Center Stage Foot Is Awarded a 2017 Brutus Award From Positive Feedback Online
A few weeks ago, a complete signal path of Center Stage feet was delivered to David Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of Positive Feedback Online. David was kind enough to slog through the settling period as many of you have and/or are doing now.
We are very pleased to announce that Center Stage received a Brutus Award from David Robinson. The applicable text is shown below and the complete article with an explanation of the Award and the award process is available through the link. (Note: the mention of other CMS products was not edited out because doing so would have reduced the coherence of the article):
But Joe wasn't done yet! Not too long before Ted Denney arrived here, I hosted a visit from Joe and Joy once more. They, like Ted, were also arriving near the cusp of decision for the Brutus Awards this year, and had another rack system for the PASS Labs Xs 150 Monoblocks and Power Supplies that had been installed. This would take the current Critical Mass Systems Black Diamond amp stands and convert them into a two-level rack system with a QXK Rack Frame.
The new Center Stage Feet from Critical Mass Systems
Additionally, they had a radically new isolation component, the Center Stage that they were very anxious for me to try. Normally, this would have not been a problem, but there were two considerations here:
The Center Stage would require 7-10 days to settle in, since initially it would introduce some chaos to the sound of our system; and,
The days were short!
To cut to the chase, the QXK Racks and Mk. III Filters proved themselves to be exemplary performers, as I noted in my earlier review. Every one of them is clearly of Brutus Award quality, and will receive them.
The Center Stage Feet proved to be a remarkable experience. Joe warned me in advance that the initial experience with them would be…well, unpleasant.
"You aren't going to like it at first," said Joe.
And he was right.
First Joe, Joy and I listened for a while to the system, so that they could get a baseline sense of what it sounded like. Once they had that down, we placed a number of these devices, four per component, under all key elements of our reference system. Then we fired things up again, and gave another listen.
Ugh!
It really was horrible! Everything sounded…yes, chaotic. Frequency ranges were strangely disconnected from each other and inorganic, harmonics and tonalities were off, even soundstaging and imaging sounded flummoxed and befusticated.
Wow. I listened for a few minutes, and then we all decided that enough was enough.
"Don't worry," Joe told me. "Give it about 10 days, and then you'll hear it all really begin to come together. It's go up and down before then…but after then, it will come to amaze you."
I've known Joe for a long time, and have pretty deep experience with his design genius, and so took him at his word.
And you know, he was right again.
The effect of the Center Stage Feet once the system stabilized was to create a serious enveloping effect. It was extraordinary; it was if a two-channel system was shape-changing into a surround system. Greater depth, too. More gob-smacking audio space voyaging!
Interestingly, the effect was further enhanced with the arrival of the Synergistic Research system…better and better still! (Note: SR System installed after CS feet - JL)
Damn…the CMS QXK/Mk. III designs and the Center Stage Feet really did deliver.
And since they did, so will I: The Critical Mass Systems QXK Rack, MXK Spikes, Mk. III Filters, and the Center Stage Feet all receive Brutus Awards in 2017, and "Ye Olde Editor's Very Highest Recommendation!" with pleasure.
For more information on Critical Mass Systems components, contact:
Joseph Lavrencik, Critical Mass Systems
www.criticalmasssystems.com
info@criticalmasssystems.com
630.640.3814
Center Stage Feet: Designed and manufactured in the USA by Critical Mass Systems
Sold through Pitch Perfect Sound
Steve Williams
9 Raes Creek Lane
Coto De Caza, CA 92679
833.268.7784
sales@pitchperfectsound.com
www.pitchperfectsound.com
All photographs and processing by Robinson
Here is the full text link:
https://positive-feedback.com/audio...-robinsons-brutus-awards-2017-part-the-first/ - Dr. David W. Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Positive Feedback, Issue 94