How did you install them? Under the felt feet of the power supply? Do you still have the amp and power supply stacked?
Stillpoints Ultra Vs - Wilson X1/Grand Slamms
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How did you install them? Under the felt feet of the power supply? Do you still have the amp and power supply stacked?
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
I'm seeing more and more of the Stillpoints on top of carpet Christian. I know I'll never take mine off. Now I'm looking to put them under the amps and other components.
My experience has been the the Ultra 5s are far superior to the Ultra SS under all components. I A/B under preamp, phono amp and CD player and it wasn't close.
I would imagine that if Stillpoints provided a base with spikes to penetrate the carpet that would be better.
The stock feet are secured from the inside with a allen type bolt that is inaccessible without removing bolted in circuit board assemblies. No thanks.
I tried using 4 but would not level on a granite platform stand, so I used 3 in a tripod config. 1 towards the front middle and two towards the back left and right. If you were to remove the stock feet and use those holes, the ultra 5's would extend under the heat sinks with is not perfectly level with the base plate of the amp. The 3 Ultra's are supporting both the power supply and gain stage chassis of the the amp stacked. I suppose if you have the room and de-stack, that would be optimal..and twice the stillpoints.
Christian, I'm not surprised at all. I put two Vibraplanes with 130 lb steel ballast plates under my Pass XA160.5 amps and noticed the same improvement at the frequency extremes as extension in both directions seemed to improve. But there was also an increase in overall clarity, impact and detail. Syntax (Audiogon) suggested this use after first isolating the turntable. I'm glad I did. I may look into Stillpoints for under my Mini 2s. Thanks for the reports.
I just tried the Ultra 5s under my XS300s. Not much difference if any. I have Silent Running Audio Ohio XL plus isolation platforms that were made specifically for the XS300s so that may contribute to my experience.
I currently have 24 Ultra 5s in my system. As I stated in a previous post, they didn't work with my SME 30/12. Sounded horrible.
I plan on completely removing all of the Ultra 5s when my HRS MXR rack arrives. Should be interesting to see how that works out.
I plan on completely removing all of the Ultra 5s when my HRS MXR rack arrives. Should be interesting to see how that works out.
It's heaven right now Peter. I hesitate to fool with it any more but unfortunately I can't help myself.
Definitely please post! Very interested as well. I have the HRS M3 shelf under my Transport along with 3 HRS/nimbus couplers (and a Stillpoints LPI on top). I also use the HRS dampers, nimbus couplers on top/under the CJ, DAC, DAC PSU and QX4. Would love to hear your thoughts on the big MXR rack.
Hi guys...the local distributor here came by to install an Entreq grounding unit which I am trialing over the weekend.
And he put 3 Ultra 5s under my power conditioner just for kicks. Darn it if I wasn't already regretting it...why the heck do these things work so well? Bought them. Still thinking about the grounding unit which is really, really good. But it took 30 seconds to know the 3 Stillpoints made the whole system better...and 3 minutes to make up my mind to buy them.
I suppose the good thing is I am really really not thinking about upgrading speakers!!! The greater and greater purity of the system continues to allow the speakers to shine more and more...is that a rationalization or what?!
And he put 3 Ultra 5s under my power conditioner just for kicks. Darn it if I wasn't already regretting it...why the heck do these things work so well? Bought them. Still thinking about the grounding unit which is really, really good. But it took 30 seconds to know the 3 Stillpoints made the whole system better...and 3 minutes to make up my mind to buy them.
I suppose the good thing is I am really really not thinking about upgrading speakers!!! The greater and greater purity of the system continues to allow the speakers to shine more and more...is that a rationalization or what?!
Hi guys...the local distributor here came by to install an Entreq grounding unit which I am trialing over the weekend.
And he put 3 Ultra 5s under my power conditioner just for kicks. Darn it if I wasn't already regretting it...why the heck do these things work so well? Bought them. Still thinking about the grounding unit which is really, really good. But it took 30 seconds to know the 3 Stillpoints made the whole system better...and 3 minutes to make up my mind to buy them.
I suppose the good thing is I am really really not thinking about upgrading speakers!!! The greater and greater purity of the system continues to allow the speakers to shine more and more...is that a rationalization or what?!
Aren't you going to be auditioning Altairs in the near future?
Aren't you going to be auditioning Altairs in the near future?
Hey Madfloyd...yes, its called an exploratory expedition. I am thinking long-term...very long-term. But the only way to know the direction i'm going is to explore early...these are big purchases. Are you joining on the expedition by the way?
Hi guys...the local distributor here came by to install an Entreq grounding unit which I am trialing over the weekend.
And he put 3 Ultra 5s under my power conditioner just for kicks. Darn it if I wasn't already regretting it...why the heck do these things work so well? Bought them. Still thinking about the grounding unit which is really, really good. But it took 30 seconds to know the 3 Stillpoints made the whole system better...and 3 minutes to make up my mind to buy them.
I suppose the good thing is I am really really not thinking about upgrading speakers!!! The greater and greater purity of the system continues to allow the speakers to shine more and more...is that a rationalization or what?!
Lloyd....Great to know about the Entreq , any comparisons v/s the Tripoint Troy as yet . In what areas does the grounding unit help . Are you using the Entreq ground wires as well ? Look forward to your input
I have connected the Entreq Silver Tellus (and 2 silver Apollo grounding cables) to the CJ GAT and to the Zanden DAC itself. It uses a special wood-encased RCA connector (no pin) that goes around the outside of the RCA jack because nearly all RCA jacks apparently are grounded to everything else inside the chassis...so no need to hunt and find a particular long screw that is also grounded internally.
