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Hi guys!

205.188.193.38
Posted on March 2, 1999 at 16:30:46
Joe S


 
...and thanks to Jack G for turning me on to this site. I missed any mention of it on AR completely. Hmmm...any site with a tube section looks like an improvement to me. Now if we can avoid the mindless degenerative debates that have plagued AR for the past 6 months I'm here for the duration.

On another note - how about a discussion on Vibrapods? Seems everyone is talking about these things & I just tried them for myself. Overall effect, slight midrange emphasis, slight thickening or fattening of the sound - particularly noticeable on vocals - slightly softened highs. I can imagine these guys being the cats meow in the right system but in mine it was a bit of a move in the wrong direction. Anyone else experimenting with them?

Joe

 

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Welcome!, posted on March 2, 1999 at 16:33:34
Stephen


 
No experience with the pods ... but glad you're here.

BTW: I thought you favored the hard (support) stuff.

 

Funny you should mention pods, posted on March 2, 1999 at 16:40:02
Rod M


 
Welcome! After yesterday's insurection, I think Francis deleted the most noticeable references to this little Plain Jane version of tecktalk.

On the pods, your experience mirrors mine quite a bit. My pre came with BDR cones installed and with stock tubes or RFT 12AU7s, it tended toward being a bit on the lean side and lacking a bit in lushness in the vocal and mid-bass area. Pods worked quite well in smoothing a slight edge and fattening up the sound.

Moving to RCA clear tops took this maybe a bit over the edge in being too fat and rich. I just switched back to the cones and moved the pods to the CD player. Seems to be a better balance, maybe next week I'll be in a different mood ;)

Anyway, I agree, for me, they seem to be great at taming a little edge and adding warmth to a system on the bright side of neutral.

 

Well..., posted on March 2, 1999 at 16:42:02
Joe S


 
..actually I'm into a mix of air (via Townshend) and BD, but I'm always open to experimentation, so I bought a few as a flyer. They'll go on the shelf for future use. Seems like you can never have enough tuning alternatives around just in case you make a change somewhere else. But for now I'll stick to my cones & shelves...

Joe

 

Re: Funny you should mention pods, posted on March 2, 1999 at 16:47:29
Joe S


 
Yep, I find the BD stuff works best if your rig isnt over the top in terms of brighness or edginess. I occaisionally see references to them as sounding hi fi like - IMO thats more of a comment on the character of the gear they are under than anything else...

And I understand from Jack that you are who we have to thank for this? If so, Bravo. I know it's early but it looks promising - I was getting genuinely tired of TT and the mindlessness there. If this site can keep a more audiophile orientation (and I dont mean that in a more $ = better sound kind of way)I know I'll be coming back...

Joe

 

Wow... No COMMERICALS!, posted on March 2, 1999 at 16:52:53
mikem


 
Hi All... Nice to see you again! It's also MUCH quicker here!

As for vibrapods... I have them mounted between modules on my VR-4's.
I'm not sure they are really doing anything except raising up the MT module :)
I also spiked my speakers after 1.5 years of placement! They sound great now.. I just need more listening time...

Glad to be here!
mike

 

Re: Wow... No COMMERICALS!, posted on March 2, 1999 at 16:57:04
Joe S


 
Welcome! And I too thought about trying them between the upper and lower modules of the VR6s, but the things are heavy (and sounding killer at the moment) so they stay as is for now...

Joe

 

Re: Funny you should mention pods, posted on March 2, 1999 at 17:24:28
Rod M


 
Thanks, I do take the blame but it was Dave's idea to start. It'll be interesting to see where this goes. The initial enthusiam has been quite surprising. It could become quite a good site with just word-of-mouth, or is that email? ;)

 

Re: Wow... No COMMERICALS!, posted on March 2, 1999 at 18:08:31
Chrisp


 
I also have the VR-4's and planning to purchase the pods. What number did you use? I'm concerned that they may separate the pieces too much and my rugrats will tip them over. Soundstage said the may made a huge improvement on the gen II's.

 

Re: Hi guys!, posted on March 2, 1999 at 21:03:50
Hyperion


 
<< Overall effect, slight midrange emphasis, slight thickening or fattening of the sound - particularly noticeable on vocals - slightly softened highs >>

This seem to be the characteristic of most rubbery/plasticky kind of component feet. I dont have the pods yet (they are being held hostage, like the tubes by my pal in HongKong who decided to take an untimely vacation in the Carribean. :-( ) but the AQ Isopods, Sumiko Navcom and Audioprism Isobearing seems to have roughly similar characteristics. I have to point out though that these feet only smooth out a certain portion of the treble, only to make some other portion a bit grainier and less refined. Plus bass becomes rounder and weightier but less extended and less solid. Soundstage depth is a bit sacrificed in favor of width, plus the spatial integrity is a bit compromised, with more congestion, and less layering. And pace becomes more easy going and relaxed, with slightly compressed dynamics. This when compared to ART Q dampers, and Harmonix TU1000 feet. The ART Q damper sound like a BDR cone#3 + BDR cone #4 in one package - this is weird hehehe ... the warmth of cone #3 + the speed and definition of #4, and a more refined sound overall ... u should check it out.


