Review: Neuance Alpha & Beta shelf / Apollo Aria 455 rack Stand


Category: Accessories

I was first introduced to Neuance isolation platforms, www.neuanceaudio.com, from by my Audiogon friend Redkiwi. He has spent years testing shelving materials and rack systems. He was the first to introduce me to the "light rigid theory." Light rigid steel racks, NO SAND/SHOT FILL spiked firmly to the floor with a light rigid, well-dampened shelf, supported on upturned spikes. Redkiwi tested most of the materials possible for shelving including MDF, butcher block, Corrian, glass and stone. It was the discovery of the Neuance shelf that was the true breakthrough in the realization of the light/rigid/dampened notion. The old theory of mass loading either the rack or the component was adding energy storage, and therefore smears and lowers the resonant frequency. The light/rigid/dampened philosophy provides less smearing, by that giving better PRAT and resolution.
Ken Lyons of Greater Ranges discovered Neuance quite by accident. It has an extremely hard, rigid, thin and lightweight shell made from ceramic laminate. The core is a rigid foam board subjected to a controlled pressurization to create a low mass core of variable density that has very little energy storage. This allows the shelf to react to a large spectrum of vibration frequencies. This is the only shelf produce I am aware of that can control such a large spectrum of vibration, without influencing the signal with its own dispersion of energy.
They designed Neuance and sounded it using the Mana rack system. Mana is a light rigid rack with complete isolation designed as part of the system. Ken Lyons researched several rack systems. He found the Apollo Aria model 455 rack from May Audio Marketing 716-283-4434 to provide most of the benefits of the Mana system, but for a fraction of the cost. This is a light rigid steel sectional rack that is easy to use and can be configured to allow for as many shelves as wanted. Each tower starts with a base unit that spikes to the floor and additional shelf sections as needed. Each shelf section has four upturned steel spikes to support the shelf itself. The Apollo and Neuance are the cornerstones of my equipment support.
Effects of the Apollo/Neuance combination are quite noticeable. The signal is fast and articulate with a reduction of distortion, but somehow providing more tonal color. The leading edge of each note appears more defined with the proper amount of attack and pace. I notice better transparency, extension, dynamics and detail. Sound is stunningly open throughout the spectrum, but perhaps the most striking feature is that treble details are just absolutely fabulous, with no hint of smearing, glare or grit. Neuance simply highlights my system allowing me to hear my components for what they are. In my case they allow the tonal neutrality of my components to voice correctly without adding artificial color or bloom. Do not expect the Neuance to blow you away. Using it just seems to subtract subtle noise from the music. It does not add romantic qualities, as many vibration control devices do. Artificially warm or euphoric qualities added to the music often sound great when first heard, but over time the smear and bloom will get old.
When we use a Neuance shelf for the first time, the sound is quite warm and woolly, but the sound clears up after a few days. Allowing the shelf and component to settle in for up to a week is extremely important before we make any adjustments. For whatever the reasons, the Neuance takes time for the core to settle to the load.
If its found "tuning" the sound is necessary, playing with footers is the best way. Understand this will be adding resonance and smearing that will emphasize or de-emphasize certain parts of the spectrum - the result being a loss of PRAT and resolution. So be discriminate with the footers used. Redkiwi recommended E-A-R feet feeling they will "reduce distortion and add warmth and fullness to the sound, without any loss of detail or speed." He found E-A-R to be "evenhanded and better than any stock rubber feet, and more neutral than Vibrapods." I have taken that advice and found the E-A-R to provide a rightness to the sound with immediacy, openness and a warm liquid smoothness without upsetting PRAT and resolution. I have found some components do not react as well to E-A-R as others. In some instances the pace seems to slow and the sound becomes thick. For example I have found the factory feet on the Sony SCD-1proform better than any footer I have tried. With my Plinius SA-102 amps I am using Orchard Bay titanium cones and titanium pucks. These are extremely liquid and detailed and literally build on the merits of the Neuance. This is very unusual to find cones that improve the Neuance performance. I have tried several cones and footers with the Neuance, only the E-A-R and OB titanium have been successful. "Tuning" requires trial and error with your particular system, remembering again to let the shelf settle after we make a change.
One issue with Neuance shelves is that the heavier the component, the more they enhance unwanted warmth that creeps into the lower mid and upper bass. Consequently Neuance makes two products, an alpha (for light components) and a beta (for moderately heavy components). I hope Ken is still working on a shelf for very heavy components. At any rate, be sure to get the right grade shelf for the weight of the component to avoid any coloration.

Associated gear
Sony SCD-1 SACD player
Placette active pre-amp
two Plinius SA-102 amps
Dunlavy IVa speakers
Nordost Valhalla interconnects and speaker wire
NBS power cords

Similar products
Mana rack
128x128jadem6
Thanks, Jade. I already started with bubble under the power supplies of both cdp & pre: ~25pds each, sitting on a "bee-hive" composite shelf (I'm going to replace this w/ a Neuance). I have better clarity WITHOUT sacrificing low-end -- i.e., the tonal balance has NOT shifted upward. Also, strangely, the volume has increased. Not brighter, simply louder!!?? We (wife & I) went back to PS directly on shelf and, bingo! a light curtain fell and the volume. Very strange; were it brightness, I would understand it... Cheers!
I first became aware of Neuance Shelves through the 47 Labs site about a year ago.I ended up buying the Gaincard (which I love) and just using MDF shelving on my Apollo Aria rack; thinking that someday I'd have to give the Neuance stuff a try.Well,a good year went past and I finally stuck a Neuance shelf under my Wadia cdp.I have always enjoyed the sound of my system(excluding some psychologically painful but extremely rewarding OTA break in); but I must say that I am blown away by what the Neuance shelf has done for my sound. I regret having waited so long. The shelves seem very good at providing an environment that lets my equipment do what its suppose to do.There is also a synergy present in my system that wasn't there before.The music seems to have a more authoritve grip and at the same time a certain effortless delivery that is endorfin releasing.I mean, I just sit there with a big grin on my face,head bobbing and foot tapping, happy. I wont further attempt to describe what I'm hearing except that the music is finely detailed, emotive, non fatiguing,and very enjoyable.Thats what I want.The whole reason I embarked on this crazy stereo science adventure was to obtain an honest tool for listening to MUSIC.The Neuance shelf is a big part of that. I'm getting another one for my Gaincard and power supply.
I have found another use for bubble wrap. I put a layer in front of my stair case to the third floor bed rooms. This is to alert me when my kids kids are past their curfew. Makes for some late night excitement..
Just a comment:-
Looks like all you guys experimenting with bubble wrap under Neuance shelves are experiencing what many others before experienced with products like the Townsend Seismic Sink. So, the concept of using air is not new - just that you all have a different rendition of that old tweak. Still others have successfully used bicycle inner tubes sandwiched between 2 MDF boards to improve turntable & CDP sound.
Looks like air (be it contained in bicycle inner tubes or in bubble wrap) still remains as a very good isolator!

J.D:- how are the bubbles in your bubble wrap faring with the heavy equip?

Regards
Bombaywalla.
I now have over two and a halfcmonths under the 85 lbs amps with about 50% compression. Under the 55 cd player is about 25% compressed. The "Aircap" antistatic bubbles are the way to go!
As far as the similarity of bubble wrap and Townsend Seismic Sink or innertubes is the bubble wrap does not allow for laterial movement. The inner tube and TSS both tend to cause smear on the leading edge of notes, the bubble wrap has great focus.