Center Stage 2

[steve williams]

Would it be ok if I put the CS2 feet directly on the suspended wooden floor and put the amps on them?

the short answer is definitely. You might be quite shocked

 

[bazelio]

Many thanks for your test and your reply, that's what I thought.
I've got a set of CS2 1.0 for testing purposes recently. Unfortunately the dealer couldn't tell me if my Symposium rack and platform could be a problem. I put the CS2 feet on my Quantum platform in exchange of my Rollerblocks, because I wanted a direct comparison against the Rollerblocks.
Immediately after the insertion it was really a revelation with a deep and wonderful natural soundstage with superb layering.
But as you know the slow settling kicked in and I waited 10 days to give them a serious listening. Interestingly the extreme deep soundstage and layering from the first try was gone, it then was similar to the Rollerblocks. Still it was quite good, but a little bit soft and not what I've expected. I had to return them after 14 days, therefore I couldn't do more tests.
Please don't get me wrong, I'm still very interested in the CS2 feet. I'm looking forward to do a second test run if it's ok with my dealer. My own subjective experience just proves Joe's recommendation to remove everything else.

With the Rollerblock Jr, you won't experience the flattening of previous soundstage depth. This affect on the soundstage seems to be related to damping or absorbing. The Rollerblocks perform a combination of coupling and absorbing/dissipating. Rollerblock Jr's don't have any absorbing material. I experienced a similar result with CS2 in my system to what you've described, but directly on my rack, not Symposium platforms.

 

[steve williams]

With the Rollerblock Jr, you won't experience the flattening of previous soundstage depth. This affect on the soundstage seems to be related to damping or absorbing. The Rollerblocks perform a combination of coupling and absorbing/dissipating. Rollerblock Jr's don't have any absorbing material. I experienced a similar result with CS2 in my system to what you've described, but directly on my rack, not Symposium platforms.

FWIW Center Stage does NOT cause flattening of the soundstage but rather a very believable immersive effect abnd if you use his speaker feet the immersive effect is so huge that you become part of the soundstage. IOW a you are there feeling

 

[micro13]

the short answer is definitely. You might be quite shocked

Thanks for your short but meaningful answer, Steve. Then I'll try them directly on the floor with my amps and report my findings.
Would you also suggest that it's better to use the CS2 on an ordinary board or table instead of the Symposium ISIS rack?

 

[micro13]

With the Rollerblock Jr, you won't experience the flattening of previous soundstage depth. This affect on the soundstage seems to be related to damping or absorbing. The Rollerblocks perform a combination of coupling and absorbing/dissipating. Rollerblock Jr's don't have any absorbing material. I experienced a similar result with CS2 in my system to what you've described, but directly on my rack, not Symposium platforms.

Sorry, I didn't mean that the Rollerblocks flatten the soundstage, It's just that right after inserting the CS2 under my pre-Dac, the soundstage got deeper and better layered. After ten days of settlement this extreme deep and layered soundstage was gone but still very good at the level I knew from my own system with Rollerblocks.
I'm using Rollerblocks for years and I'm still happy with them. But I think the CS2 could be better when used appropriate. Let's see, I'll try to get another set for proper testing.

 

[Solecky]

I have CS2s under all my equipment for a little while now (6 weeks plus), recently my sound became diffuse, less focused and the noise floor went up I am losing details that used to emerge so clearly. The only thing I can try to explain it with is that on Monday I noticed 2 of the 4 CS2s under under each mono amp were not touching flat bottom but a perforated section at the bottom of the amps, it is possible the CS2s are re-settling causing the sound issues mentioned? If yes how long to resetttle?

 

[steve williams]

I have CS2s under all my equipment for a little while now (6 weeks plus), recently my sound became diffuse, less focused and the noise floor went up I am losing details that used to emerge so clearly. The only thing I can try to explain it with is that on Monday I noticed 2 of the 4 CS2s under under each mono amp were not touching flat bottom but a perforated section at the bottom of the amps, it is possible the CS2s are re-settling causing the sound issues mentioned? If yes how long to resetttle?

I am only just seeing this. My simple answer is that the problems that resulted almost certainly were as a result of improper placement of 2 of the four feet. You need to reposition those 2 feet

 

[Kingsrule]

Steve

The bottom of the Extreme is perforated Where do u place the 1.5"s ?

