I know this is radical, and you'll probably think me disturbed, by try the LP 1 Isolator....
on your turntable!
Stillpoints Ultra Vs - Wilson X1/Grand Slamms
- Thread starter LL21
- Start date
on your turntable!
Congrats...did you happen to try Ultra 5 on top vs LPI? Just curious...i use LPI on Transport and Ultra 5 on preamp...both are already on top of HRS isolation, and the Stillpoints on top still made a difference. In truth, i felt the Ultra 5 was a bit better even than the LPI used a damper on top.
I can try it. Right now I am trying to figure out how I am going to put them underneath my very heavy amps, solo. I may try using my Wilson X-2 jack.
Christian,
Over on Audiogon, there is a guy just replaced his Halcyonics platform with the Ultra 5s under his turntable. I think his moniker is Tbg and it is in the Analog forum and the thread is isolation under the Sota Cosmos, but I'm not sure.
Over on Audiogon, there is a guy just replaced his Halcyonics platform with the Ultra 5s under his turntable. I think his moniker is Tbg and it is in the Analog forum and the thread is isolation under the Sota Cosmos, but I'm not sure.
What?! Wow...I am a big fan of Stillpoints (clearly)...but that, i did not see coming. Tbg is a pretty seasoned audiophile if i am not mistaken...so particularly interesting if he has replaced a Halcyonics with Ultra 5s...will go and read about it.
I looked up your XS150s...are they 4 separate boxes? Or are the 2 connected on each channel? I managed to do my Velodyne DD18 myself (about the same weight as 1 Pass Box according to the specs.)
If 4 separate boxes, you may need to remove the top box first...then lift up each corner of the bottom box and put the Ultra 5 underneath. Also just curious, are you screwing them in place of the feet...or sliding them underneath?
Actually, its this post from 2012...and yes, Tbg appears to be a huge fan of Stillpoints having replaced his Halcyonics tables with Ultra 5s, a Stillpoints Rack, etc. http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1215203210&openfrom&93&4#93
Interesting the thread itself which Tbg started...was actually about how great the Halcyonics was under his TT in 2008.
I think I mentioned it before but it's worth mentioning again in all of the Ultra 5 euphoria on this site, I placed 4 Ultra 5s under my SME 30/12 and it turned the sound to mud. It took all of 2 minutes to pull them out. Up to this point I don't use any isolation for my SME but will be trying HRS platforms soon. And just for reference sake, I currently have Ultra 5s under every other box that makes up my front end. A total of 20 are being used but they're not magic for everything.
Thanks...and a critical reminder too. I had the same experience with LPI on one end of my Transport...oops. Then moved it to other side and perfect. So agree that one needs to be careful with these. But I too have bought many...12 Ultra 5s...yeesh. that's enough!
BTW, Frank750, I have Transport on HRS nimbus couplers which are on top of HRS M3 platform...all second hand so got lucky. I hope you have good luck with yours...mine works really well...but the LPI on top still made an improvement.
Thanks...and a critical reminder too. I had the same experience with LPI on one end of my Transport...oops. Then moved it to other side and perfect. So agree that one needs to be careful with these. But I too have bought many...12 Ultra 5s...yeesh. that's enough!
BTW, Frank750, I have Transport on HRS nimbus couplers which are on top of HRS M3 platform...all second hand so got lucky. I hope you have good luck with yours...mine works really well...but the LPI on top still made an improvement.
Thanks Lloyd. I've got a MXR double wide rack with M3 platforms including a custom version for the SME coming. It better work well!
Frank, Is you SME 30/12 on the steel ball bearings under the four feet or are the rubber inserts still in place? I have mine on the ball bearings. I have not compared, but was told that the rubber inserts are really only there to protect a nice wooden tabletop and that the turntable is designed to be supported by the ball bearings for best performance. I think they drain energy away from the table more effectively.
Much of the SME design is about how to deal with energy. I think internally generated energy moves down through the feet and structural born energy from below needs to be handled by something like a Vibraplane, or other isolation platform. Please report back on your findings with the HRS platform.
I will look for the recent Tbg post about the StillPoints.
