If a platform like the Daiza is considered a tweak it would seem you're implying that every other substance or rack other than a CMS platform is considered a tweak to be avoided with CMS footers? Tweak is a pretty meaningless word in this context. My question, which I've put to Joe on another thread, relates to whether a Daiza -- panzerholtz wood with metal footers and a compliant foam between the wood and metal footers -- would likely be a complimentary combination with the CMS footer, or not.
Center Stage 2
- Thread starter steve williams
- Start date
Hi everyone
I just bought a set of the Critical Mass System’s footers CS2M’s (I put them under my Pass Labs XA30.8 amp) and I would never remove them. Once you’ve heard what they can do, you won’t want to be without them. We’ve all tried many of the footers over the years and some were better than others. I’ve found these to be truly different and much better. I’ve recently put them up against Stillpoints Ultra 6’s, Wilson Pedestals, and the Gaia isoacoustics. To my ears, in my system, the CS2M’s just sounded better.
I would recommend starting with one set (4) under one component only. This will make it easier to hear the benefits. They are not designed to go under a turntable or speakers. There is a set made specifically for speaker. I put my new set under my amp (Pass XA30.8). The other brands give immediate results, the CS2M’s do not. They require some patients. There is a settling in period that can take about one to two weeks (some less time, some more) of playing music until they do their thing. The sound of your system will get worse at first. Then you will notice slight improvements. It’s the craziest thing. I don’t understand why, but I hear ir. After the settling in period, you’ll be rewarded with improved clarity, transparency, image focus, and tighter more articulate bass than you’ve ever heard from your system. There is this relaxed, effortless musicality that wasn’t present before you put them in.
With the other brands, I found there was both good and bad. For example, with the Stillpoints, I heard tighter bass but at the expense of less accurate timbre. With the Wilsons, I heard a slightly analytical edge. With the CS2M’s, all positive and absolutely no negative. I bought another set for under my dac and found the affect to be cumulative. I now have them under all my electronics. I understand Joe is working on a set designed specifically for turntables. Can’t wait. Happy new year.
Best regards
Scot
I just bought a set of the Critical Mass System’s footers CS2M’s (I put them under my Pass Labs XA30.8 amp) and I would never remove them. Once you’ve heard what they can do, you won’t want to be without them. We’ve all tried many of the footers over the years and some were better than others. I’ve found these to be truly different and much better. I’ve recently put them up against Stillpoints Ultra 6’s, Wilson Pedestals, and the Gaia isoacoustics. To my ears, in my system, the CS2M’s just sounded better.
I would recommend starting with one set (4) under one component only. This will make it easier to hear the benefits. They are not designed to go under a turntable or speakers. There is a set made specifically for speaker. I put my new set under my amp (Pass XA30.8). The other brands give immediate results, the CS2M’s do not. They require some patients. There is a settling in period that can take about one to two weeks (some less time, some more) of playing music until they do their thing. The sound of your system will get worse at first. Then you will notice slight improvements. It’s the craziest thing. I don’t understand why, but I hear ir. After the settling in period, you’ll be rewarded with improved clarity, transparency, image focus, and tighter more articulate bass than you’ve ever heard from your system. There is this relaxed, effortless musicality that wasn’t present before you put them in.
With the other brands, I found there was both good and bad. For example, with the Stillpoints, I heard tighter bass but at the expense of less accurate timbre. With the Wilsons, I heard a slightly analytical edge. With the CS2M’s, all positive and absolutely no negative. I bought another set for under my dac and found the affect to be cumulative. I now have them under all my electronics. I understand Joe is working on a set designed specifically for turntables. Can’t wait. Happy new year.
Best regards
Scot
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I would use CS2M size 1.0 under all components except your amp and I would use a CS2M size 1.5 under your amp
Wow. Epic. I love it! After years and years and years and years of pretending, I finally understand the meaning of the phrase, "Stupid is as Stupid does". What Stupid does is create a report on feet before they are settled and present the noise as "professional discovery ". And what Stupid is, is not realizing how stupid that is. The settling process is nasty.This is stipulated. To pretend this is new news is, well, stupid.
In the comments section below his video he states he had the footers in place for "months." Maybe just a bad fit for some reason.
I enjoy some of his videos and discussions, but seriously doubt he let them settle in any particular configuration for "months". He changes gear like the rest of us change underwear.
Personally the settling process sounds a bit dauting, and gives me pause as a vinyl-only weekend listener. It would take a LONG time to season the feet with music here, and I don't particularly want to burn hours on any of my cartridges going from good to bad to good again. Is there no way to perform "seasoning" at the factory to reduce user settling time? I have a CMS Maxxum rack & Diamond filters. Does it ease settling time for feet on those CMS filters?
That's doubtful, in my opinion. At the time I developed the CS2 1.5, I had the stereo version of those Boulders in my test product rotation. Mine took 30 days to settle, which I attributed to the very thick bottom plate of the amp. It's a great amp, it just took forever to settle down. Left in, the feet would have settled with the amps based on my personal experience.
It's definitely faster with the racks...similar DNA. But it is real and unavoidable to an unknown degree at the onset.
Actually, no, this isn't possible because settling is component/system specific. They gotta' be under yours.....
Thanks for this really useful thread. I had a question- I know that there are benefits to using 4 rather than 3 footers. I actually have 8 CMS 0.8 footers and a relatively heavy power amp (23kg). Is there any benefit to using >4 CMS footers?
PS, I also have a symposium board, but one of the lower range that has an aluminium top rather than a stainless steel one. It works great with the CMS footers
PS, I also have a symposium board, but one of the lower range that has an aluminium top rather than a stainless steel one. It works great with the CMS footers
If 3 is better than 4, why stop at 4? Have you tried 4 CMS footers beneath the Symposium board, then 4 more CMS footers atop the Symposium with the component resting upon this top layer of footers?Thanks for this really useful thread. I had a question- I know that there are benefits to using 4 rather than 3 footers. I actually have 8 CMS 0.8 footers and a relatively heavy power amp (23kg). Is there any benefit to using >4 CMS footers?
PS, I also have a symposium board, but one of the lower range that has an aluminium top rather than a stainless steel one. It works great with the CMS footers
CS Footers are voiced 4 per set and are sold that way. You only place them under your component.
I would suggest you consider using the CS footers without the damperson top of the unit. Joe always recommends removing other tweaks in the system I think you should try without them and compare. Also it is difficult to tell from your picture but it looks as if the CS footers are under the stock feet of the EMM unit. The CS footers NEVER go under the stock feetI am liking these under my EMM Labs DV2!
Yes.....please
Place the footers somewhere around but not under the stock feet. The CS footer should be taller than the stock footer so that the stock footer is raised off its platform and the unit is supported on the platform by the CS feet. Also remove the dampers from the top of the unit. Wait for the settle in and you will definitely hear a better sound. Make sure all 4 feet are firmly touching the underside of the EMM. If only 3 are firmly attached try moving the 4th around to find an adequate spot to place the footer. If one isn't found, use the shims that came with the feet
Place the footers somewhere around but not under the stock feet. The CS footer should be taller than the stock footer so that the stock footer is raised off its platform and the unit is supported on the platform by the CS feet. Also remove the dampers from the top of the unit. Wait for the settle in and you will definitely hear a better sound. Make sure all 4 feet are firmly touching the underside of the EMM. If only 3 are firmly attached try moving the 4th around to find an adequate spot to place the footer. If one isn't found, use the shims that came with the feet
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