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Post by BilliumB on Jul 11, 2015 22:30:52 GMT
I'm wondering if people have any experience of these vibration isolating feet. They're made using two 3" square layers of steel joined together by a very thin layer of viscoelastic polymer - more information on their web site www.sounddampedsteel.comI know that Gazjam has them and rates them higher than RDC cones which seem to be the 'reasonably priced' product of choice of many here. I like the concept of constrained layer damping as I can understand how it might work, turning vibration into heat. Also the price at £44 for a set of 4 feet is cheaper than much of the competition. In addition to using them as feet under loudspeakers, DAC and amplifier, I understand simply laying them on top of any equipment prone to vibration issues can have a very beneficial effect - suitably sized sheet can be provided to order. The question is, do you have any experience of them, and what do you think? I'm considering buying a few sets to try, but don't want to waste my money if people have had poor experience with the product. |
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Post by AlanS on Jul 12, 2015 7:13:31 GMT
What do you think of BE718's work and statements about materials that do and do not absorb/transmit vibration? I don't use anything perhaps because I don't live in fear of/the thought that vibration might be ruining my amplified music world. Apart from curiosity and thinking, what makes you experience the urge to try anything?
I am marketing a range of materials to earn an income from vibraphobes, if I can help.
Edit: When my Rega 3 came I decided some solidity was called for and had a 3/4in slate sheet cut at a local stonemasons plus a similar thickness of what you might call printed circuity sheet material, phenolic laminate. They became part of my turntable support options which remain after moving to an LP12
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Post by MartinT on Jul 12, 2015 7:22:39 GMT
I use RDC Cones as I know them to be very effective across many components (except unsprung turntables). I did have an SDS mat once, but have never come across the feet.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 12, 2015 8:11:29 GMT
How much are they ?
Can't see a price
I rate RDC cones, usually with bases as the best VFM
Outperformed by Stillpoints and the latest Black Ravioli but not such VFM
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 12, 2015 8:16:48 GMT
44 quid for 4, I think.
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Post by brian2957 on Jul 12, 2015 8:39:50 GMT
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Post by BilliumB on Jul 12, 2015 12:00:43 GMT
What do you think of BE718's work and statements about materials that do and do not absorb/transmit vibration? I don't use anything perhaps because I don't live in fear of/the thought that vibration might be ruining my amplified music world. Apart from curiosity and thinking, what makes you experience the urge to try anything? I am marketing a range of materials to earn an income from vibraphobes, if I can help. Edit: When my Rega 3 came I decided some solidity was called for and had a 3/4in slate sheet cut at a local stonemasons plus a similar thickness of what you might call printed circuity sheet material, phenolic laminate. They became part of my turntable support options which remain after moving to an LP12 Hi Alan I think BE718's work is interesting but that it has a good way to run yet, assuming he's willing to put in the effort which is/will be considerable (I certainly hope he keeps on going). As always with these sort of things, feelings seem to get (or are already) polarised and this gets in the way of searching for the truth. Given that many people hear differences with 'vibration' products, while many others don't hear any differences, searching for evidence will require looking really down into the 'noise' - I very much doubt that the differences in tests will be very obvious. I truly don't know whether something such as the Isofeet will make a difference, but recognise that many here feel that RDC Cones etc really work, and more than that I've read that Gazjam (I think on AoS) found Isofeet better than RDC Cones under his turntable. They are also relatively cheap at £44 for a set of 4. I can also 'see' the logic in how they work. I'm curious, with a scientific/engineering background I like to understand what's going on, and would like to learn more - and who wouldn't want better sounds? I've got a fairly unusual HiFi rack - it's a 6ft high, 3ft deep and 9ft wide brick fireplace! Wonderful listening to music with the fire blazing in the winter. So my SB Touch, DAC and Amp are fairly well separated from the speakers - the tops of which are about 2'6" lower down at the sides of the fireplace. The speakers are on a parquet floor which (I assume) was laid on some form of bituminous mastic which probably provides some anti vibration benefits. At the moment one foot of the Conrad Johnson amp is resting on an ice cream/lolly stick to keep it level (the top of the fireplace isn't perfectly level), so hopefully you can see that I'm not too anal! The large room is full of clutter (I've got 3 young kids) which (I hope) helps to 'break down' any room modes. I'm really just interested I what I can do without spending too much at the moment, and the Isofeet look really interesting. Cheers. Bill. |
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Post by zippy on Jul 12, 2015 15:16:27 GMT
Things like this just have to be trialled as their effect is going to vary widely depending on the equipment and circumstances (e.g. floor/shelf type)
They don't seem to offer a 'money back if not satisfied' deal but worth asking them.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 12, 2015 16:27:40 GMT
Agreed with Chris.
You would have to go some to damage them !
