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Post by MartinT on Dec 31, 2014 7:34:51 GMT
Description
The Electric Beach S1NX is a beautifully finished laminate Birchwood constructed platform for the isolation of high end hi-fi components. It works by attempting to sink energy into a high mass labyrinth formed by the alternating layers, minimising any tendency to ring or emphasise any particular frequencies. It is 40mm thick and can be custom made to any dimension you like, or there are standard sizes available. It's also reassuringly heavy, not much lighter than the granite shelf it replaced in my system.
According to Steve Jay, Mr. Electric Beach, "My platforms are now effective due to application choices and technique. Not all Birch has the same grain structure and not all Birch plywood has the same lamination, so finding the base material proved essential. Then the mass was relevant but more importantly the sheet thickness, bonded with what and how. Finally the surface treatment, as this is both the interface and affects the wood's performance."
It's certainly a good looking component, worthy of being used in the kind of well-sorted systems that it's targeted at and nicely presented.
Performance
The first one to arrive, sized 460 x 360mm for the Technics, is the most effective support I've ever used under my turntable and brings me closer to the music, cutting out the small things that obscure clarity. It gives me the isolation I need but messes with the integrity of the music a lot less than the granite shelf. As I wrote to Steve "I hate to use the word but there’s more 'snap' to the sound and I can hear tiny details in, say, cymbal work that I hadn’t noticed before. It’s all in the micro-transients". I have it resting on some sorbothane pucks as this application requires a great deal of isolation at normal volumes.
A second S1NX, 440 x 330mm, now sits under my Ayre SACD player. Interestingly, and considering that the two sources are very different components (but not different in sound), the effect is very similar. A heightening of clarity together with more space around notes, more insight and definitely cleaner peaks with less harshness and glare. As worthwhile as the one for my turntable, this one is staying in my system too.
Stepping back and thinking about the effect of both platforms, they allow more of the room/studio/space to emerge from the recording by providing a wide open window on the sound, with uncoloured, neutral and natural damping. There is more structure around voice, more dimension to the spaces, more of what helps a reproduction become 'real'.
Conclusions
It's important to realise that the S1NX is not a stand-alone solution. It doesn't work on its own, it requires sympathetic footers both to the component and to the surface it rests on, not to mention a decent rack or shelf to put it on. I cannot recommend RDC Cones highly enough and they form the main element of component support in my system. Together with the Electric Beach platforms, they create a magical combination that kills resonances and other nasties and let the music through untainted. Specifically, the turntable sits on RDC1 > RDC Cone Cups > S1NX > sorbothane pucks. The SACD player sits on RDC1 > S1NX > RDC2 > RDC Cone Cups.
Construction is complex and, dare I say, time consuming, and I consider the price of approximately £120 each to be very fair for the improvement rendered in sound quality. Ask Steve about custom sizes (both of mine were made to my dimensions) and you will not have to wait long for an extremely well packaged, and heavy, present to arrive on your doorstep. Highly recommended.
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Post by John on Dec 31, 2014 8:30:37 GMT
Nice review Martin I had similar improvement. I had it against the BASE platform which to be honest I am not even sure if it makes a difference. The SINX is a whole different ball game and now would not be without it under the NAD7050D
At some point I might try some cones but even without it has made a noticeable difference
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 31, 2014 8:58:18 GMT
Looking forward to the Electric Beach visiting !
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Post by Chris on Dec 31, 2014 10:05:16 GMT
I find reviews useless without prices......
Looks nice though!
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Post by MartinT on Dec 31, 2014 10:07:28 GMT
I find reviews useless without prices...... See the final para! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2014 16:23:29 GMT
You may well have tried them, Martin, but I had great success with Alto Extremo feet combined with the same materials as the SINX is made of. They were ligt years ahead of both Sorbothane and Isonoes. I'm not sure how practical it would be to try them though, as they usually attach via an m6 thread IIRC. That would mean fitting threaded inserts which you may not wish to do. I have a set of Altos you would be welcome to borrow if you fancied trying them.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 31, 2014 16:29:55 GMT
I've never heard of them. Just about to pop out the door now, but will look them up tomorrow. Thanks for the offer!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2014 16:37:04 GMT
For anyone interested, here is a link. www.alto-extremo.com/index.html I think mine are the Lyd II from looking at the pics. You can use them in sets of 3 or 4. I have a set of 3 that I don't currently use although they were so impressive I haven't wanted to sell them. I currently use Torlyte shelves but I know I'll,use the Altos again one day. |
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Post by Chris on Dec 31, 2014 17:45:13 GMT
Aaahhhh right.
I'm gonna go off and get back to being an arsehole now.
All the best!
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Post by tony on Jan 1, 2015 10:28:11 GMT
Steve supplied bases for my Frugel3s which work on the same principal. They make for a very sturdy base which is easy to tweak position of the speakers and allows tuning through use of supplied materials.
Look gorgeous too....
