Stillpoints

I've seen those Tim and the price is eye watering! How about the Ultra 6 for 800 each.. ouch! 

Timmo1341 posted:

Just browsing, as you do, and I came across references to Stillpoint loudspeaker isolation feet (Ultra 5). These apparently cost approx. £500 each, making a total of £4,000 to isolate a pair of floorstanders? Is this correct, or have I misread or seriously misinterpreted price lists? Does anyone have experience of these particular products, can they possibly be worth such an asking price? Just interested, as I've recently installed a set of Herbie's Gliders which cost £180 and have totally eliminated unwanted bass resonance in my system. 

I know not everything in this life can be judged by price alone, but four grand for speaker feet.........?!!

Tim

yes it is cost effective but the effect is spectacular. For myself i use finite elemente cerabases, less expensive, and the effect was big. My speakers have 20 kg each, so these cerabases are enough. But with big and heavy loudspeakers, i would take stillpoints ultra, the best.

I use Stillpoints under all my components and it is money well spent!

Which do you use Kevin and what are the gains? I was considering a set of the smallest to go under my CDX2. 

if i had the choice to make only one upgrade in my system, i will choose cerabases or stillpoints under loudspeakers, after naim fraim, better ethernet cable, or better power cord or interconnect. Yes, this is so good!

Finkfan posted:

Which do you use Kevin and what are the gains? I was considering a set of the smallest to go under my CDX2. 

Make sure you get them on sale or return. Naim stuff tends to have a lot of consideration put into the mechanical coupling of device to rack (hence the hard (Metal ?) feet on the CDX2 rather than the usual off the shelf rubber items) and fiddling with this interface doesn't always produce results that are better than standard. 

james n posted:

Finkfan posted:

Which do you use Kevin and what are the gains? I was considering a set of the smallest to go under my CDX2. 

Make sure you get them on sale or return. Naim stuff tends to have a lot of consideration put into the mechanical coupling of device to rack (hence the hard feet on the CDX2 rather than the usual off the shelf rubber items) and fiddling with this interface doesn't always produce results better than standard. 

That's why I'm hesitant [@mention:45633859548536396]

Huh... I spent 10 minutes writing a reply but I guess I didn't submit it.

I have Ultra not Ultra 5. (I definitely want ultra 5 as I've heard the improvement on my system)

Get 3 of each on loan from your dealer then experiment. I almost 100% guarantee you will hear the value. On my brother in laws system (tube preamp) the best improvement came under the preamp.

I was skeptical at first but quickly became a true believer. I don't know what kind of witchcraft is hidden in these things but I know they work.

The improvement is night vs day in terms of focus and   Instrument separation.

Ideally you should first put them under your speakers but they work everywhere in a hifi.

Keep an open mind; give them a chance. Let me know what you think.

There are, without doubt, a few very complimentary reviews dotted about the 'net. What particularly enthralls me is one particular description where the reviewer waxed lyrical about hearing, for the first time, the true sound of 'wood on metal' when a drummer struck a cymbal. Quite how this differs from what I hear at the moment is unclear, but I would love to give them a try. The problem is my nearest Stillpoint stockist is 120 miles away, which is too far for a home demonstration, and I wouldn't begin to entertain a purchase without a thorough trial. The same conundrum applies when it comes to speaker cables, which are probably in the same upgrade category as Stillpoints. I would love to trial Tellurium Black Diamond, but once again am simply too distant from a stockist to make it viable. I suspect this issue holds true for many hifi products - most of us will never have the opportunity to trial 90% of what is on the market. Just as well I like what I have already chosen - I really must stop reading hifi articles and reviews!!

Timmo - if you are keen on demoing them then i'd have a chat to Richard at Lotus Hi-Fi. He's a very helpful chap when it comes to home demos and should be able to arrange something for you. 

James

james n posted:

Timmo - if you are keen on demoing them then i'd have a chat to Richard at Lotus Hi-Fi. He's a very helpful chap when it comes to home demos and should be able to arrange something for you. 

James

 

Thanks, will do.

Tim

The dealer myself and [@mention:50422349809511500] use is on the other side of the country. He will have no problem sending stuff to you on sale or return. We've had the top 3 sets of TQ cables on loan for a month now.

He'll send me over some stillpoints to try too. 

Finkfan posted:

The dealer myself and [@mention:50422349809511500] use is on the other side of the country. He will have no problem sending stuff to you on sale or return. We've had the top 3 sets of TQ cables on loan for a month now.

He'll send me over some stillpoints to try too. 

If you demo the Stillpoints, look forward to a detailed report!

Have a look at Silent Mounts imported from Japan by Chord Cable Co.  Myself and a few other forum members use them (me and Varyat underneath our Titan speakers).  Revolutionary what they do - and they cost no where near what you are quoting above.

Would the Stillpoints or silent mounts sit directly on the carpet?

