Center Stage footers were designed by Joe to perform on any surface. Some use wood, others metal and many stone but results are the same.I know Joe does not like to use with competing technology but FWIW I have sold CS footers to HRS users. As to how they compare against HRS Nimbus couplers I have no one that I know do that experiment. I can tell you that I have sold several sets of CS footers to Magico users of QPods and MPods all of whom told me the CS footers were superior. What strikes me as so uniquely different about this newest version of CS footers is that they are height adjustable and auto leveling which obviates the need for shims. But what astonished me more was that these new footers settle quicker than any other prior version. I found in my system they settled in 3-5 days and by day 7 the sound was superb. What Joe has done with these new footers is to add many more contact points than just the one which was in prior iterations. These multiple contact points seem to be a key factor as the sound is simply fabulous. In fact I would offer the thought that IMO this is the best product Joe has brought to market. If you want to save some money try the TD's which are the same as the TT but lack height adjustment and auto level.
I think you are in New Mexico ( I may be wrong) but I'd love to have you fly in for a day. I'll pick you up and take you back to my house for a listen and to compare. The other caveat is that people were having problems placing the CS feet under the Extreme due to the perforated bottom. With this new version and the multiple contact points, this problem IMO is gone. I have become so enamored of this new product that I have switched out the prior version of CS2M from my entire system and am now using all CS Ultra TT. But for me the absolute kicker to this new foot is how it sounds. As you know my entire system is sitting on CS footers. When the TT was released my interest was the Horizon and when I received my first set of Ultra TT I placed them under my Horizon while I had 76 other CS2M under the rest of my system. I did not expect that with al the other CS2M that I would ever hear a difference...boy was I wrong. That one set of Ultra TT under my Horizon produced the best sound I have ever heard digitally in my system. Everything from top to bottom was better. This new technology with multiple contact points convinced me and I next put a set under my Extreme and the sound was better still. Joe's footers are deeply based on The Second Law of Thermodynamics and yes they are pricey but in the great scheme of things they are simply magnificent. Let me know if you want to fly in for a day. I'd be happy to have you listen and come to your own conclusion. I know Fred ( LampiNA) became interested in CS when he was at my house with Lukkasz last February. He liked them so much that he is showing now with all CS Footers under his electronics
To expand on what Steve said above, yes--the settling behavior of the new Ultras is vastly superior to that of the prior Center Stages. Specifically, I recall putting them in and hearing some positive attributes immediately such as midrange holography, but this was coupled with sonic anomalies on the top and bottom and a general sense of "confused sound" which lasted every bit of 5 days to settle out.
Don't get me wrong, once settled I could understand what the hype was about the Critical Mass footers made a huge difference under the Horizon and Taiko in my parlor. Dimensionality/holography, noise floor, midrange purity, micro-dynamic shading and just a general sense of rightness. I generally don't like getting involved with accessories, but it was such a natural compliment and Joe was such a pleasure to work with we decided to work together and build an association.
Fast forward a few months and Joe sent out a set of the Ultra TTs and TDS, which I was almost dreading putting into my system. Things had been sounding spectacular and I really didn't want to go through a week of settling in. To my very pleasant surprise though putting them in was an immediate improvement, better across the board and seeming to fully settle by later that night. The noise floor of my system was the lowest I've heard it which led to bass depths and textures I hadn't experienced and everything from top to bottom was just more focused, coherent, resolved and "right" no tipped up HiFi sound, but rather natural, balanced, organic and intoxicating.
The paring is a no-brainer and we're actually work on creating a specialized bundle with the LampizatOr DACs for the ultimate performance... stay tuned for details.