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Post by MartinT on Jan 9, 2015 23:27:28 GMT
I took my two S1NX platforms to MikeMusic's den tonight. It was very interesting and yielded results similar to my findings. I'll let Mike give you the details, so here are some pics in the meantime.
Words below on next post
Under Rega Isis
Under Technics SL-1210/FR-64/Ortofon SPU
System
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Post by MikeMusic on Jan 10, 2015 10:50:13 GMT
This is one of those things that even gives hifi nuts a 'nutter' label.  Still trying to understand what this is all about and gradually finding answers Started with a a couple of tracks from Roy Harper's Valentyne on LP then track 1 from Tears for Fears, Elemental on CD to give Martin's ears a reference for my system which has had quite a few mods since his last visit. All fine. First up Mavis Staples track Eyes On The Prize on the Isis Sounded good. Isis on RDC cones, combi bases, sitting on Mana Reference top. Granite placemats on top as pic. Demo of how heavy the Isis is taking out the granite and RDCs and sliding the S1NX in. Limited by the length of my Ultimate 1 metre cable back to PS Audio P10 we made do with only the S1NX sitting on RDC cones, not able to put RDCs between Isis and S1NX. Definite improvement in sound which more or less told me I needed a S1NX. Improved but 'different', slightly off at an angle Then I remembered I hadn't put the granite back on top of the Isis - duh ! Played again. This time it was just better. A clear step up More detail at the top end, fleshed out and clearer mid range and vocals and more oomph in the bass. Done deal. I need to speak to Steve sooner rather than later. Now same for the Technics All sounds fine Out with the RDC combi bases. Technics with just screwed in RDC cones on S1NX with that sitting on squidgy sorbothane. More or less the same, perhaps better with clarity again in the midrange, better top end and more oomph. Another done deal. Also found my arm was very slightly out so that was levelled. Only one thing to do now Speak to Steve and ask him to make me some Crazy or what ? Well done to Steve for working this all out. I shall shortly be a customer |
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Post by steveeb on Feb 7, 2015 9:52:15 GMT
Just completed an order from the guy who purchased your rack from you Mike. Many thanks for your enthusiastic recommendation to him. Hope you're liking the black version, will have the Isis top for you next week...   |
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 7, 2015 10:18:54 GMT
Perfect timing Steve.
Glad James went for some as well.
I'm flat out at work so little time for much else, but I have managed to try out the little chaps
Tried under the Isis first
I have cable management problems to the Isis evidenced in Martin's photos but I wanted to get as much in place as I could
Test 1
Isis sitting on RDC cones and 2 stage bases - lovely
Test 2
not what I wanted due to the cable restrictions so Isis directly on S1NX and then on RDC cones as per the pic
A bit better and 'different'
Left in place and put my mind to the cable problems.
Came up with an answer
Test 3
Isis on RDC cones on S1NX on RDC cones
Oh yes. Just great, fuller sound, more body everywhere, detail, clarity - all that stuff we all want, more music
Test 4, and not easy to achieve due to cable lengths
As 3 but with RDC 2 stage bases under the cones under the Isis
Even better 1 or 2 steps up, just brilliant
Really good VFM.
Talking to the boss earlier about the upgrade some years back from Naim 135s to Naim 500.
It was fair step up, not huge.
The S1NX in place is bigger. Yes more than a Naim 500 over some old 135s
Academic I guess putting my 2nd S1NX under the Technics. No cable restrictions so good to go
Technics on RDC screwed in cones on S1NX on kindly donated from Martin sorbothane feet
Same as above, more music.
They are now both in place and will only move for testing other kit
Management summary
Buy one and try out if you dare. You will want more
Next move is to try one under the Chord Power amp.
To paraphrase Arnie
I assume I will be back !
Why does it work ?
Isolation, damping type stuff.
Can you hear a difference - oh yes
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Post by MartinT on Feb 7, 2015 12:55:37 GMT
I'm thinking of having Steve make one for the Chord power amp, too. At the price, it's a no-brainer for the improvements yielded.
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Post by John on Feb 7, 2015 13:23:31 GMT
Should work well with the Chord
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Post by Sovereign on Feb 7, 2015 14:34:59 GMT
I'm thinking of having Steve make one for the Chord power amp, too. At the price, it's a no-brainer for the improvements yielded. Looking forward to to hearing your findings. Supports under components with moving parts always makes a big improvement, let's see if you achieve the same results as the amp has no moving parts. |
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Post by jammy on Feb 7, 2015 14:44:55 GMT
Well i like the look of Steves Frugal 3s look like fine value for money.
But im afraid i wont be buying SINX cause its Foo all be it nice looking Foo...!!!
(chop 2 squash balls in half sling em under a 5 quid wooden chopping board - job done)
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 7, 2015 18:53:17 GMT
The eyes may say Foo
The ears say yes please I'll have some of that
My set up looks more and more bizarre and keeps improving in sound quality
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Post by MartinT on Feb 12, 2019 18:41:24 GMT
Another shout for the continuously reliable S1NX shelves. I have two and they continue to do a fine job, although now repurposed to my streamer/PSU and DAC.
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