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WHAT HAS WORKED FOR YOU? ISOLATION PLATFORMS, FOOTERS, ETC. for a DAC?

What is reasonable to expect in SQ gain with respect to a DAC, since there are no actively moving parts?

Footers only? Platforms only? Or is a combination of both best?

Keeping this open ended (as well as budget wise) to see what Audiogon Members recommend and advise.

However, thoughts on Gains v.s. Spend with the specific products you are recommending are welcome and will be very helpful.

The only footers I have used in the past are those from Herbie's Audio Lab.  I have used two different 'audio' racks (which have been dismantled) and I am using their shelves as isolation platforms for my speakers and other components (but not the DACs).

The DACs in use are a Schiit Yggdrasil and an Exogal Comet Plus. The stock rubber footers with the Yggdrasil are as basic as they come; The Comet has an acrylic plate with rounded metal screws.

THANK YOU!
david_ten
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
do you have a linear power supply, or switching?

Eric is steering you in the right direction - electrical isolation, ground loops and room acoustics will be far more important than acoustic effects on an electronic component

it is unlikely that a DAV would be affected by acoustic effects - easy to test by putting it in an isolation chamber or on a suspension
czarivey
4,494 posts
 
occasional substance abuse works very good for me.
lordcloud
144 posts
 
In my opinion, everything should be able to function at its best. Which to me means that every component should operate as free as possible from vibration. Otherwise, you're listening to a component, plus the vibrations.

I try to address vibration with every component I have.
respected_ent
178 posts
 
I put a bamboo cutting board between the carpet and my dac, and it did make a noticeable difference to the sound.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
3,018 posts
 
Definitely footers under the DAC. The cheap stock footers used by Schiit offer no isolation. Herbie's Tenderfeet will absorb and neutralize vibration. As stated above, placement of footers makes a difference.
Also, a damping weight on top helps when the unit utilizes a toroidal transformer, (I think the Yggy uses R-core transformers).
http://edensoundaudio.com/shop/category/damping-weights/

And totally agree to use an aftermarket power cord. And replace SMPS wall-warts. I've heard good things about IFI...
https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/ifi-ipower-outboard-supply
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