 

They did the trick on my VR-4Gen II..., posted on March 2, 1999 at 21:20:30
DV8


 
I did the full-blown treatment that Soundstage documented a month or two back: 6 #3s on the mid/tweeter module, and 4 #4 under the bass module, which is on top of a 3/4" MDF sheet cut to match the Gen II's footprint.

I immediately noticed more detail in the upper midbass, timbre and decay sounded more pronounced, yet at the same time natural.

The biggest improvement was to the bass--which was already incredible. With the pods, it now sounds faster and tauter.

And after getting a whole set of Harmonic Technology cables, my system is fini! The HT cables are simply jaw-dropping! First cable I have ever heard that widened the soundstage far beyond my VR4. Bass sounds even more authoritative, and blends beatifully with the midbass.

For the first time in 4 years, I'm 100% satisfied with my system (for its price point), and have no desire to upgrade anything; For now on, it's listening for pleasure, not listening for analyzing deficiencies.

 

more info on ART Q dampers please !!!, posted on March 3, 1999 at 00:20:13
Sean


 
These sound pretty interesting. Any websites to check them out or other reviews that you know of ? Sean
>

 

Re: more info on ART Q dampers please !!!, posted on March 3, 1999 at 04:39:34
Jack G


 
You may wish to check out a cheaper alternative-the shun mook isoqubes. The small ones are $80/set, and the best bang/buck I can think of.
Jack

 

Re: Wow... No COMMERICALS!, posted on March 3, 1999 at 05:16:20
mikem


 
The pods (#3) do raise the MT module up some... but I don't think they would be any easier to tip over. I use 5 #3 pods under each MT module.
I am still trying to determine the effects of this mod. In another month or two, I will remove them and see if I can tell a difference. I did a few other changes at the same time so I am having difficulties in determining what the pods do alone.
mike

 

Re: Hi guys!, posted on March 3, 1999 at 06:19:00
Joe S


 
Hmmm, I've found sort of the same thing in the Polycrystal Isolators. These guys seem to live in the middle ground between BD #3s & #4s as well and have displaced the BDs under the pre, DAC and amps. They work very well in conjunction with the BD shelves, thogh I've never heard the Polycrystal Shelves as a comparison. How much are the ART Q dampers and what do they look like, size, etc...?

Joe

 

Re: more info on ART Q dampers please !!!, posted on March 3, 1999 at 09:10:06
Sean


 
Sounds like the ART's cost a little more than i am willing to spend at this time, having not really delved into isolation a whole bunch. It's just something that i never payed much attention to before. I prefer to start off slowly and go from there, seeing if I can hear a differince. Thanks for the suggestion Jack.

 

Re: Wow... No COMMERICALS!, posted on March 3, 1999 at 16:51:42
Chrisp


 
With the cheap price I'll pick up some 2's and 3's and try them out. I'll post what I find.

 

Re: Hi guys!, posted on March 3, 1999 at 20:32:09
Hyperion


 
Which polycrystal cones are you using?

The ART Q dampers are approx. 1.5"x1.5"x0.75" square solid synthetic graphite feet, one side of which has a circular gold plated brass center portion (nicely cast into the ART logo). Build quality is tops, but they are brittle and prone to scratches. These are designed by Be' Yamamura, who once worked for ART (Audio Reference Technology) of Italy. I dont know how much they cost there stateside, but Galen Carol is advertising a used set of 3 for $50 if I am not mistaken. I got mine for about $35 for a set of 4. (they are normally sold in sets of 3 I think). Tweaks n accessories typically get the cold shoulder treatment here so tweakoids like myself take advantage of the shops' "good riddance" prices. Ive got 2 sets and my passive line stage attenuator just loves these feet.

There is a recent review in TNT Audio.

 

See my reply to Joe S. (nt), posted on March 3, 1999 at 20:34:18
Hyperion


 
.

 

Thanks for the follow-up, posted on March 3, 1999 at 22:36:34
Sean


 
These sound like they work quite well and aren't as high priced as i expected. Out of curiosity Hyperion, where are you located that "tweaking" is considered goofy ? Sean
>

 

Re: Hi guys!, posted on March 4, 1999 at 07:01:08
Joe S


 
I'm running the cast polycrystal cones - the short ones. They are about 1" tall, or so and shiny black except for the top flat surface which is unfinished revealing the grey granular composition of the material these guys are cast from. The only other type I've seen them advertise are the polycrystal coated brass cones that are larger & intended for use under loudspeakers.

Oh yeah - thanks for the link!

Joe



 

I am in Manila, Philippines. (nt), posted on March 4, 1999 at 07:12:31
Hyperion


 
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