 

[steve williams]

My 1.5' sit adjacent to the stock feet and function perfectly

 

[joelavrencik]

Thanks for your short but meaningful answer, Steve. Then I'll try them directly on the floor with my amps and report my findings.
Would you also suggest that it's better to use the CS2 on an ordinary board or table instead of the Symposium ISIS rack?

Hi micro 13

I have a suggestion: fold the silk bag each foot comes with into a small square and place it under each foot. The bag would work as buffer between the large metal surface and the foot.

If you're up for trying this, please let me know how the experiment turns out.

Thanks!

Joe

 

[joelavrencik]

With the Rollerblock Jr, you won't experience the flattening of previous soundstage depth. This affect on the soundstage seems to be related to damping or absorbing. The Rollerblocks perform a combination of coupling and absorbing/dissipating. Rollerblock Jr's don't have any absorbing material. I experienced a similar result with CS2 in my system to what you've described, but directly on my rack, not Symposium platforms.

Hi Bazello

May I ask what is the rack you are using and the component you tried CS2 with.

Thank you

Joe

 

[joelavrencik]

Thanks for your short but meaningful answer, Steve. Then I'll try them directly on the floor with my amps and report my findings.
Would you also suggest that it's better to use the CS2 on an ordinary board or table instead of the Symposium ISIS rack?

Hi micro 13

I checked out the Symposium website. Let me say they are a long respected company which produces high quality products. Having said this, our companies use different materials in our construction processes and I think therein lies the reason for the performance issue you are experiencing. In my experience, CS2 products are not compatible with suspended stainless steel shelves.

Again, Symposium is a fine company. We simply differ in approach and results. In order to experience the performance potential of CS2 you would need a buffer between the SS rack shelves and the aluminum feet. Folding the silk bags the CS2 come with and slotting them under the CS2 feet should work, I think. I wish it were not the case, but I don't know of any way around it.

I sincerely hope this helps.

All the Best

Joe

 

[bazelio]

Hi Bazello

May I ask what is the rack you are using and the component you tried CS2 with.

Thank you

Joe

Joe, sure:

Rack: An in-wall installation permanently secured to wall studs. Constructed of high grade voidless 1.5" plywood. It's either birch or apple ply; I don't recall now.

CS2 usages: under a tube phono, under its tube rectified psu, under a silver AVC, and finally under a Dartzeel amplifier.

 

[joelavrencik]

Joe, sure:

Rack: An in-wall installation permanently secured to wall studs. Constructed of high grade voidless 1.5" plywood. It's either birch or apple ply; I don't recall now.

CS2 usages: under a tube phono, under its tube rectified psu, under a silver AVC, and finally under a Dartzeel amplifier.

Thank you!

 

[Solecky]

I am only just seeing this. My simple answer is that the problems that resulted almost certainly were as a result of improper placement of 2 of the four feet. You need to reposition those 2 feet

Just wanted to let all know that the CS2s how now resettled and the sound is amazing, better than before. It seems it is quite important to have a flat interface for the top of the CS2 to couple to for optimal performance .

 

[steve williams]

Just wanted to let all know that the CS2s how now resettled and the sound is amazing, better than before. It seems it is quite important to have a flat interface for the top of the CS2 to couple to for optimal performance .

I love reading users' first impressions when they first experience their system after Center Stage has settled as it seems we ae all drinking the same Kool Aid
Enjoy....they are very special additions to any system

 

[Solecky]

I love reading users' first impressions when they first experience their system after Center Stage has settled as it seems we ae all drinking the same Kool Aid
Enjoy....they are very special additions to any system

Yep very impressed, the last component to place CS2s is under my Shunyata Everest power conditioner

 

[steve williams]

Steve

The bottom of the Extreme is perforated Where do u place the 1.5"s

My 1.5' sit adjacent to the stock feet and function perfectly

I thought this photo would help. The perforations on the Extreme are outside the stock feet. My CS2 1.5’s are all inside the stock feet

 

[Kingsrule]

Um not really. Perforations everywhere

Front of Extreme is on left








Front of Extreme is on left

 

[Solecky]

View attachment 73342
Um not really. Perforations everywhere

Front of Extreme is on left








Front of Extreme is on left