Here is another take on room construction from an audio luminary and elder statesman Winston Ma: http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue3/maroom.htm
How an audio rack can enhance your amp/pre
Just thought I would share my recent experience with upgrading my sound star technologies rack to the new rhythm rack.
Every now and then, I have a visiting audiophile who really appreciates my system…and traditionally asks – “wow, what makes it sound so good?” My typical answer is it all makes a difference, even down the equipment rack, which can and certainly should be considered a component…but in many cases is overlooked…
Star Sound introduction
About 10 years ago, I was introduced to Star Sound Technologies Sistrum platforms and Audio Points. Audiopoints has always been known for its manufacture of well-designed and beautifully manufactured brass cones used under equipment and as an integral part of an audio stand. This ultimately led to the design of stands designed to transfer vibrations out of components and down to ground. What I didn’t know at the time was how good the Sistrum platforms ‘sounded’. So, I bit the bullet and tried several Sistrum Platforms - what intrigued me about the stands was the design of the Sistrum Platform which allowed a pre-determined pattern of energy, known as Coulomb Friction to develop and dissipate via a high-speed calculated conductive pathway to earth's ground. Which made sense…how do you deal with airborne energy dissipation? I know you could put cones to reduce vibrations from the ‘ground up’ so to speak, but how could you eliminate airborne vibration? We’ve all held our hand on our equipment when music is playing only to feel the equipment vibrate, so how do you deal with it? Draining it quickly to ground made sense, but at the end of the day, all I really wanted to know was…does it improve the sound?
To say I was shocked is an understatement - the Original Sistrum Platforms offered – smoother sound, better transients, dynamics and a lower noise floor. And, the cool part is that you could turn up the sound and the music would flow with greater ease…well worth the investment. Robert at Star Sound was extremely helpful in guiding me through which racks made the most sense for my system.
Rhythm Platforms
Which brings me to 2015…it had been a while since I last spoke with Robert curious as to what his engineering team was up to…which led me to check out the ‘new’ model of Sistrum Stands – the Sistrum Rhythm Platforms.
These new platforms / shelves were substantially heavier, with a nicer overall finish than the original stands, with more grooves allowing for substantially more options to place points in various places under your equipment to refine the sound even further. In addition, the shelves were engineered to deal with resonances in a more efficient manner…The brass cones at the bottom of the rack were substantially bigger in size - 3 inches and quite heavy. The brass cones under the equipment were attached with nicely crafted screws that could be hand tightened and no longer required a screw driver… a nice feature making it both easier to put together but also the amount of tightening could influence the sound. The brass and platform rods are modular, making it easier to put together and painted in a beautiful black finish – in combination with the brass I would say the improvement in the WAF factor is significant – the stands are really impressive to look at. As for structure, these things were a solid as could be – and heavy! Not going anywhere, even in an earthquake!
My system includes VAC equipment, preamp, amps, DAC and a transport. As well as power supplies. Most of which now rested on the new Rhythm Platform.
Listening Impressions:
My first impressions were clearly a lower noise floor with enhanced dynamics, while also being able to hear deeper into the soundstage, which now extended well outside of the speakers. Tempo was faster, due to better-defined, leading edges. The high end was ‘cleaner’, with more sheen and decay on symbols and hi hats. Brass had that right bite to it, without over doing it…Bass lines were tighter which led to better ‘rhythm’ … and best of all, I could crank up the volume and the dynamic range seemed to extend effortlessly, which was a nice surprise.
One thing I noticed, that was true of my initial experience with Sistrum Platforms, is that the newer Rhythm Platforms sounded progressively better after 3 days of ‘settling’ and reached full potential after about 1 week. So some form of break in is required.
Over the years, I’ve tried different racks and various cones under equipment, whether if be soft, hard, ceramic, rubber (or some variation of ‘absorbing material’ etc.) you name it. All of which ‘altered’ the sound, but nothing came close to the Sistrum Stands holistically; while the new Rhythm stands, just take it all to a higher level…
While I cannot expound eloquently on science of Coulomb’s Friction, I can tell you that whatever they are doing at Star Sound visa vie their racks, it works…and it’s not subtle. This is a very audible improvement in your listening experience. If you want your system to perform at its highest level, I would suggest that you maximize your investment in your equipment by letting it do what it does best and put it on a Sistrum rack that will allow it to perform at its best. And if you want the best, I would strongly recommend the Rhythm Platforms.
