Isolation devices and CDPs

My Acute sounds best with a large buckwheat pillow under it (also under my EAR 324 phono stage). However, I would eventually like to use a Townsend Seismic Sink. Otherwise, the Acute (and most of the 100+ CD players I've tried at home from the 80s) sounded worse on their own legs/feet, best with the buckwheat, sometimes better on navcom or silicone types and worse with Aurios. Stillpoints were okay but buckwheat (inexpensive but uglier) beat them all. Ask Tom Port of Better Records-his top choice.

This is a great topic. I thoroughly enjoyed Equa's technical explanation of damping and isolation. Very well done. I realize these are not on the same par as Equa's "Footers" but I've invested in Vibrapod Isolators. I have 3 sets in use (two CD players and one DVD player). No question they make a sonic difference (improved soundstage and more defined bass) as well as eliminating skipping and jittering. More of a budget isolator.

good read on isolation devices and comparison of products.

http://www.gcaudio.com/products/reviews/infoisolationoverview.html

Also check out Herbie's Audio Lab... a number of interesting, low cost options. One thing I've been trying to good effect is placing his grungebuster dots between my cones and components. Seems to make a nice improvement - particularly under my CDP. YMMV

I think the EAR Acute in particular benefits greatly from 2 things. 1. Tube rolling, I found the Amperex US 7308 very good and the Seimens early CCa excellent when compared to tubes provided. Several others I tried did not beat the stock tubes. 2. Vibration isolation and mass loading.
Overall I feel the Acute really sounds excellent with these 2 tweaks. My only criticism is it could have been built a little better but then the price probably would have been a lot higher.