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Post by AlanS on Jul 14, 2015 11:27:19 GMT
What do you think of BE718's work and statements about materials that do and do not absorb/transmit vibration? I don't use anything perhaps because I don't live in fear of/the thought that vibration might be ruining my amplified music world. Apart from curiosity and thinking, what makes you experience the urge to try anything? I am marketing a range of materials to earn an income from vibraphobes, if I can help. Edit: When my Rega 3 came I decided some solidity was called for and had a 3/4in slate sheet cut at a local stonemasons plus a similar thickness of what you might call printed circuity sheet material, phenolic laminate. They became part of my turntable support options which remain after moving to an LP12 Hi Alan I think BE718's work is interesting but that it has a good way to run yet, assuming he's willing to put in the effort which is/will be considerable (I certainly hope he keeps on going). As always with these sort of things, feelings seem to get (or are already) polarised and this gets in the way of searching for the truth. Given that many people hear differences with 'vibration' products, while many others don't hear any differences, searching for evidence will require looking really down into the 'noise' - I very much doubt that the differences in tests will be very obvious. I truly don't know whether something such as the Isofeet will make a difference, but recognise that many here feel that RDC Cones etc really work, and more than that I've read that Gazjam (I think on AoS) found Isofeet better than RDC Cones under his turntable. They are also relatively cheap at £44 for a set of 4. I can also 'see' the logic in how they work. I'm curious, with a scientific/engineering background I like to understand what's going on, and would like to learn more - and who wouldn't want better sounds? I've got a fairly unusual HiFi rack - it's a 6ft high, 3ft deep and 9ft wide brick fireplace! Wonderful listening to music with the fire blazing in the winter. So my SB Touch, DAC and Amp are fairly well separated from the speakers - the tops of which are about 2'6" lower down at the sides of the fireplace. The speakers are on a parquet floor which (I assume) was laid on some form of bituminous mastic which probably provides some anti vibration benefits. At the moment one foot of the Conrad Johnson amp is resting on an ice cream/lolly stick to keep it level (the top of the fireplace isn't perfectly level), so hopefully you can see that I'm not too anal! The large room is full of clutter (I've got 3 young kids) which (I hope) helps to 'break down' any room modes. I'm really just interested I what I can do without spending too much at the moment, and the Isofeet look really interesting. Cheers. Bill. Bill I have flashed out £48 for 4 and can try them under my most sensitive item, phono stage. I tend to use the "so you can make a difference eh, show me what you can do" approach not in expectation of what they are supposed to do. Most things I have tried have underwhelmed me (often getting refunds). Thats what I call an open mind, often lacking in HiFi fans. Later this week then. |
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Post by BilliumB on Jul 14, 2015 15:16:42 GMT
Hi Alan
I got quite a few positive comments over on AoS and so have ordered some myself - plan to try them under speakers and under DAC and amp over the next few weeks. After talking to Les, the owner of the company, will also be trying them on top of kit as well!
Watch this space.
Cheers. Bill
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Post by zippy on Jul 14, 2015 16:52:24 GMT
Do you have to remove any feet that the manufacturers have put on - if not then you're at the mercy of any interaction between the old and the new.
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Post by BilliumB on Jul 14, 2015 22:10:01 GMT
They are reported to sound best if directly placed against the base of the component being supported, preferably not under the equipment feet. As the Isofeet are only about 3mm thick, I'm thinking about what I'll use under them to ensure sufficient airflow (in the case of the DAC and amp); under the Xenon II speakers I'm planning to remove the existing spikes and place the Isofeet directly between the floor and the flat steel 'outrigger' feet of the speakers.
The manufacturers do supply neoprene sheet j(ust smaller than the 3" square feet) to stick under them to minimise scratching, but suggest they might be more effective used without. The neoprene is self adhesive so they suggest trying both without and with.
Cheers. Bill
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Post by gazjam on Jul 14, 2015 22:55:05 GMT
Always swore by RDC cones until I discovered the SDS Isofeet. Because of this thread I swapped back in the RDC cones and sure enough, sound quality took a dip. Its a pity as the cones make your kit look a little bit sexy compared to the Isofeet! Can understand how the concept of constrained layer damping might improve a mechanical system like my turntable, but the biggest surprise is how my Transporter's (music streamer) sound was improved by fitting the feet under that. Noticeably better too removing the Transporter rubber feet and sitting the metal casework directly on the Isofeet. Cant recommend these things enough, buying more to fit under all my kit, once I've rejigged my balanced mains system with better mains cable AND removed all the existing case feet from my kit.  |
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Post by BilliumB on Jul 14, 2015 23:22:42 GMT
Hi Gaz
Have you tried the RDC cones under the Isofeet?
I'm wondering if this might be a good solution to my situation where I have the kit on top of a big brick fireplace (6' high, 3' deep, 9' wide) - the problem is that it's not perfectly flat or smooth on top, and if I had RDC cones pointing downwards under the Isofeet (which would be in directly in contact with the undersides of the Dac and amp) I wouldn't need to worry about any unevenness brick to brick.
Interested to hear your thoughts - as mentioned before it was one of your postings on AoS some time ago that got me thinking about Isofeet in the first place.
Cheers. Bill
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 15, 2015 11:48:20 GMT
Always swore by RDC cones until I discovered the SDS Isofeet. Because of this thread I swapped back in the RDC cones and sure enough, sound quality took a dip. Its a pity as the cones make your kit look a little bit sexy compared to the Isofeet! Can you describe what the difference was between the 2 Big, small, subtle, big step up ? |
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Post by AlanS on Jul 17, 2015 18:59:55 GMT
My Isofeet were supposed to be delivered today according to ebay over the last two days. Most disappointed was I when the postman did not appear. I usually try to avoid expectation though.
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Post by MartinT on Jul 18, 2015 7:31:02 GMT
I usually try to avoid expectation though. LOL! |
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Post by AlanS on Jul 18, 2015 10:58:34 GMT
eBay have just emailed me to advise the isoFeet are now despatched. They were estimated to be delivered yesterday 17th. Either they are hopeless or the supplier is supremely confident that they will amaze me once the land.
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 18, 2015 11:04:27 GMT
Foot deliveries are often slower than van or bicycle.
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