Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Cartridge Man Isolator Accessory by Shane from AUS

Model:	Isolator
Category:	Accessory
Suggested Retail Price:	$160.00 (approx)
Description:	Hi Fi Widget
Manufacturer URL:	Cartridge Man

Review by Shane from AUS on June 06, 2007 at 07:59:59
IP Address: 220.236.56.214 Add Your Review
for the Isolator

What is the Cartridge Man Isolator? - direct from his web site.

" The isolator is, in effect, a two way filter. Its purpose is to break the mechanical feedback loop that is made as soon as the stylus touches the record.
In tests, the isolator has been shown to reduce the noise floor level by 3dB (a cut of 50%). This reduction allows far more low level information into the audio picture, improving sound stage, imaging and resolution, not to mention the overall timbre of instruments."

I thought I would take the risk and buy a Cartridge Man Isolator. This is now on my VPI HRX with 12.6 arm. It seems that this product has a lot of skeptics (not many who have actually heard a real one thou) and several positive reviews in the press and two negative reviews in the vinyl asylum for the previous version of the Isolator. Well, in an age of $1800 LP demagnetizers, $150 is not a lot of money to blow I thought. The Australian dealer offered a money back guarantee as I was leaning towards the skepticâ€™s side.

The new/current isolator model looks quite good with its rounded corners. The isolator material is soft and spongy so with all things related to cartridges, be careful. It is very easy to install thou. I agree that the older model looks 3am bush pig ugly. It is a pity the web site still has the old model on show.

I put the isolator between my 12.6 arm and the Koetsu Rosewood for 2 main reasons. 1st due to the fact that the rosewood was all ready on my spare arm tube. 2nd I was not that happy with the sound I was getting out of the Rosewood. I thought I would try the isolator before I put the Rosewood up for sale, and then try it on my dyna XV-1 or Clearaudio concerto.
The rosewood had a somewhat bloated ill defined bass, coupled with slight reticence in the treble region and some brightness in the lower treble - overall not very musically convincing. Nice mids thou.

To cut to the chase, in my system the isolator is SUPERB.

The first thing I noticed was the reduction in vinyl noise. My system with the ultra quiet Xono phono and Mac tube amps is all ready very quiet, but with the isolator background levelâ€™s were quieter again.
It brings a whole new level of relaxed coherence top to bottom. Bass is better defined and controlled, the mids are just super transparent and you can see deeper into the soundstage and the top end is extended and detailed, but not due to the effect of adding brightness.

This new found relaxed musical presentation does not equate to rolled off highs and slow ponderous bass. This was no tone control. Just the opposite in fact, but it just sounds more relaxed and easier to listen to. I can seem to hear instruments start and stop a lot easier (especially noticeable in the whacking of hi hats) which adds tonal meat to the bone as well as allowing you to hear more instrumentation from the performance.

The koetsu now sounds great with pop, rock, blues, jazz, electronica, and alternative. I have not listened to any classical but it sounds great with all music.

Bottom line for me I am no longer selling the Koetsu Rosewood as it now sounds as good - albeit slightly different to my dyna XV-1. Every performance parameter of the Koetsu sounds better and that makes for a musically convincing and enjoyable increase in satisfaction of listening to vinyl.

I not going to take the isolator off the Rosewood it sounds that good at the moment and I may never get that back if I play around with it!!. I don't even feel any desire to go back to my dyna XV-1 after living for just over a week with the Isolator/Rosewood combo.

I will soon buy another Isolator to put onto my dyna XV-1 and my other cartridges. I just hope the VPI VTA tower can cope with the extra 5.5mm height adjustment. Iâ€™ll give some follow up comments after that.

For any VPI owner I would say you must try the Isolator, as in my system it transformed it. For other arms I would give it a try as well as it does what it is claimed to do for my ears.

The Cartridge Man Isolator gets ***** five Stars from me. Finally something that adds a real increase in musical enjoyment at a reasonable price.

I would like to hear from other owners to hear their thoughts good and bad as there is no universal panacea, only what sounds good to you

Happy listening

Product Weakness:	none at this point
Product Strengths:	brings a whole lot more musical enjoyment for a low price

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: McIntosh 2xMC2102 tube amps
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): McIntosh C-46
Sources (CDP/Turntable): VPI HRX with 12.6 arm wands, Linn LP12 with Naim ARO
Speakers: Vienna Mahlers
Cables/Interconnects: Nordost and Harmonic tech
Music Used (Genre/Selections): pop, rock, alternative, jazz, blues, electronica
Room Size (LxWxH): 25 x 22 x
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 weeks
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	McIntosh 2xMC2102 tube amps
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	McIntosh C-46
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI HRX with 12.6 arm wands, Linn LP12 with Naim ARO
Speakers:	Vienna Mahlers
Cables/Interconnects:	Nordost and Harmonic tech
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	pop, rock, alternative, jazz, blues, electronica
Room Size (LxWxH):	25 x 22 x
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 weeks
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner