Wilson Audio announces The Pedestal isolation pod.

[Maril555]

I have a lot of Stillpoints SS, Ultra5 and Ultra 6 in my system. They are different from CMS Centerstage, Wilson Audio Pedestal or Magico QPods. Stillpoints is ball bearing design, that means it changes the direction of vibration. Vibration is in 3D, Stillpoints restricts vertical plane and only allow vibration horizontally, by reducing the degree of freedom and the damage of vibration is attenuated.

The other footers from CMS, WA and Magico use layers of different materials to damp and absorb the vibration. There is a layer of thermoplastic material to further damp any movement in 3D. The sound is different. Ball bearing footers tend to give sharper image and stronger sound. Thermoplastic material is softer and mellow.

Often the best sound is achieved with a combination of both. I have Magico QPods in my DAC and Stillpoints SS in upsampler.

I agree with your observations with regards to Stillpoints,
I always had an impression that when Stillpoints are facing metal surface, like Symposium platform for instance, they sound sharp and artificial.
I have Ultra 5 only under the speakers with ebony wood in b/w them and Symposium
Moved onto Shun Mook GR under some of the components, but that’s a different story all together.

 

[microstrip]

Chuckle. And many of the responses in this thread are SO High End Audio forum. So there we have it. (...)

Audiophiles would like to know how they sound, High End Audio forum members love to show they still can do simple math without calculators ...

I expect - but can be wrong, just speculating - that these footers are most probably tuned for systems driving Wilson speakers. Anyway, one nice thing about being a Wilson Audio part is that we can borrow them to try in our systems in almost any part of the world, go in shops and listen to their effect - no need to speculate on their sound or on Mr. X opinion on them. And the day we want to go on with something different - most audiophiles like to change! - they will have a re-sale value, they will not stay in house to be used as door stops ...

 

[PeterA]

Audiophiles would like to know how they sound, High End Audio forum members love to show they still can do simple math without calculators ...

I expect - but can be wrong, just speculating - that these footers are most probably tuned for systems driving Wilson speakers.

If I needed a calculator to figure out what footers cost to know whether or not I could afford them, I would be worried. My simple math was a bit sobering to me.

As someone who can't do complex math, I would like to know what you mean by "tuned for systems driving Wilson speakers".

 

[microstrip]

If I needed a calculator to figure out what footers cost to know whether or not I could afford them, I would be worried. My simple math was a bit sobering to me.

As someone who can't do complex math, I would like to know what you mean by "tuned for systems driving Wilson speakers".

Just meant that probably Wilson Audio developed and tested them with Wilson Audio speakers, and they are optimized to complement the balance of Wilson speakers.

 

[tima]

If I needed a calculator to figure out what footers cost to know whether or not I could afford them, I would be worried. My simple math was a bit sobering to me.

It's easy to make fun of high end prices as this thread demonstrates. I thought your first post was amusing but also silly because it postulated a usage that seemed clearly outside the range of application. It would have led me to speculate a product might be forthcoming that did address weighty equipment, just as many other footer designs come in more than one size. Given multiple possible interpretations, choosing the least plausible doesn't seem reasonable. Did I misunderstand your point?

I thought it interesting that the Pedestal goes outside Wilson's standard product line. First time I've heard mention of the Wilson Audio Special Application Engineering group. Taking their expertise in resonance control and materials development outside speaker building. Guessing this is very much a Darryl Wilson idea. Makes me wonder if we'll see more from this group.

 

[PeterA]

It's easy to make fun of high end prices as this thread demonstrates. I thought your first post was amusing but also silly because it postulated a usage that seemed clearly outside the range of application. It would have led me to speculate a product might be forthcoming that did address weighty equipment, just as many other footer designs come in more than one size. Given multiple possible interpretations, choosing the least plausible doesn't seem reasonable. Did I misunderstand your point?

Tim, I am not making fun of anything. I was just calculating the cost of supporting a pair of heavy amplifiers which are specific examples of amps being used to drive Wilson speakers. Wilsons are often paired with D'Agostino and Pass mono blocks at shows. Rockitman uses the specific four chassis amp I mentioned in my post, the Pass Labs XS150.

No, I am not trying to be silly at all. Here is where I got the idea, directly from the Wilson marketing press release quoted below. Note the specification of the 25 lb load limit AND SPECIFICALLY the recommendation by Wilson to used more than three units if the component weighs more that 75 lbs. There is no mention at this time for larger footers, so I am basing my comments on their direct information and not basing them on speculation about a product that does not exist.

Why would you say my observation is "clearly outside the range of application"? Wilson recommends it specifically in the "Important Details" section in the press release. I am not making anything up. Perhaps you did not notice this detail. It also mentions turntables and power supplies. There are examples of each weighing more than 75lbs. I think any reasonable potential customer would reach the same conclusion I did. Here, with my emphasis for clarity, is the quote from their press release:

Important Details • Each Pedestal is rated for weights up to 25lb/11.34Kg. A set of three successfully supports 75lbs. Add more Pedestals to accommodate greater weights. • The white color ring indicates when max weight rating has been reached—when the ring disappears, the Pedestal has reached its maximum load. • Shipped in quantities of up to 3 units per box. • Designed for use under electronics, digital transports, power supplies, tape machines, and turntables to acoustically isolate these components from the environment as well as to substantially reduce vibrations traveling from components to the surface below. • NOT intended for use under loudspeakers. • WASAE's patent pending design provides an unprecedented degree of decoupling between outer housing and constrained damping layers. • Designed and manufactured alongside Wilson Audio loudspeakers in the USA

 

[microstrip]

(...) I thought it interesting that the Pedestal goes outside Wilson's standard product line. First time I've heard mention of the Wilson Audio Special Application Engineering group. Taking their expertise in resonance control and materials development outside speaker building. Guessing this is very much a Darryl Wilson idea. Makes me wonder if we'll see more from this group.

The WSAE – Wilson Audio Special Application Engineering is known for the design of the Wilson TuneTot speaker. Although little is known concerning the capacitor development at Wilson Audio I would not be astonished if this group is involved in the new capacitors being used in their top speakers.

 

[stehno]

....

As any physicist knows, no device, no matter how clever or sophisticated, can eliminate energy.

....

Indeed. But it's not like many a physicist hasn't died trying to achieve the physically impossible. Maybe one day one of these physics-minded types will experiment by treating mechanical energy just like they treat electrical energy in the lightning rod industry where the unwanted energy is redirected before it can induce its catastrophic harm. That strategy has worked exceedlingly well there since 1753. Just sayin'

 

[tima]

The WSAE – Wilson Audio Special Application Engineering is known for the design of the Wilson TuneTot speaker. Although little is known concerning the capacitor development at Wilson Audio I would not be astonished if this group is involved in the new capacitors being used in their top speakers.

I cannot remember the name of the capacitor manufacturer that Wilso bought or if they moved it to Utah. Do you recall?

 

[LL21]

... First time I've heard mention of the Wilson Audio Special Application Engineering group. Taking their expertise in resonance control and materials development outside speaker building. Guessing this is very much a Darryl Wilson idea. Makes me wonder if we'll see more from this group.

I wonder if this is an opportunity for R&D (that normally is an investment COST of the business) to be able to generate revenues via separate sales that offset its research for the primary designs of the business. And Darryl knows he has the sales power to distribute these products through the Wilson network while the main business gets the benefit of the R&D in their main revenue producers.

 

[TLi]

I met Daryl Wilson in Tokyo Show last November. He said his new speakers, like Chronosonic XVX, will be fitted with capacitors that were made in house. That way he can control the quality and characteristic of the cap to his preference.

 

[KeithR]

Just what the world needed, another overpriced vibration pod.

 

[tima]

I wonder if this is an opportunity for R&D (that normally is an investment COST of the business) to be able to generate revenues via separate sales that offset its research for the primary designs of the business. And Darryl knows he has the sales power to distribute these products through the Wilson network while the main business gets the benefit of the R&D in their main revenue producers.

Quite possibly and yes the distribution and dealer network is in place, so, as you suggest, the opportunity is there. The R&D is already there at least in terms of method, measurement and testing. Wilson has been doing materials research for some time now as evidenced by the different composites they have created starting with X, That they have come up with further results or by-products that can be turned into a product is not surprising, although I would have bet the first would be for speakers. Pretty sure that will happen too. Where it goes next, if it does, will be v. Interesting.