I assume the silent mounts would sit under the speaker spikes and the Stillpoints would replace the spikes? 

My dealer is a big fan of these. Must check it out .

Finkfan posted:

Would the Stillpoints or silent mounts sit directly on the carpet?

I assume the silent mounts would sit under the speaker spikes and the Stillpoints would replace the spikes? 

The Stillpoints replace the spikes.

james n posted:

Finkfan posted:

Which do you use Kevin and what are the gains? I was considering a set of the smallest to go under my CDX2. 

Make sure you get them on sale or return. Naim stuff tends to have a lot of consideration put into the mechanical coupling of device to rack (hence the hard (Metal ?) feet on the CDX2 rather than the usual off the shelf rubber items) and fiddling with this interface doesn't always produce results that are better than standard. 

i tried cerabases of finite elemente under all naim components: no differences.

But under the naim fraim : a little improvement.  under the speakers: a huge improvement.

( stillpoints and cerabases are nearly the same. stillpoints ultra are the best under big and heavy loudspeakers).

Are these mounts more or less effective on concrete floors versus suspended wood floors?  Or is the benefit independent of flooring?

I am assuming using on top of carpeting is not ideal.  Correct?

Thank you.

Nick

NickSeattle posted:

Are these mounts more or less effective on concrete floors versus suspended wood floors?  Or is the benefit independent of flooring?

I am assuming using on top of carpeting is not ideal.  Correct?

Thank you.

Nick

it is better to have hard surface. but you can put on your carpet a thick metallic platform and on it speakers under stillpoints or cerabases.

Keler Pierre posted:

i tried cerabases of finite elemente under all naim components: no differences.

But under the naim fraim : a little improvement.  under the speakers: a huge improvement.

( stillpoints and cerabases are nearly the same. stillpoints ultra are the best under big and heavy loudspeakers).

You heard no difference as the usage of the Cerabase is not optimised. Check out this Table.

If for components, the Ceraball will give the highest efficiency. Assuming the weight of a component is 20 kg or less, all versions of Cerabase will not work at all, or perhaps give you a very minimal or negligible effect when placed under a component that weighs 20 kg or less. Cerabase is meant to be used to support heavy load, to support a rack with several components on it. In that way the efficiency of the Cerabase is fully mobilised.

I presume the loudspeakers which are supported by the Cerabase are huge and heavy, the reason the effects of the Cerabase are easily heard.

FWIW I have Ceraball Spider on my Naim components.

Apart from the Ceraball Spider supporting the Naim components, the Cerapucs are the supporting feet for my Finite Elemente Spider rack.

ryder. posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

i tried cerabases of finite elemente under all naim components: no differences.

But under the naim fraim : a little improvement.  under the speakers: a huge improvement.

( stillpoints and cerabases are nearly the same. stillpoints ultra are the best under big and heavy loudspeakers).

You heard no difference as the usage of the Cerabase is not optimised. Check out this Table.

If for components, the Ceraball will give the highest efficiency. Assuming the weight of a component is 20 kg or less, all versions of Cerabase will not work at all, or perhaps give you a very minimal or negligible effect when placed under a component that weighs 20 kg or less. Cerabase is meant to be used under heavy load, to support a rack with several components on it. In that way the efficiency of the Cerabase is fully mobilised.

I presume the loudspeakers which are supported by the Cerabase are huge and heavy, the reason the effects of the Cerabase are easily heard.

FWIW I have Ceraball Spider on my Naim components.

thanks for these precisions, but before i had ceraballs, then cerapucks and finally cerabases under my speakers. I have also tried ceraballs and cerapucks under naim components, but found that it gave nothing for my nds, nap 300 and 555 dr. But on my ear 912 preamp ( tubes), i have cerapucks and it helps a lot.

Under my apertura altra signature, the best improvement is now the cerabases.

i put also cerabases under my fraimlite and it improved also the sound.

Under my sme20 turntable, i have 5 cm granite platform.

You have the spider rack , so ceraballs are indicated.  I am happy that you enjoy like me the finite elemente components.

I find supports interesting. They are measures I have put in place as a form of autonomic response, without really hearing an improvement. That was until a few months ago when I put some cheap spikes under my Bel Canto 3.5vbs DAC, and that REALLY did bring the music up a notch - tighter and more transparent. I replaced these with some cheap wooden cones, sound went back to where it was.

Keler, I am sad to hear about your 912. I use an 868, and currently have a Mission sorborthane footed board under it, now I will be tempted to experiment .....but, I will resist the siren call of spending hundreds on metal/wooden widgets.

This, from the man who in the last few months has spent £1k on LPSUs!

Where are my meds?

M

I use Ultra-5s under my amp and speakers. The speakers are on carpet. It only took a few seconds to realise that they weren't going back. Obviously not cheap but if budget allows then definitely worth giving a go.