Thread: Minus K BM-8 Isolation Platform Review

Noticed how the better the components you have the more you end up hearing new distracting noise in your system. I recently noticed that various very faint noises bled through my turntable as I improved my components around it. When you think of it a needle is a sismograph that will pick up many ambient noise and amplify it to a degree were it muddles the sound that we so try to keep in its pristine form. I am also of the belief that the source is the most important part of the system, anything downstream cannot recreate a sound that was not picked up by the needle and whatever garbage it picks up will be amplified downstream. I tested for this recently, my test was pretty easy, put the amp way above listening levels, with the pre off mute I would listen to the sound prior to putting the needle on a record. Then I would put on the Ultimate Analogue Test LP by Analog Production, Silent groove for bearing rumble and table isolation on side 2 track 6 . What I found out is I would hear the HVAC system rumbling in the speaker, people in other rooms walking as well as other various noises. All faint considering the loudness I was at but I could still hear them very well. So my thinking was that all of that garbage destroyed what I was trying to recreate.

Anyways that brought me to research isolation platform. I must say at this time that up to that point I had used mass to isolate my table which is a suspension less Clearaudio table, a fairly heavy at roughly 50 lbs. Furniture as well as component on it weighed over 450 lbs. I tried various audiophile products which are marketed to isolate turntable, what I realised mostly is as I supressed some noise (which in all fairness I could not hear at normal sound levels while playing music) I was improving clarity/stage darkness and dynamics. They all improved the sound somewhat but also had side effects which I speculate where cause by the spectrum of waves they were isolating versus waves that were amplifying. Two items were left at a reasonable price which I could not audition without buying, air table or Minus K.

Everything I read about the Minus K over 10 years was favorable so I went that route, and I must say I am far from dissapointed. You have to understand that this device is used to isolate microscope and various other laboratory devices that are extremely sensitive to movement, so I figured it could be a great match for my purpose. What it did is not only suppress unwanted noise but it improved micro dynamics in a dramatic way. Stage is now darker with instruments being very easy to pin point to a degree I have only seen on well balanced systems that cost way more than mine. Stage width and depth are incredible with instrument layering on complicated soundstage with no negative effects on timbre nor dynamics. Musicians are quite simly in the roam. Those of you that believe that the a sound system is only as strong as it's weakest link should definitely inquire into this device. BTW I did the same test I talked about earlier and now there is nothing bleeding through even at close to max output.

My guess is that there are not many tweaks in that price range that can have such a dramatic effect on sound. So for those of you that have suspensionless turntables, my guess is that this device would definitely be a big improvement to what you currently have.

All in all if you have a sound system that is revealling enough and looking for the ultimate tweak for your turntable, I think this is it!

A big thumbs up

Vibration Isolation Platform & Table Systems | Isolators, Platforms & Tables

P.S. Owners of Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable are retrofitting their units with Minus K instead of the levitation suspension and say it improves sound quality.

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

Dan, looks like a great product. I would be very interested if it makes a difference under your preamp?

I would think it does but do not know by how much, I don't have enough space above my pre to try it out. I currently have levitation products "Spike Sound Will" by Divergent Technologies under my CD, pre and amps which does a great job (mini review maybe to come) .

http://www.divertech.com/yeilspike.html

I did read of someone who had a Minus K under their amps and liked it. My impression is that you would get the most benefit under a turntable or a CD though were vibration isolation is a must.