 

[metaphacts]

I cannot remember the name of the capacitor manufacturer that Wilso bought or if they moved it to Utah. Do you recall?

Wilson Audio acquired Reliable Capacitor.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Just what the world needed, another overpriced vibration pod.

This isn't sarcastic Audiogon. Let's await the sonic results of this new footer.

I think that somebody unassailably scientific, diligent and disciplined should round up this new footer and a bunch of competing products and conduct a careful, comparative audition. Yes, different products will have different sonic effects in different systems with different components in different racks and on different floors. But at least it will be a data point.

 

[tima]

No, I am not trying to be silly at all. ...

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[microstrip]

I wonder if this is an opportunity for R&D (that normally is an investment COST of the business) to be able to generate revenues via separate sales that offset its research for the primary designs of the business. And Darryl knows he has the sales power to distribute these products through the Wilson network while the main business gets the benefit of the R&D in their main revenue producers.

I have found in the past that sometimes some footers interact very negatively with systems using Wilson speakers, and most of the time dealers want to demo systems including some tweaks. Probably Wilson also want to be sure that consumers will have the opportunity to listen to their speakers in what they consider good conditions.

 

[KeithR]

This isn't sarcastic Audiogon. Let's await the sonic results of this new footer.

I think that somebody unassailably scientific, diligent and disciplined should round up this new footer and a bunch of competing products and conduct a careful, comparative audition. Yes, different products will have different sonic effects in different systems with different components in different racks and on different floors. But at least it will be a data point.

i've compared 5 sets of feet in Phil's system years ago, so have some experience here. generally speaking i was underwhelmed across the board. you're welcome to do your own study without me.

it's funny that just a few years ago all the Stillpoints guys were telling us how spending 10k on footers was a mind-altering experience and now on this thread apparently they are junk. Magico recommended no footers under their speakers until they suddenly made their own i view this similarly.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Keith...footers, pwr cords, grounding.
Either you get it, like I do, or you don't, like you.
My only objection to this product is the advertising bundle. How much does the budget for this affect the final price.
My fave was the Wadax Reference dac where "thousands of hours of auditioning" was part of the sales pitch. You mean your hobby is your job and you can charge for the hours spent indulging yr pastime Lol.

 

[PeterA]

i've compared 5 sets of feet in Phil's system years ago, so have some experience here. generally speaking i was underwhelmed across the board. you're welcome to do your own study without me.

it's funny that just a few years ago all the Stillpoints guys were telling us how spending 10k on footers was a mind-altering experience and now on this thread apparently they are junk. Magico recommended no footers under their speakers until they suddenly made their own i view this similarly.

Keith, I understand what you are saying. When Stillpoints were all the rage, my friend bought some at a "discount" at the NYC audio show. He tried them in his system and liked them. He brought them over to my house when he went away on vacation. I tried them under my amps and my speakers. When I reported negative results, I was slammed on the forums for not trying them correctly. Then I asked the simple question of which end is up for the correct orientation. Wow, what a firestorm that started.

Now they seem to be replaced in systems by the next hot footer.

I think these Wilson Pedestals are slightly different from the Magico footers. Magico did design some for their own use under components (QPods) and also developed a rack for their own use. Now these are commercial products. The Magico speaker footers are born out of those Qpods and the spikes they were using under their speakers. They are not selling the MPods or SPods or APods to people with other speaker brands. They are offered as upgrades to Magico customers. And they make a difference as I have heard in two systems.

The Wilson Pedestals do not seem to be meant for speakers, so far. They may design some for speakers and for heavier amplifiers, power supplies, turntables in the future. Using six footers under amps or a heavy turntable seems a bit awkward, to say the least.

Accessories are a good thing. In some cases, there is good science involved and they work. Some people buy them because they like them and make their systems sound better. Accessories may provide some profit for the manufacturers and for the dealers. This helps the industry stay afloat. All of that is good. If you don't like them, simply don't buy them. No harm done.

What I do find interesting is the amount of chat and speculation that new products from Wilson, Magico and a few other manufacturers creates on audio forums. And that is good for those reading, posting, and the owners of the forums. In the end, it is all good.