Showing 50 responses by agear
08-04-15: Geoffkait But the natives grow things that can, using brain chemistry, bypass those pesky vibrations.... |
08-05-15: Geoffkait On what exactly do you base this supposition? Do you make stands we can demo? |
Well said Robert. I recently that Sound Anchor is teaming up with Stillpoints to create the ultimate speaker stand: http://www.stillpoints.us/index.php/39-home-posts/125-coming-soon IMO, SS already makes the ultimate speaker stand: http://audiofederation.com/hifiing/2006/RMAF2006/report/500/part4/IMG_4185.jpg Some of you may not know this, but Tom (Theaudiotweak) has patented a mechanically grounded endpin for the cello. The professional musicians who use it are giving him the thumbs up. The SS technology is a flexible one. SRA or Stillpoints could not easily be used in that application or in walls like my sound room. JMHO.....:) |
During my last abduction by the reptiles, they downloaded some of their wisdom on vibration management. The universe is ultimately composed of vibrations, and it is more important to "tune" your system to said vibrations than to squelch them. Apparently, it is essential to address what they called "nano-ripples" represent the fine, outermost ring of that universal vibration. We do not currently have measurement tools sensitive enough to measure them, but they showed me a blueprint of how to address them in an audio stand. The closest analogy to this phenomena is Schumann resonance. I will commence work on a proprietary set of stands that will become the new benchmark in audio. The reptiles do not claim patent rights, but simply asked me to acknowledge their collective wisdom and contribution to mankind. |
08-01-15: Bodhi Bodhisattva, can you detail your experiences with this subject? I thank you in advance for returning to this wheel of becoming and bestowing your wisdom upon us.... |
08-01-15: Bodhi Feel free to share here. Others have in regards to competing products. You need a system page. That would provide more insight..... |
So as not to pick on SRA only, here is an inside shot of an original Stillpoint that I owned (and they do indeed work): http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy9/Heather_Gear/Attachment-1_zpsa4khby3x.jpeg |
07-30-15: Maril555 It gets really cloudy when you mix and match technologies....and this is where a lot of audiophules get lost in the forrest (with the only thing guiding them being a manufacturer's transcendent and vague mysticism). Just repeat the word "quantum" a few times like a mantra, and our eyes glaze over and out come the wallets.....:) Here are some examples. You decide: 1. SRA: The primary damping material is a “very sensitive thermal reactive copolymer,” according to Tellekamp, who I suddenly imagined wearing a white lab coat. He didn’t scratch his chin and look sideways at me when he said it, but he could have. He went on, “This patented material has the ability to change darometer --- its hardness and softness --- very rapidly.” 2. Stillpoints: Stillpoints Technology and The Ultra appears to have two parts: the main cylindrical structure and a loose-fitting “cap” on the end. It is actually composed of ten internal components that form an elaborate vibration-dissipation system. The internal structure includes tiny ceramic bearings that dissipate micro-vibrations. The Ultra is a two-way device, meaning that it dissipates vibration entering from either direction (from the floor or from the component resting on the Ultra). Moreover, there is no vertical path for vibration through the Ultra. This device is the highest implementation of Stillpoints’ technology, which is reflected in the price—$900 for a set of four. An aluminum version, identical in every way except for the metal, is $640 for a set of four. According to Stillpoints, stainless-steel more quickly dissipates vibrational energy. 3. SS: ive-Vibe Technology™ is based on the science of resonance energy transfer via a high-speed calculated conductive pathway to earth's ground maintaining vibrations a state of constant motion and creating a more efficient result. So, you decide which wild eyed mystic you want to follow....:) |
06-10-15: Buconero117 I think that applies more so to racks and footers that rely on pure isolation. If the Sistrum technology works the way Starsound says it does, that issue should be more easily defeated. I have dealt with all that "acoustic energy flying around the room" by grounding the walls, equipment, and speakers with Starsound technology. The results are rather impressive. More about that later on another thread.... |
Norman, being the inveterate audio explorer that you are, I recommend taking the plunge with a full blown Starsound room. Why don't you be the first in Texas? It is the most powerful application of their technology IMO. I have had a rotation of all sorts of speakers through here, including Best Buy grade Klipsh floor standers (mated with a vintage Marantz AV receiver and Apple airport express and Home Depot wire), vintage $75 Pioneers, etc and the results have been simply phenomenal. It destroyed my reference rig in a standard living room setting. |
06-17-15: Mapman Agree 100% |