EDIT:
It is in the current EMT table thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1366291836&openmine&zzPeterayer&4&5#Peterayer
Here is some of the text:
04-23-13 Halcro, i think you are entirely right about structural born ... Tbg
04-23-13 Dear thuchan, i remember the most of your pictures about the ... Nandric
04-23-13: Peterayer
Tbg, That is interesting that you replaced the Halcyonics with the StillPoints. Before doing so, did you try the StillPoints between the turntable and the Halcyonics? Could you please describe how the sound changed?
I met the designer of the StillPoints last weekend at the NYC Audio Show. He indeed explained to my friend and me that the SP are designed to drain internal vibrations down from the component as well as isolate it from structural born vibrations coming from below the component. He also explained to us that his products make the most difference when placed under speakers, then electronics and finally under source components like turntables.
Have you tried placing some StillPoints on the plinth of your turntable, assuming there is room?
Peterayer (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-23-13: Tbg
Peterayer, I had two Halcyonics unit with one under the turntable and one under the amp most of the time. I had thought to buy more Halcyonics but the price got outrageous. Really it was the StillPoints Rack that came along first. When I put everything on the SP Rack it was better than my previous sound. I longed for the possibility to have all Halcyonics but could not afford that. Ultimately the guy who bought my Shindo turntable wanted the Halcyonic unit so I sold both. The second Halcyonic went shortly thereafter.
I did try various feet between the Halcyonic and the Shindo but they did little.
I think Paul is wrong about where the greatest benefits of the SP Ultra SSs or Ultra Fives are. On my amps SP Ultra Five on SP Component stands are just outstanding. Once I got rid of the acrylic shelves on the SP Rack, the Ultra SSs and Ultra Minis are also outstanding. The SP Ultra Fives are outstanding under speakers, but four are needed, not just three. In all cases four are better than three, but you have to keep all four in contact with the component.
Most vertical vibration is turned into horizontal vibration which can nowhere and thus is converted into heat.
No my present turntable is a Bergmann Sindre with no real suspension. It is on SP Ultra Fives which are also mounted on a SP Component stand. Initially, I am just going to put the Nantais Lenco Reference where the Bergman is now. The hundred pound weight of the Reference will mean something other than the Mana Stands glass shelf.
Tbg (Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
H-ly Sh-t...nice stuff! Wow...if you have an earthquake, just remember to stand on top of your HRS double-wide! Congrats...and definitely post about that! I do not think i know anyone who has one of those. Andy Payor uses them in his rooms at Rockport...that's about all I have seen, and i have NO doubt they are great. Congrats again.
Somebody must be buying something from HRS. Lead time to get the rack is 9 weeks.
They've got one in the R&D room up at Transparent Audio also. That is a very purpose built room that I have had the pleasure of hearing. Very good sound, though sadly, no turntable.
I bet they are...i just did not think there were too many of the big custom racks being made...then again, they are supposedly transformationally good.
I tried the Ultra's on top of my amps. IMO a waste of money used as a top surface weight. No real difference than the Walker Audio weights I have. The LP1 does make a difference as the technology is flush against the top surface of the component. Ultra 5's need a load...both top and bottom. I have not put them under my amps. Unless I can swap the current feet with the Ultra 5's (meaning they fit flush with the underside of the amp), I will not use them in that application. I am about to hear how they sound under my RTR deck.
Interesting...i found the Ultra 5 to be slightly better than LPI on top of my Transport...i suspect it might be the added weight perhaps? not sure. In any event, i kept the LPI on the transport and moved the Ultra 5 across to the top of the preamp. All good. In speaking with the manufacturer he did say that the loading of the Ultra 5 when on top of a surface is the unit's own weight of the top half. Just as the top half of the Ultra 5 is the loading, it appears than the top of the LPI is the loading as well. The main difference is the technology of the LPI is flush with the surface, whereas the tech is 'buffered' with Ultra 5 due to the lower half being between tech and the surface.
I determined that I need 7 LP1's. That way all components are covered including amps whether I am playing digital, tape or vinyl. The Ultra 5's seem to be working well under my RTR deck. The 5's tightened and focused the bass more and have made the mids and treble more pure and smooth.
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