Incredible Stillpoints
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Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
not I
I am quite content with my Ultra 5's under my speakers. I even have them bevel side down against the carpet and have had no issues
same here...beveled side down on the carpet. My 5's were the older ones w/o the thread on the beveled side. If I had those I might have had beveled side up towards the speaker bottom. I'm not losing any sleep over it however.
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Same as mine so not as if we had the choice.He designed it this way initially for a reason, I'm sure
Cyclops stack
A few weeks ago I trialled what I have come to lovingly now refer to as the Cyclops stack... I hoped to get some kind of marginal gain over the previous arrangement where the pair of Cyclops were sitting separately on their 4 x Ultra 5s. Given how good it was sounding I wasn't expecting much.
I'd have to say now that it has proven probably the most significant step up that I have had from Stillpoints since getting everything up on Ultra 5s system wide. Not sure it actually doubles the performance but it certainly effectively doubles the U5s involved in power delivery.
The way I read the benefits now trickling (or coursing) through the system is that the Cyclops below seems to get not only the benefit of the additional mass loading by having another Cyclops on top it is also having 4 additional Ultra 5s working for it (4 above and 4 below) while the Cyclops up top now effectively gets 8 x Ultra 5s working underneath it. The better isolated components up top feed into a much better isolated amp below.
Beyond this the Chord, Shindo and Magtech not only are getting extraordinarily dynamic track level power performance in terms of the energy fed to them from the Shunyata conditioners it is also making less work required for each of the following components own sets of Ultra 5s.
At the end of all this individual power conditioning and component isolation the Maggie 20.7s are also up on their 4 x Ultra 5s just letting through the thunderous dynamics that Ultra5s can bring over the SS and minis giving extraordinary signal dynamics, speed and resolution due to what seems a 'sum greater than the total of individual parts' kind of revelatory composite low noise floor. All that ceramic and steel upstream making music well beyond what I had imagined possible given the nature of the relatively modest individual components.
Going all Ultra 5 has been a bit of a test of faith in investment in terms of infrastructure as part of the system cost but that said it certainly has proven way more than worth it.
Ultra 5s are not plug and play for components and need a lot of playing with use of mass loading to make work. Certainly in some ways potentially a bit controversial as an approach but I have to say given the shift in system sound it really has been a resounding win. All up some 30 Ultra 5s employed in the setup but probably most of all now really loving the Cyclops stack! Next up trying thread adaptors for the U5s direct into the Cyclops.
Warning do not try this approach at home without discussing it with your significant other first... they will probably notice!
Graham
A few weeks ago I trialled what I have come to lovingly now refer to as the Cyclops stack... I hoped to get some kind of marginal gain over the previous arrangement where the pair of Cyclops were sitting separately on their 4 x Ultra 5s. Given how good it was sounding I wasn't expecting much.
I'd have to say now that it has proven probably the most significant step up that I have had from Stillpoints since getting everything up on Ultra 5s system wide. Not sure it actually doubles the performance but it certainly effectively doubles the U5s involved in power delivery.
The way I read the benefits now trickling (or coursing) through the system is that the Cyclops below seems to get not only the benefit of the additional mass loading by having another Cyclops on top it is also having 4 additional Ultra 5s working for it (4 above and 4 below) while the Cyclops up top now effectively gets 8 x Ultra 5s working underneath it. The better isolated components up top feed into a much better isolated amp below.
Beyond this the Chord, Shindo and Magtech not only are getting extraordinarily dynamic track level power performance in terms of the energy fed to them from the Shunyata conditioners it is also making less work required for each of the following components own sets of Ultra 5s.
At the end of all this individual power conditioning and component isolation the Maggie 20.7s are also up on their 4 x Ultra 5s just letting through the thunderous dynamics that Ultra5s can bring over the SS and minis giving extraordinary signal dynamics, speed and resolution due to what seems a 'sum greater than the total of individual parts' kind of revelatory composite low noise floor. All that ceramic and steel upstream making music well beyond what I had imagined possible given the nature of the relatively modest individual components.
Going all Ultra 5 has been a bit of a test of faith in investment in terms of infrastructure as part of the system cost but that said it certainly has proven way more than worth it.
Ultra 5s are not plug and play for components and need a lot of playing with use of mass loading to make work. Certainly in some ways potentially a bit controversial as an approach but I have to say given the shift in system sound it really has been a resounding win. All up some 30 Ultra 5s employed in the setup but probably most of all now really loving the Cyclops stack! Next up trying thread adaptors for the U5s direct into the Cyclops.
Warning do not try this approach at home without discussing it with your significant other first... they will probably notice!
Graham
Last edited:
Thanks Jazz, think I've maybe been pushing the boundaries a bit with the shiny things tho in this case it worked good.
Great stuff Tao!!! Great to read and learn your experiences here...quite the effort!
In my own case, i have put each component (9 boxes from source to amp), the speaker cable network boxes and the Sub in its own 'isolation sandwich' comprised of Auralex platforms, Ultra 5s or HRS M3X/Nimbus underneath and HRS/Artesania Damping Plates on top (in a few cases with as much as 70lbs of brass weights on top). I also have an isolation sandwich for my big Wilsons (though i am still working on a much bigger/better mass damping solution for these).