The room will blow your mind. You are welcome to fly to Charlotte and hear mine if you like. Why Oregon? Did you grow up there? My younger brother lived in Portland for many years, and my family would vacation on the coast, etc. What version of Scandinavian were your forefathers? Outside of MN (where I lived for over 10 years), there are lots of Scandinavian folk in the pacific northwest...particularly Washington state....but mostly Norwegian (of which I am 25%) |
06-16-15: Charles1dad Now Charles, that was a little passive aggressive of you. Pictures coming soon believe it or not. It has been a long road and filled with delays the majority of which have been out of my control. I did recently receive my Golden Gate dac from Lampizitor and its a stunning piece of digital. Norman, I heard an early prototype of the high fidelity stuff as well as Calloways system which had full loom of HF. Very, very good but I like the Dale Pitcher house sound with his cabling and conditioner and speakers.... |
06-19-15: Tbg Clearly. BMC would not be my find choice. Norman, you have not had the 7 or GG in your rig although I understand you wanted to hear one. If you want digital to approach your TT, it would be worth a spin. As for Dale, show settings are worthless. |
My, How you boys do wander. Its called intra-thread banter Ddraudt. You've never encountered it before? I've been experimenting with 4 different Star Sound Platforms lately and it seems the bigger the better. The "Rhythm" with heavy base, 3 inch cones and large floor discs sounds Magical compared to any other devices tried under my speakers in 40 years. Bigger is indeed better..... |
07-11-15: Tbg Very well said. I have used Herbie's stuff and it is modestly effective and affordable. I have also use Equarack footer and those are a step up in performance (and price). They do soften things and if your digital front end or rig is more forward and aggressive they can be used as a form of tone control but at a cost. SS has been my go to product since 2008. I am jealous of u guys who getting the Rhythm stands. Me want but cannot afford right now due to blowing my budget on other things.... |
07-12-15: 1extreme Yes and no. If there is not some objective reality to this hobby, these forums have no point. The fact that there is some consensus here against rubber footers is a neutral fact and not grounds for getting testy. |
07-13-15: Onhwy61 I have not read any condescension in the dissenting opinions regarding rubber. As for "facts" in the realm of audio, they are few and far between strictly speaking. Much of it is driven by intuition and experience. Believe it or not, Starsound has commissioned an outside lab to do measurements of their technology. No rack company has done that to date. I am consistently surprised how testy people get about this subject (especially when it comes to Sistrum and Starsound). Like it or not but the hobby does evolve and move forward. Look at older magazine reviews of equipment and you see equipment plonked on chairs or the floor. Its akin to the world of cables. "Engineers" cried voodoo for years as they lacked the appropriate measurements tools. Nordost and Vertex have demonstrated changes in jitter performance with cabling using software. The same will most likely be demonstrated with "isolation" technologies, etc.... |
07-13-15: Wolf_garcia Wolf, a lot of the pro audio crowd thinks audiophila is chalked full of witchcraft and garbage (and that is partially true). Conversely, many recording "engineers" possess equally magical thinking in that their cheapo wire and equipment is somehow impervious to the sonic limitations that many of us philes have experienced. I personally feel that if more recording engineers paid closer attention to some of these details we would have better recordings. As a side note, I had a Charlotte-based recording engineer (Rob Tavaglione) hear my Starsound listening room not too long ago. He was impressed and went on to review one of the smaller Starsound stands for his nearfield monitors. He actually did a comparison between his previous stands( Primacoustics Recoil Stabilizers) which are composed of urethane foam mounted on a steel plate.... |
07-15-15: Wolf_garcia Major dudes? Have you had this dude chime in? http://www.vavawoom.com/malin/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/movies_big_lebowski_the_dude_jeff_bridges_movie_desktop_1280x1024_wallpaper-43039.jpg So in essence, you are an island unto yourself? Solipsistic emperor? Captain of your soul? Do you have any recordings that we could hear? |
07-14-15: Atmasphere Wolf is nuts Ralph. The group has already made that determination. You make some good points. It would still be useful to somehow measure the fruits of these interventions. The Vertex software could theoretically measure effects on jitter for example. My experience with Sistrum has been that the move vibration is at hand, the more profound the results (walls>subs>speakers>tube gear>SS electronics). I have also noticed that my fire breathing SET amp (Viva Solista) puts out less heat when on its stand. Robert at SS said that may be in part due to management of tube vibration? I don't know. I think he did some simple temperature measurements with tubed gear and showed a drop in temp during use. He would have to chime in to clarify. Paul at TRL was on me for years to buy a Scully and let him mod it. I would love to own a tape player but I have young kids and its just not practical. BTW, I spent over 10 years in the twin cities for my surgical training (UM). Loved it. Married a native and then moved south. Where in Saint Paul are you? |
