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REVIEW: PolyCrystal Dissiplate Accessory Review by Luminator at Audio Asylum

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In an effort to control vibrations, audiophiles stick a variety of pucks, cones, shelves, balls, discs, platforms, sheets, blocks, and sandboxes under components. These have been well-chronicled, so I thought it was time to review a product that goes on top of your component.

Enter the PolyCrystal Dissiplate. For a detailed description of the PolyCrystal material itself, please refer to the PolyCrystal website, or Jonathan Scull’s Stereophile review of the PolyCrystal racks. The Dissiplate is a 13.5” x 10” x 1.5” slab. It is nicely rounded at the edges and corners, so it looks elegant and will not scratch you. Dust, dirt, fingerprints, and styrofoam seem to cling stubbornly to the Dissiplate, so get out the vacuum cleaner and a lint-free cloth. The good news is, a layer of dust does not detract much from the Dissiplate’s shine. Even though I wish the PolyCrystal were white instead of black, the Dissiplate has a high-gloss piano black finish that makes it look smaller than it really is.

I tried the Dissiplate on a variety of components, at a multitude of price levels. For the sake of this review, I chose not to use any other anti-vibration devices in conjunction with the Dissiplate. I simply plopped components on a rack (RoomTunes Deluxe JustaRacks, Billy Bags 5600 series, and various Target racks). In real world use, however, audiophile will indeed place objects underneath the component. This practice will effect more sonic changes (both good and bad).

Versus Nothing

When I lifted the Dissiplate on and off my components while the system was playing, the sound definitely changed. At first, I thought that I myself was making noise. Was it my arms waving in the wind? Was it my foot dragging on the carpet? Was I taking deeper breaths, due to the lifting involved? Was my hair making noise? Was my back creaking from old age? Did I cut the cheese? No, the change in sound had nothing to do with me or my movements. Over time, it became clear that the Dissiplate absolutely was influencing the sound.

So what did I hear? The sound with the Dissiplate is less jiggly. Images are more firmly anchored within the soundstage, and image outlines are not as fuzzy. Because the images are more stabilized, low-level details are not obscured. Basslines and kick drum are “boppier,” yet the overall sound is smoother. The contrast between silence and sound is more pronounced. And the sense of scale between large instruments and tiny instruments is better proportioned.

Versus The VPI Magic Brick

I struggled with this comparison. At times, I thought that the Dissiplate had better treble extension, preserving more of the soundstage’s height. But other times, I thought the Magic Brick did a better job of capturing the bite of cymbals. For example, with the Magic Brick, Tommy Lee’s and Alex Van Halen’s cymbals had more body, sounding more like brass than aluminum. But with the Dissiplate, Stewart Copeland’s cymbals may have sounded thinner, but the ring and decay seemed to last forever, gloriously fading into a black background.

With the Magic Brick, large instruments did not dwarf smaller ones. So if your system is already bass heavy, you may prefer the Magic Brick.

Versus Bright Star Little Rocks

Bright Star’s Little Rocks have long been an audiophile favorite. They come in a variety of sizes, to match your components. And, if you bug Barry Kohan, you can get him to produce what is called Natural Granite, an aesthetically pleasing, light gray, pebbly, and peppery finish. Mr. Kohan will charge ten percent more than Black Granite, but Natural Granite is worth it.

Sonically, though, my household preferred the PolyCrystal Dissiplate. The Little Rocks sounded grayer, duller, slower, less open, not as sharp. Not a night and day difference, mind you, but enough to tip the scales.

Versus Tara Labs Isolated Shield Plate

The Tara Labs Isolated Shield Plate (ISP) is one of my favorite top-mounting anti-vibration devices. Like the Bright Star Little Rocks, the ISP is said to protect against EMI and RFI. I can not say for sure how effective these are against RFI and EMI, but I do know that the ISP is a clean-sounding device, with no sonic drawbacks. I only wish that it were bigger (i.e., more massive) and less expensive (the little thing costs $300!). On some of my larger components, a single ISP does not effect much improvement. Using two ISPs on a component is awesome, but that costs $600, and is just not worth it, IMO.

The Dissiplate just barely loses out to the ISP. The Dissiplate sounds just a wee bit less open and airy. And the Dissiplate, in some systems, can overblow the bass, while the ISP does not.

If the top of your component is slick, be aware that a Dissiplate may slide around a little. If the Dissiplate’s dimensions do not work for you, PolyCrystal also makes a Dissiblock, whose dimensions are 3” x 4” x 5”. The Dissiblock does the same thing as a Dissiplate. And do keep the vacuum cleaner and dust rag nearby. So if you are into putting rocks on top of your components, check out the PolyCrystal Dissiplate. It has less drawbacks than many competing products, and, at $125, costs less too.


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Topic - REVIEW: PolyCrystal Dissiplate Accessory Review by Luminator at Audio Asylum - Luminator 11:46:26 11/22/00 ( 0)