In my own case, i have put each component (9 boxes from source to amp), the speaker cable network boxes and the Sub in its own 'isolation sandwich' comprised of Auralex platforms, Ultra 5s or HRS M3X/Nimbus underneath and HRS/Artesania Damping Plates on top (in a few cases with as much as 70lbs of brass weights on top). I also have an isolation sandwich for my big Wilsons (though i am still working on a much bigger/better mass damping solution for these).
LL - I did take a fair measure of inspiration from your earlier explorations with the sandwich before having a go at the stack. It has been an eye opener to see how trickle down from the conditioners has played throughout the system. John's hierarchy of implementation speakers first then conditioners is making perfect sense.
Wow...i am glad to have been helpful. And yes, totally agree...i have learned a TON after first trying Stillpoints/HRS in my system. Mechanical isolation has been a tremendous experience and very rewarding. And i am still learning which is great.
This is precisely why I have used the Wilson Diodes into the underside of the speaker and the Stillpoints with adaptor as a replacement for the spikes.
I do not have the worry of stripping the Wilson speaker tap thread and very easy to remove the Stillpoints.
I found sound quality is clearer when diode is not coupled to underside of speaker and Stillpoints not touching Wilson Diode. YMMV
Stillpoints Adapter Stuck
Though we do not document this with our products (we should), it is always advisable to use a "anti seize" compound when using stainless. This is especially true when using stainless on stainless.
John
Though we do not document this with our products (we should), it is always advisable to use a "anti seize" compound when using stainless. This is especially true when using stainless on stainless.
John
Finally got around to installing 8 Ultra 5's under my evolution acoustics MM3. Not at all disappointed (I also set low expectations for "tweaks" - it they work really well its a big bonus). More articulate low and mid-bass, throwing bigger image and better decay. I can almost justify spending this type of money on "footers", but just to be on the safe side I won't tell my wife what they sell for (even if I got a killer deal from from Steve on a used set).
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Glad you're enjoying them Erik.
They were quite a revelation for me when I put them under my speakers. I have the new Ultra 6's now under my amp and power supply. These came from under my amp before the Ultra 6's
Congrats. That's a pretty big set of speakers that already has a lot of adjustability...so if you're getting better low and midbass articulation and better decay, that is quite impressive. Enjoy.
Stillpoints under Weiss
Read your post. I own the Weiss man 301.
Have you purchase your Stillpoints as you were intending to ?
If yes, where have you positioned the Stillpoints. I have the minis. Just can't get the positioning right, so despite the expenditure, I have no real benefit.
Please advise.
Thanks
Read your post. I own the Weiss man 301.
Have you purchase your Stillpoints as you were intending to ?
If yes, where have you positioned the Stillpoints. I have the minis. Just can't get the positioning right, so despite the expenditure, I have no real benefit.
Please advise.
Thanks
Hello skljesus! Im sorry I missed your question. Yes I used 4 under dac and and 4 under preamplifier before. I used Two in the back then one in the middle and then one in the middle in the front. I thought that worked well. Now I use all 8 under My "bookshelf " speakers, between speakers and stands. They work even better there. Take care, regards Krelle
Hi gents,
I have just accepted an invitation to replace Stillpoints U5s with U6s under my Zanden Transport PSU and Burmester 948 Ref Power Conditioner. I decided if I did not hear a difference in 30 seconds, they were going back in the box and off to the Distributor. Although I could trade in...it is expensive...and hey, how much better could a U6 than a U5 anyway? Subtle nuances were not where i wanted to focus time for something so costly.
I continue to learn about how important isolation, power, PSUs in particular are towards great, clear sound. The 8 U6s are staying.
HEALTH NOTE: I still use HRS Nimbus Couplers between the underside of equipment and the top of the Ultra 6s/Ultra Bases. That is a must-have for me in my system.
Nevertheless, improvements in bass and deep bass articulation...and when the bass notes get heavy...now, there is a lot less interference with the uppers and mids...the uppers and mids seem far freer of the bass hits which means you get clarity of both...particularly fun in deep house/electronic.
But equally, Glenn Gould gives a lot more balanced presentation in left hand and right hand on the pianos.
I am still finetuning placement underneath the Burmester as I found last time (and again now) that this matters a lot. But more than a pleasant surprise.
I have just accepted an invitation to replace Stillpoints U5s with U6s under my Zanden Transport PSU and Burmester 948 Ref Power Conditioner. I decided if I did not hear a difference in 30 seconds, they were going back in the box and off to the Distributor. Although I could trade in...it is expensive...and hey, how much better could a U6 than a U5 anyway? Subtle nuances were not where i wanted to focus time for something so costly.
I continue to learn about how important isolation, power, PSUs in particular are towards great, clear sound. The 8 U6s are staying.
HEALTH NOTE: I still use HRS Nimbus Couplers between the underside of equipment and the top of the Ultra 6s/Ultra Bases. That is a must-have for me in my system.
Nevertheless, improvements in bass and deep bass articulation...and when the bass notes get heavy...now, there is a lot less interference with the uppers and mids...the uppers and mids seem far freer of the bass hits which means you get clarity of both...particularly fun in deep house/electronic.
But equally, Glenn Gould gives a lot more balanced presentation in left hand and right hand on the pianos.
I am still finetuning placement underneath the Burmester as I found last time (and again now) that this matters a lot. But more than a pleasant surprise.
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