Preamp Deal of the Century

Actually my comments were meant to convey that I am interested in hearing more about the Zazen phono preamp that Bwhite mentioned. Getting my motor running.

They had nothing to do with thoughts of hum or vibration.

These are not "just damping devices", as stated by the audiotweak. They also help ameliorate field energy, a real issue in almost all systems, with some being more sensitive to this than others. As someone pointed out Mick's pre is made in the Outback 'down unda', in an area with much less rf saturation than most of all the US cities. I would think it wise to let each listener make his or her own decision.
Also, as an observation on the comments of theaudiotweak, nothing that I have ever heard sounds like real music dynamically or otherwise, because of the enormous problems in the recording process and the limitations of playback capabilities in all gear, from speakers to amps, and throughout the entire chain. Also, I would personally like to hear any system anyhere that offers "all the dynamics contained in live music", as stated by Theaudiotweak, but no such thing exists at this point in our technology.
That aside, if the idea of cleaning up your system from these field effects and microphonics, appeals to you, and don't mind trying some fun project, and you need help building it, you can email me.

The basic idea here is to rid a given product such as Mick's preamp from "ringing" due to microphonics, or a cd player from going into read error mode.
How exactly can a product such as this, designed for this purpose, limit the amplifiers innate current capabilities? It can't! That is simply impossible.
"Not conducive to the dynamic...structure"...audiotweak, completely misunderstands, the laws of physics here. A product that damps out microphonic energy and shunts rf, and stray energy fields, can in no way, actually limit the desired and stated, accurate output of the amplifier. The current capablility, stability of the amp, how it handles back emf from the speaker all play into that, but a device such as this would not, could not, in any way, limit the dynamic output of any amp, and therefore the "dynamic structure" of any music. This can only rid the product of unwanted vibrations which can in fact, negatively effect its intended output.
As I stated, Gryphon, a highly respected manufacturer, conrad johnson, and most great engineers try to achieve this interally. They recognize this problem and try to 'engineer' these dreaded issues out of their products. None of their solutions, "floating the chasis" in the instance of conrad, limit dynamic output, and neither does this.
So Mick/Supratek fans can improve the sound of their favorite preamp, eliminating the negatives by using such a device, and it is a relatively inexpensive thing to build.
Good listening,
Larry R. Staples

Dampening Larry is not a good thing but a bad thing! Dampening is but a tourniquet only there to impede the natural flow. The natural flow may be from a good design or a poor design but impede the dampening does. Let us hear from the outset the good and the bad, unimpeded from all the sluuuuuring of lead and slow blurrrr and dulling effects of rubber and their sister products! If a cello with its attached end pin were to be placed upon a leaden rubber base and the cello strings were plucked would you not dampen and alter the natural dynamics of this beautiful instrument? There are much better materials for EMI and RFI shielding and efficient resonant energy transfer than that slow sleepy leaden train. Tom

I got a platform from Larry 15 years ago. Countless components have come and gone in that time but I won't let go of my platform. Every year or so I decide I don't really need this thing and take it out from under my cd transport. When I do, the images shrink. The music is not as open or dynamic. Needless to szay it goes right back in the system. I think it sounds more musical and is better in every way. Unfortunately I only have one so I can't multiply the benefits by using one on the amp or pre-amp. You don't need to be an audio pig to hear the huge difference this thing makes. I'm not at all technical so I can't really speak to how or why it works but it does. If Larry ever finds a couple in his basement, I'd buy the damn things right now!!