music becomes dull, soundstage is narrow and the highs/lows are restricted. First comments you will have is; WTH?

But, wait about 7-10 days and these footers really open up and improve in all aspects that is important in sound reproduction.

How the heck a footer breaks in is amazing to me? The only thing that makes sense is that they must be adjusting to the weight that is on top of them and it takes that long to adjust.

Anyway, these are kinda relatively expensive but since the newer versions are now out perhaps you can grab some at a good discount. These will probably be the last footers I will ever own… Maybe?

I highly recommend them, even as strange as they are with break in.

ozzy

128x128ozzy
rolox
180 posts
 

@ozzy  and I have to add, I don't believe it was all in my head. I know sometimes being tired or moody changes your perception of sound, you may think the sound is harsh or lacks musicality for example... BUT not when it comes to bass. Bass is tangible. It's almost physical. You cannot "imagine" a lack of bass, specially in a system where bass is felt by the body, when it disappears, it's not in your head. When that tactility goes away, it's not in your head, it's happening for real, and of course, when it comes back too. My opinion anyways.

ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,219 posts
 

Here is what has just been posted about the Critical Mass footers on another forum by a Critical Mass dealer.

"What people fail to understand tis that this Footer is based on Second Law of Thermodynamics and materials physics and essentially is dumping the entropy and finding a new point of equilibrium. It has nothing to do Wirth the weight of the unit"

Not sure I understand this though.

ozzy

antigrunge2
1,331 posts
 

‘Dumping the Entropy’? Definitely gobbledygook! I’d love to have a physical explanation for superseding the Law of Entropy…might be really handy for cleaning up my den!

ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,219 posts
 

It really does sound mysterious and confusing. But theses footers are really something. That is, in improving the sonics of my components.

ozzy

barrysandy
192 posts
 

I first tried CMS footers a couple of years ago on a lark and ended up with 11 sets of them I liked them so much.  As to their explanation of why they work, I don't think they're doing themselves any favors. Totally unintelligible.  I can live with the break-in time - everything breaks in. 

Recently tried the CMS LS loudspeaker feet. These were even better in terms of sonic improvements.  It's a shame they're so expensive.  I normally wouldn't pay a lot for this kind of stuff, but I'm at the end of the line as all my components are keepers. 

I generally wouldn't advise anyone to focus on cables, footers, and other tweaks  unless their system was pretty much settled and what they're going to keep for the long hall.  

 

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