After 10 minutes, there were differences, but after 20 hours, that is when things took off. Now bear in mind, I have NOT removed it from my system because it takes a while for things to settle in...something about how grounding, emi, rfi works, whatever...so I will remove it tomorrow. I am told to expect that my movie projector screen image will feel like it went to a large TV. we shall see.
However, it is not so much size, as it is that:
- noise floor drops and pin drops start to come thru...my reference is a pretty sick system where the living room floor concrete was poured separately so they don't touch to avoid floor vibrations affecting equipment. and I am much closer than I thought one piece of equipment could take me...in spite of lots of isolation in my system...guess mechanical is not everything
- more and more instruments not only begin to space out and take their own spot within the soundstage, but more importantly, each instrument starts to have its own dedicated line (as in real life) which I can more clearly follow without the bleeding together of instruments when things get busy. I would say I can probably now follow about 6 individual instruments without any problem whatsoever...getting towards 10-12 instruments, and the natural mix of dynamics, shadings, etc will start to bleed for even a nanosecond on most any system...even in real life frankly. But what's nice is that this does not happen with as many as six instruments now...which means on jazz ensembles, I can not only follow each instrument, but the noise floor dropping allows me to follow more details than I suspect the recording engineer may have originally intended back in 1963...which is quite cool.
- Finally, this lends a solidity to each instrument which I have NEVER experience from any piece of equipment I have used...the nordost qx4 made individual music lines more understandable...in a way no other equipment has for me yet. This piece combines the weight and impact of cones with the alacrity of electrostatics such that the spacing and air you get with electrostatitcs is suddenly filled with the weight of a cone...and thus each instruments starts to become carved out of space into quite a hard form.
Again, these are all impressions and the words I use are often used in audio...I will have more to say once I pull this thing out.
As for Troy, I heard the Troy a long, long time ago in a galaxy far far away. I have a good friend who has it...in fact, the one who poured his living room floor separately...and he is enthralled. I may try to find a way to hear it as well, since either piece is an investment at this price point.
more to follow...
After 10 minutes, there were differences, but after 20 hours, that is when things took off. Now bear in mind, I have NOT removed it from my system because it takes a while for things to settle in...something about how grounding, emi, rfi works, whatever...so I will remove it tomorrow. I am told to expect that my movie projector screen image will feel like it went to a large TV. we shall see.
However, it is not so much size, as it is that:
- noise floor drops and pin drops start to come thru...my reference is a pretty sick system where the living room floor concrete was poured separately so they don't touch to avoid floor vibrations affecting equipment. and I am much closer than I thought one piece of equipment could take me...in spite of lots of isolation in my system...guess mechanical is not everything
- more and more instruments not only begin to space out and take their own spot within the soundstage, but more importantly, each instrument starts to have its own dedicated line (as in real life) which I can more clearly follow without the bleeding together of instruments when things get busy. I would say I can probably now follow about 6 individual instruments without any problem whatsoever...getting towards 10-12 instruments, and the natural mix of dynamics, shadings, etc will start to bleed for even a nanosecond on most any system...even in real life frankly. But what's nice is that this does not happen with as many as six instruments now...which means on jazz ensembles, I can not only follow each instrument, but the noise floor dropping allows me to follow more details than I suspect the recording engineer may have originally intended back in 1963...which is quite cool.
- Finally, this lends a solidity to each instrument which I have NEVER experience from any piece of equipment I have used...the nordost qx4 made individual music lines more understandable...in a way no other equipment has for me yet. This piece combines the weight and impact of cones with the alacrity of electrostatics such that the spacing and air you get with electrostatitcs is suddenly filled with the weight of a cone...and thus each instruments starts to become carved out of space into quite a hard form.
Again, these are all impressions and the words I use are often used in audio...I will have more to say once I pull this thing out.
As for Troy, I heard the Troy a long, long time ago in a galaxy far far away. I have a good friend who has it...in fact, the one who poured his living room floor separately...and he is enthralled. I may try to find a way to hear it as well, since either piece is an investment at this price point.
more to follow...
By the way, I can say this. I am getting one of these types of equipment...it does what I have not heard any other piece do. If you are looking to absolutely maintain the voice of your existing system (I am)...and still drive absolute purity, purity, purity into your system by lowering noise floor, getting rid of grunge, hash, etc... (I am)...AND you have already done what you can on isolation and power conditioning...try the Entreq or the Tripoint...they do something different and it is still better than many of the other noise-floor-lowering techniques (Halcyonics, balanced power, dedicated lines, etc).
And this not from me but from 8 other owners who have far far greater time, money invested in isolation and power conditioning than I (think dedicated power, individual lines, balanced power, SOTA power conditioning, Halcyonics active isolation for every component)...and these guys all would not do without their Entreq or their Tripoint Troy. 'Nuff said for now.
And this not from me but from 8 other owners who have far far greater time, money invested in isolation and power conditioning than I (think dedicated power, individual lines, balanced power, SOTA power conditioning, Halcyonics active isolation for every component)...and these guys all would not do without their Entreq or their Tripoint Troy. 'Nuff said for now.
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