By Michael Miguest
What was a revelation for me is that all of our components are being substantially inhibited from delivering their best because they are subjected to external vibrations. In my humble opinion, the most sonically and visually degrading
are those vibrations in the ground that enter the component via its feet. These seismic vibrations (the ones very low in frequency and amplitude, so tiny we don't even normally feel them) are creating spurious signals within the sensitive circuitry of your components. These tainted signals mix with the real music and video signals to distort them, hardening the treble, thinning the bass, muddying the soundstage and decimating dynamics. Seismic vibrations add grain to video pictures, ruin color purity and contrast and soften focus.
I believe that clean AC power and good cabling are the foundations of an exceptionally great sounding system. However, recognizing the nefarious effects of vibrations and addressing this issue will allow you to experience an even greater performance from your system. Vibrations exist in 2 forms (a) Airborne, or acoustic vibration and/or (b) Structural, or impact vibration and can disturb the equilibrium and raise the noise floor of your audio equipment. However, vibrational influences exist in 4 Dimensions (in my opinion): The Horizontal, The Vertical, The Rotational, and The Time Space Dimension (The Room that houses your Audio ). Presently, my system does not employ any roller bearings or floating mechanisms which conceptually would address the Rotational Dimension of vibrations. However, I believe my efforts in the other three Dimensions is so superb, it has me very close to my system operating at its maximum performance. I am still researching products that I think would be efficacious in addressing this vibrational parameter and I will Update readers on my results when completed. Managing vibrations on your equipment can improve sound more than you can ever imagine. My preferences of elements for addressing the vibrational issues are wood, rubber, felt and Black Diamond Racing Products http://www.bdrsound.com/Contact.html I use # 3 Black Diamond Racing Cones under my Harman Kardon Citation 1 Pre-Amp which is enclosed in a wooden cabinet and my Proceed Transport. My Proceed Transport, Citation 1 Pre-Amp, and my VTL Deluxe Ultra-Linear Tube Power Amp sit on top of a specialty audio cabinet made of wood that sits on a carpeted concrete floor. My Focal Utopia Diva Be Speakers are on cones supplied by Focal. I use Maple Blocks for my modified Monarchy NM24 tube DAC, Monarchy AC Regenerator, Thorens TD 126 MKIII and Technics SL-1210, and my Allnic AUT 2000 Step Up Transformer sits on a pair of Technics Rubber and Felt mats. Presently, I use nothing under my VTL Deluxe Ultra-Linear Tube Power Amplifier. With the Cones, Maple Blocks, and Rubber and Felt mats in place, there is a significant increase in clarity, detail, imaging, and soundstage, including a tighter, deeper bass, plus an extended, sweeter, more defined, transparent quality to the mid-range, improved image focus in the presence and the palpability of images, and increased separation between instruments which allows you to follow disparate percussive elements. The soundstage takes on greater proportions with a more formidable authority. Tonality, Harmonic Texturing, Musical Layering are all enhanced which adds to the realism of the presentation. Dynamic swings both large and small are more like real life. Overall, there is a much greater sense of the system getting out of the way, leaving the listener with an increased sense of emotional connection with the recorded event. However, the most important benefit afforded by the vibrational isolation is the increase of musical rhythm (PRAT). All metallic, aggressive, and electronic aspects are eliminated. Space has much greater Depth with a more organic natural flow that sounds like "Real Music".
What was a revelation for me is that all of our components are being substantially inhibited from delivering their best because they are subjected to external vibrations. In my humble opinion, the most sonically and visually degrading
are those vibrations in the ground that enter the component via its feet. These seismic vibrations (the ones very low in frequency and amplitude, so tiny we don't even normally feel them) are creating spurious signals within the sensitive circuitry of your components. These tainted signals mix with the real music and video signals to distort them, hardening the treble, thinning the bass, muddying the soundstage and decimating dynamics. Seismic vibrations add grain to video pictures, ruin color purity and contrast and soften focus.
I believe that clean AC power and good cabling are the foundations of an exceptionally great sounding system. However, recognizing the nefarious effects of vibrations and addressing this issue will allow you to experience an even greater performance from your system. Vibrations exist in 2 forms (a) Airborne, or acoustic vibration and/or (b) Structural, or impact vibration and can disturb the equilibrium and raise the noise floor of your audio equipment. However, vibrational influences exist in 4 Dimensions (in my opinion): The Horizontal, The Vertical, The Rotational, and The Time Space Dimension (The Room that houses your Audio ). Presently, my system does not employ any roller bearings or floating mechanisms which conceptually would address the Rotational Dimension of vibrations. However, I believe my efforts in the other three Dimensions is so superb, it has me very close to my system operating at its maximum performance. I am still researching products that I think would be efficacious in addressing this vibrational parameter and I will Update readers on my results when completed. Managing vibrations on your equipment can improve sound more than you can ever imagine. My preferences of elements for addressing the vibrational issues are wood, rubber, felt and Black Diamond Racing Products http://www.bdrsound.com/Contact.html I use # 3 Black Diamond Racing Cones under my Harman Kardon Citation 1 Pre-Amp which is enclosed in a wooden cabinet and my Proceed Transport. My Proceed Transport, Citation 1 Pre-Amp, and my VTL Deluxe Ultra-Linear Tube Power Amp sit on top of a specialty audio cabinet made of wood that sits on a carpeted concrete floor. My Focal Utopia Diva Be Speakers are on cones supplied by Focal. I use Maple Blocks for my modified Monarchy NM24 tube DAC, Monarchy AC Regenerator, Thorens TD 126 MKIII and Technics SL-1210, and my Allnic AUT 2000 Step Up Transformer sits on a pair of Technics Rubber and Felt mats. Presently, I use nothing under my VTL Deluxe Ultra-Linear Tube Power Amplifier. With the Cones, Maple Blocks, and Rubber and Felt mats in place, there is a significant increase in clarity, detail, imaging, and soundstage, including a tighter, deeper bass, plus an extended, sweeter, more defined, transparent quality to the mid-range, improved image focus in the presence and the palpability of images, and increased separation between instruments which allows you to follow disparate percussive elements. The soundstage takes on greater proportions with a more formidable authority. Tonality, Harmonic Texturing, Musical Layering are all enhanced which adds to the realism of the presentation. Dynamic swings both large and small are more like real life. Overall, there is a much greater sense of the system getting out of the way, leaving the listener with an increased sense of emotional connection with the recorded event. However, the most important benefit afforded by the vibrational isolation is the increase of musical rhythm (PRAT). All metallic, aggressive, and electronic aspects are eliminated. Space has much greater Depth with a more organic natural flow that sounds like "Real Music".
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