Active versus Passive Isolation Platforms for turntables

[Stacore]

Marc, thank you. But a word of warning: Slate does have its own problems in higher mids!
One has to dampen it properly. We do it in our platforms using a proper CLD technique.
BTW, we are closer and closer to introducing our own small rack,
hosting two of our platforms, optimized for them and with a
central air distribution system.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Sure
My tt uses a v clever system for it's slate plinth, but for the rack I could go down the Rogoz route, they are compatriots of your's, Polish-designed and -manufactured
Do you have any familiarity w their racks?
I'm afraid a bespoke twin Stacore-isolated rack will be beyond my financial means
I only need isoln for my tt

 

[microstrip]

Stacore Advance review by Highfidelity.pl

http://highfidelity.pl/@main-739&lang=en

This review was carried with a CD player. I can easily imagine that fine tuning of the sphere based decoupling system would be extremely critical in this case, as it will could easily resonate with the horizontal modes created by the spinning of the CD disk, affecting the servos and digital stream of the CD readout. As the mass of the CD player is not known to the table designer in advance, using a CD player in such test is interesting, but IMHO precludes any generalization about the sound qualities of the Stacore Advance table.

 

[Tango]

This review was carried with a CD player. I can easily imagine that fine tuning of the sphere based decoupling system would be extremely critical in this case, as it will could easily resonate with the horizontal modes created by the spinning of the CD disk, affecting the servos and digital stream of the CD readout. As the mass of the CD player is not known to the table designer in advance, using a CD player in such test is interesting, but IMHO precludes any generalization about the sound qualities of the Stacore Advance table.

I think with limited time a reviewer normally has for each product, CD player is actually a good testing monkey. It vibrates alright. If test instead with a tt, the suspension of the tt can also influence the outcome. Imo, good isolation platform should not have many prerequisites. The cms rack has some kind of ball bearing under the platform I dont know if you would call this sphere based decoupling system or not. But cms can use universally with any audio gears on it. If a passive isolation involves with more tuning, the more expensive Herzan seems a lot less fuzzy to me.:b

 

[Stacore]

Deam Microstrip,

I'm not sure what you mean by tuning of the sphere system, but what I meant was tuning of the pressure of the pneumatical system.
The bearings need no tuning (neither I can imagine how to do it apart from changing the bearings balls perhaps).

Cheers,

 

[Stacore]

Sure
My tt uses a v clever system for it's slate plinth, but for the rack I could go down the Rogoz route, they are compatriots of your's, Polish-designed and -manufactured
Do you have any familiarity w their racks?
I'm afraid a bespoke twin Stacore-isolated rack will be beyond my financial means
I only need isoln for my tt

Dear Marc,

Unfortunately I'm not directly familiar with Rogoz. Hope to listen with them one day.
As for our 2 piece rack, the idea is to make it flexible: The two shelves will be
easily changeable by the user from a simple CLD damped slate (yet to be introduced) to Basic to Advanced,
with the rack optimized for the latter two
The rationale is to have a TT/cd/server sitting on top and a preamp/dac/psu below.
Cheers,

 

[bonzo75]

I use Rogoz. No idea how they do though as never compared.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Sure Ked
The price/build quality ratio looks amazing, bulletproof for €1150 4 tier

 

[microstrip]

Deam Microstrip,

I'm not sure what you mean by tuning of the sphere system, but what I meant was tuning of the pressure of the pneumatical system.
The bearings need no tuning (neither I can imagine how to do it apart from changing the bearings balls perhaps).

Cheers,

We can not tune them but they were tuned by the designer. The slope of the cup, bearing diameter and materials strongly affect its performance. Unless I was told by the designer that he specifically tuned them for CD players, that have strong lateral modes due to CD eccentricity, I would not use them in such mode. My Metronome Calypso Reference has such bearing base, specifically tuned for the mass of the player. I have verified that it improves significantly the sound quality of the system. I also have tried putting it under the DCS Vivaldi DAC or other electronics and there was no significant improvement.

 

[Stacore]

Ah, ok, you mean the whole design. We use our own with flat upper races for increased sensitivity.
Cheers,

 

[spiritofmusic]

Jarek, can you explain a bit more re the constrained layer slate you employ in the Stacore?
Are you mixing the slate w other materials to form a composite substance, or are you bonding slate and the other materials in thin opposed layers?

 

[Stacore]

Marc, we are bonding slate with metals using a specifically chosen agent, that serves as the constrained layer.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Sure
My Trans Fi Audio Salvation tt sports a solid Welsh slate plinth
This sits on MagLev isolating feet which give some isoln in the vertical plane
Can you see there being any issue synergising w yr composite slate interface?

 

[Stacore]

Marc, we are quite proud of how dead our composite is so in principle no.
But I'd encourage you to experiment a lot with the plinth-to-platform interface.
Not only with our platform, but with any you will test.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I might in time invest in a Symposium Acoustics Quantum Signature constrained layer platform to insert between the tt and yr Stacore (or other isolating platform)
But only in time, it costs about the same as yr Advanced
I know that Murphys33 on these forums successfully uses Quantums on his Accurion i4 active isoln platforms

 

[Stacore]

3+kEu just for CLD? Not bad, we should review our pricing ....you saw our platform's guts, you know what you are paying for with us

I took a look at your TT. Very nice! A "miniVerdeir" with the maglev plate
FYI, we recently successfully tested Advanced with the Zontek TT,
which is mag lev straight (not inverted) bearing at Zontek's listening room. Some snaps:
https://www.facebook.com/stacoreantivibration/posts/715756825252089

 

[spiritofmusic]

V nice Jarek
Oh, I'm able to get at non dealer factory direct pricing, so Quantum about half the cost of yr Advanced in reality
That's for another day

 

[PeterA]

Atm, I'm not perceiving any isoln deficit
Bass is beautifully articulated and extended, no apparent timing smear, no mistracking
Indeed all is good
And my move to a more neutral, less harsh and reflective room means that what I initially thought was lack of treble energy is now most likely a smoother top end, w less stridency than my prev apartment
So, I don't have any conscious thing I'm looking for, feel I'm missing
But a bit like Entreq, I'll know a superior presentation when I hear it w the Minus K and/or Herzan

Marc, when will you be doing these auditions between Minus K, Herzan, and Stacore? And if you don't perceive any isolation deficit, why are you interested in pursuing increased isolation rather than some other area in your system? Are you still favoring your digital over your analog, or have you worked out your analog issues?

 

[spiritofmusic]

Peter, I have a bad tendency to write a thousand words where ten will do
I had no preconceived notions that grounding, balanced pwr, dedicated lines, even specialist cabling would bring me benefits
Now, after investing big time in Entreq, Westwick 8kVA, Oyaides and Sablon Reservas, my system is transformed
And esp where the room is concerned, $80k+ spent on acoustics has achieved benefits I really thought were not possible
So, my thoughts turn to tt isoln
Analog really coming along, but this is an area I'm guessing could be a marriage made in heaven

 

[bonzo75]

Peter, I have a bad tendency to write a thousand words where ten will do
I had no preconceived notions that grounding, balanced pwr, dedicated lines, even specialist cabling would bring me benefits
Now, after investing big time in Entreq, Westwick 8kVA, Oyaides and Sablon Reservas, my system is transformed
And esp where the room is concerned, $80k+ spent on acoustics has achieved benefits U really thought were not possible
So, my thoughts turn to tt isoln
Analog really coming along, but this is an area I'm guessing could be a marriage made in heaven

80k? Was this room treatment, or isolating the room, where was the bulk? With an acoustician?