These are the first isolation footers that I have used this time around as mentioned from the start of this thread. The difference was noticeable straight away as the definition & detail was raised another notch. My test cd's & songs that I use I am very familiar with & the improvement is easy & immediate for me to hear. These for me are a real bargain as they will stop & absorb vibration to & from the component, for me, underneath the oPPo 95 was the place to put them. The Agora Acoustics MagicHexa retail for around AUD$45 for a set of 4. Heres some detail of the product....
MagicHexa™ is specifically designed and optimised visco-elastic polymer that combines shock absorption, vibration isolation and vibration damping characteristics to create the ideal acoustic damper and absorber. Its specially formulated aerodynamic honeycomb configuration displays 1,000x higher damping coefficient than metal, reducing the transmission of vibration energies into whatever surface the component is sitting on.
Agora Acoustics MagicHexa™ improves your system's performance by eliminating vibrations on micro and macro levels. Just place them underneath your hi-fi and home theater gear. You will experience dramatically increased transparency, dynamic range, imaging and sound stage.
Unlike general type of rubber accessories, MagicHexa™ is not affected by temperature, pressure etc. For the combined use with the existing anti-vibration accessories, MagicHexa™ provides sufficient surface. Use with MagicShoes as a great isolation floor protector.
After the Agora Acoustics products I looked at a companies products that I have had my eye on for some time & also a product that Bud/Bluefox recommends, in this very same thread none the less. I honestly can say I see why. These products are so simple, but when you think in terms of audio, the density, composition & character of a certain material is anything but simple when it comes to the outcome or signature of it's sound.
So enters Mapleshade to the fray, well, bugger me if I aint tickled pink & quite the satisfied punter. Seriously fellow audiophiles, I just don't want to change anything in my system at the moment since putting the footers & weights into the system as well. I put 2, 1/2 lb weights on the oPPo 95 & the one & a half lb weight on the Soulution 520 pre, these come in a set of three for USD $185. Under the pre I put the Original Triplepoint footers, USD$140, set of three.The result was that the soundstage was more dynamic & precise, the players scale & position accuracy were prominent & the lovely sound of brass just begs to be listened, think here like unsweetened syrup with a miniscule loss in high end detail & a natural midrange, it's just so lovely but not adding something that shouldn't be there. Heres what they say
By design, our footers do the opposite. Rigid and massive, they lock the component to the shelf below using single-point contact. That’s the most effective way to drain vibration. Nevertheless, our experiments show that the wrong footer material (or too little mass, or the wrong shape) can reflect distorted vibrations back into the equipment. That’s why improperly designed footers can yield sound that is dulled and lifeless or piercing and shrill. I’ve tested every promising high-tech material: ceramics were too bright; titanium, carbon fiber, stainless steel, aluminum and ebony were relatively dead and smeared. Brass was by far the best: much more dynamic, vibrantly warm and more detailed. By design, our footers do the opposite. Rigid and massive, they lock the component to the shelf below using single-point contact. That’s the most effective way to drain vibration. Nevertheless, our experiments show that the wrong footer material (or too little mass, or the wrong shape) can reflect distorted vibrations back into the equipment. That’s why improperly designed footers can yield sound that is dulled and lifeless or piercing and shrill. I’ve tested every promising high-tech material: ceramics were too bright; titanium, carbon fiber, stainless steel, aluminum and ebony were relatively dead and smeared. Brass was by far the best: much more dynamic, vibrantly warm and more detailed.
Brass Weights
In ending this post I must confess, I know where I can go to for better results but for the return on investment, at AUD$5k more, I'm not too sure it is warranted. At that price, that is one hell of an upgrade in a component, especially when one enters into the second hand market..........
The tonal density increases each time, and the detail/ability to hear each instrument's musical line improves. Just loads of fun to hear more of your music...but with NO changes to the tonal quality of the music. Good luck and just my two cents.