07-16-15: Wolf_garcia Wolf, you need to stay on your meds. The engineer in question showed up with Robert from SS almost 2 years ago. I have young kids and infrequent visitors. So, do you have a sampler of your recordings I can hear so I can decide (or decree rather...I am a little emperor too...) if your ears are made of tin? What studio setup do you have in place? |
07-16-15: Dgarretson D, I have owned Equarack footers, Stillpoints (gen I), various Herbie doodads, and Sistrum. I did direct comparisons of the gen I Stillpoints versus SS Apprentice stands under my Gamma Summits speakers. What if anything have you tried under the Merlins? |
07-17-15: Atmasphere Okay. I lived in downtown St. Paul from 2000-2003 near Regions Hospital. I used to frequent the Grand Ave. area after hours...lovely. Are you Norwegian? I am part.... |
07-17-15: Theaudiotweak Do much Lysergic acid diethylamide in the 60s and 70s Tom? |
07-18-15: Wolf_garcia I get all that Wolf. Audiophilia has a religious component, so if a new piece of equipment sets us into an ecstatic frenzy, forums like this are our only opportunity to relay the experience. besides, the only ACTUAL criticism of Star Sound's possibly life altering product line relative to what I currently use, is that there is no drawer on the bottom for my stuff. I would not let that be the final determinant. There are other places to stash your weed and associated paraphernalia.... |
07-20-15: Atmosphere You missed the double entendre in my statement Ralph. Geoff did not. In terms of the correctness inherent in my joke (which does indeed allude to the SS concept), it depends. Music and musical instruments are vibratory entities and do not benefit from absolute stability like a lathe or a SEM. Speakers, walls, subs, and even tubed gear can be viewed in a similar fashion (in theory...). Sound anchor comes from a more traditional, isolation based model which can work too. I guess you could do some simple accelerometer measurements on your speaker cabinets and compare SS and SA. Ralph, have you ever tried a SS stand? BTW, you need a haircut....the old hippie aesthetic went out the door a long time ago....:) |
07-20-15: Bdp24 To what degree do you represent that remark? My wife and I are both essentially Norwegian/Scottish, but she is also an 1/8 Cherokee and something else. She has a beautiful mane of hair and tans beautifully while I look like I don't belong....:) To me, long hair means you're a disciple of Robert Bly (or at least read his poetry) and run through the woods with no shoes or shirt on the way to that drum circle. For all we know, that's where Atmasphere amps were born....not in a lab with measurement devices in the throes of a sweaty, ecstatic frenzy.... |
07-21-15: Bdp24 Ha! An aging hippie like Atmasphere then....excellent. Studies have shown that THC accelerates hair growth in 50-something males. Santa Cruz is a hell of a lot nicer than SD. UC-SC is one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen (and I am not talking buildings....). If I had gone to school there, what with the open curriculum and other temptations, I would have graduated with a major in "consciousness" and not much else. My mother-in-law is an Erickson and was raised in Southern cal. Baked in baby oil for much of her youth and got a nasty melanoma that almost killed her. My folks both grew up in Africa, and their Derm is constantly plucking little skin cancers out. Scary stuff.... |
07-23-15: Atmasphere Robert's statement was correct IMO. The products that translate vibration into heat are not perfect. Their are active products as you mentioned that are analogs of what is used in the world of SEM (http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/i/f/1371914466.jpg) and may have some merit, but I know people who have used them and converted to Sistrum. Furthermore, you cannot easily translate that technology for products that really vibrate like speakers, subs, and walls. ): Do you amps run cooler on those stands? Why did they go out of production? |
07-24-15: Wolf_garcia Wofly, there are several engineers who are part of the SS conglomerate (http://www.audiopoints.com/aboutUs.php), so maybe we can get one of them to chime in for a more exhaustive discussion? They typically don't waste time with these forums, but it might be worthwhile since this subject is treated with such scorn by many without backgrounds in mechanical engineering. Robert told me that back in the 60s and 70s, one of the primary prerequisites to getting a sound "engineering" gig was long hair. Was that part of your pedigree? :) As for the temperature thing, I have made personal observations to that extent. Maybe its a matter of simple ventilation, etc. Who knows. I know Robert did measurements. |
07-25-15: Geoffkait I prefer to amplify my vibrations. I come from the "Spinal Tap" engineering school of thought. If I was examining gnat testicles using SEM, then maybe an active stand? |