Great News! I've found another equipment support.

Posted by: Alex S. on 03 August 2001

Having bought Hi-Fi News for the free hi-fi show ticket I decided to open it. On p.31 I found the SAP Relaxa 1. This is not some sordid, deathly legacy from the Vietnam war but a "magnetic levitation isolation platform" which relies on the forces of opposing magnets to float your equipment in thin air.

So what do you think? I found a good picture of it here:

Relaxa

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Mike Hanson

  • What does that strong magnetic field do to our electronics? Considering how hard we try to keep the pre-amps and CD players away from the transformers due to their magnetic flux, this would probably defeat the Relaxa immediately.
  • Although the magnets create a gap between shelf and stand, the prongs in the corners are definitely connecting the two. Even if it's not transferring vibrations, it highlights another possible problem. The prongs are there to prevent the shelf from slipping off to the side. If you've every played with magnets (and I'm sure you have), you'll notice that it's always trying to "get away", and it can be as slippery as a wet fish. Therefore, there's a good chance that there would be horizontal bouncing amongst those corner prongs.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 03 August 2001 by DLF
Mike,

You non magnetic field weenie boy wink

David

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Andrew Randle
What says that if one magnet vibrates, then other other one doesn't?

Maybe its just a fancy way to add damping (but without a way of dispersing vibrations from the equipment itself).

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Mike Hanson
quote:
But variations in flux from the table would be relatively low - of the order of magnitude of the vibrational energy being damped by the table. Surely that gives it a chance of working OK?

That's true, so we might be able to disregard the magnetic problems. Of course, this assumes that the shelf isn't bouncing around the corner prongs too much, in which case the flux could be varying a bit more than we expect. Those prongs are become more of a focal point.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by ken c
it would be very interesting for someone to audition this in the context of naim equipment and let us know whether in this case, theory predicts what happens in practice... (interfering magnetic fields etc)

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Steve Toy
Lets do the dem - and argue the scientific toss when we hear the results!

It's always a nice day for it, have a good one wink
Steve

[This message was edited by Steven Toy on SATURDAY 04 August 2001 at 04:45.]

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Alex S.
Mike - you once told me to relax.

So I guess its a "No" from you then.

(Closet Mana Man).

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Martin M
quote:
it would be very interesting for someone to audition this in the context of naim equipment and let us know whether in this case, theory predicts what happens in practice... (interfering magnetic fields etc)

Well the URL Alex S posted (Deja Vu Audio) just happens to my dealer (now I'm an ex-pat). Next time I'm around there (for the the XX-2 vs Helikon LE shoot out) I'll ask the rather competent Lynn (one of the guys there) how he rates Naim on it. He might even lend it me, you never know.

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by ken c
martin M: many thanks. lucky you. it would be great if you could actually dem (borrow?) the gizmo for home trial.

enjoy

ken

[This message was edited by ken c on FRIDAY 03 August 2001 at 19:57.]

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Alex S.
and then tell us what its like

ps I notice Ken C takes about 15 goes before he gets the hang of what your name is.

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Mike Hanson
I am relaxed. However, I have a habit of playing Devil's Advocate. wink As to how it would sound, I haven't got a clue. It's all conjecture at this stage.

The thing looks interesting, though, and I'm sure it could really impress visitors to one's listening environment. It's too bad it needs those prongs on the corners, as they create the illusion that they're holding up the shelf. Wouldn't it be neat if the platform would float entirely in free space?!? cool

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by Mike Hanson
I think the key feature of this support is not its effect on the supported component's performance, but rather that its really cool. Imagine how "good" your system will sound to your guests, after you've pointed out that super-nifty magnetic shelf. Whether it sounds good or not will be irrelavent at that point. wink

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 03 August 2001 by ken c
alex S:

I notice Ken C takes about 15 goes before he gets the hang of what your name is.

at least!!! apologies martin. hopeless case.

exits left stage to practise the alphabet. real first principles stuff this is...

enjoy

ken