[marklivia]

Has anyone used any cones, etc. under their Sig 30 and noticed any improvements?  What did you use and what was the effect?   Thanks guys,  Mark

[ZLS]

Has anyone used any cones, etc. under their Sig 30 and noticed any improvements?  What did you use and what was the effect?   Thanks guys,  Mark

    Well,now that you mention it I am a footer slut.  I have purchased more footers then I care to admit and here are my conclusion's. 
    The type of footer you use is dependant upon what type of sound you wish to elicit from your Sig.  I have found that spikes tend to emphasize the beginning transient, and make the Sig sound punchier.  Ebony wood based footers tend to enrich the sound and make it darker,myrtle based footers tend to lighten the sound.  Cork and Rubber based footers tend to emphasize the Harmonics, same with Graphite based footers. 
    I do want to state clearly that the RWA Amp's are fine instruments that will reflect subtle changes to what they sit on and how they are placed there.  First and foremost is to provide a sturdy base if you have not already done so; the difference is not subtle. 
    A inexpensive footer is to contact Edmund Scientific and purchase 4 "Unhappy" Balls (Don't laugh!) They are very inert. 
    Again, it depends on your particular taste, you are the one who listens to your system and you are the one who must be happy. 
    I have purposely not mentioned any individual brands (other than the unhappy balls (cost less then $20).  I do not wish to start a flame war.

[texendo]

Anyone had experience with Vibrapod/cones in particular?  I like the improvements they and their followers claim to make, but they're a little biased : )  My Sig 70s currently sit atop one another (I know, I know), on an Ikea table.  I used to have them on Mapleshade triplepoints, but I didn't pick out any great imrovements.  (That was also before I had the Devore Nines speakers).

[R Browne]

I've personally come to like footers made by Herbies Audio Lab. Both the Tenderfoot and Iso-Cup footers are great. The Tenderfoot would be a good choice for the Sig 30.2. The Iso-Cup footers are more versatile in that you can alter the sonics by your choice of ball. The choice of material used to fabricate the balls has an effect on the sound. One thing to consider when using the Iso-Cup footers is that the equipment sitting on it can easily slide if it is knocked into. The Tenderfoot footers are more stable as they can be used with adhesive backing and the footer bottom has a bit of grip on the surface beneath it. Herbie offers a 60 day no risk trial on all his products so they are definitely worth trying. You can find more info at: http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/footers.htm

[nonoise]

I, too, use Herbie's tenderfeet (foots?) under my Sig 30. They absorb vibrations in all planes instead of
just vertically, as a spike would. Everything seems to just lock into place while masking nothing in the music. All the positives attributed to spikes seem to apply to these at a fraction of the price. I use them
under everything, including my speakers.


nonoise

[Nick Bassman]

I've been using the Stands Unique Carbon Fibre Isolators with some success. Once in place surprisingly stable too.

http://www.standsunique.com/productrange/accessories/energymanagement.htm

[Fork]

I’ve had great luck using Sorbothane to isolate my component shelf.  My setup is some heavy duty brackets screwed into the wall, with a MDF shelf on top and speakers on each side.  Before I was feeling a lot of vibration from the bass, when I put my hand on the components.  Some experts had told me that microvibration was the only major factor, but I don’t see how sending low frequency energy into the gear can be a good thing. 

I isolated the shelf with four 1.5” sorbothane rectangles that I fabricated.  According to the Sorbothane company’s calculator program this should provide isolation of 75-80%.  The results were excellent.  Within 60 seconds I noticed the dry, cold edge on the music had been lifted and it just flowed easier.  I still can feel vibration in the amp, transferred through the speaker cables, but it’s much less.  This tweak cost me $15 and was very worthwhile, as I’ve had my share of products and tweaks that were disappointments.
Sorbothane is maligned because it’s not used properly.  Judging by the dimensions and density of the custom footers I see dealers selling, the actual isolation for these products is probably less than 20% (Panda Thumbs are the exception, if they're still available).  As for the clear blue pads that came with my CD player, those are Sorbogel (a different product) and not that effective.  To use this product properly you have to download the calculator tool on the Sorbothane website and calculate the right dimensions to get the precise compression (deflection) per pound.   Below is a link to a post on how to use the tool and where to buy.

Also, I’m currently evaluating the Herbie’s Audio Lab Tenderfoot.  So far they’ve done nothing for my sound, under both the 30.2 and the Isabella.  I’m going to give the evaluation one more shot with a butcher block and additional layer of sorbothane underneath the components.  Boston Audio Tuneblocks made the Red Wine sound dry and piercing.  The effect was audible, but not good.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/sorbothane-sheets-shelf-isolation-313457/

[kbuzz3]

I also enjoy the herbie's under my sig 30.  However, lately i have tried some myrtle feet.  There is a sound difference but i dont want to color your judgment.

BTW Where does one get ebony feet?

[Chickenism]

Vibrapod Model 1's and Vibrapod Cones under my Sig 30.  Half a dozen of each arranged symetrically three at the front three at the back.

I've had excellent results on previous equipment with the Vibrapod combination so automatically put my amp on top of these when it arrived a few days ago.

Do plan to try some Nordost Pulsar Points as well when time permits.

Cheers, Dave 

[Mariusz]

Isoblocks (rubber and cork between bottom & top layers)
under Isabella.  Preamp seats on three-layer platform.
2X 3/4" Bamboo butcher blocks and 1X 3/4" MDF.  P-Xpress standard $24 per set spikes used for the platform. 

I'm personally in favor of dedicated stands for all of my components.
Preferred wood - Walnut, Maple and Bamboo. Baltic Ply and MDF sandwitched together works very well too.

Mariusz

[Randy]

Has anyone used any cones, etc. under their Sig 30 and noticed any improvements?  What did you use and what was the effect?   Thanks guys,  Mark

     
    The type of footer you use is dependant upon what type of sound you wish to elicit from your Sig.  I have found that spikes tend to emphasize the beginning transient, and make the Sig sound punchier.  Ebony wood based footers tend to enrich the sound and make it darker,myrtle based footers tend to lighten the sound.  Cork and Rubber based footers tend to emphasize the Harmonics, same with Graphite based footers. 

And glass footers will made the sound more transparent.

[Fork]

After more experimenting with the Tenderfoot from Herbie's I decided to keep them.  I have them under my 30.2 and Isabella.  The second set didn't result in tremendous improvement, but the first set under the power amp removed some glare.  I've tried a lot of Herbie's gear.  The products that didn't do much for me, at least with Red Wine gear, include the tube dampers, big fat dots under my speakers, binding post washers, grunge buster dots under my computer or used to dampen vibration in my equipment shelf.

One product that probably worked even better than the Tenderfoot was the Halo Jr rings on my speaker cables, at the 30.2 binding posts.  Some cables like the Zu Ibis, which I tried or the Varial, which I'm using already have mechanisms in their design to address the micro vibration, but not my current speaker cables.  I could hear the music focus improve immediately as I was putting them on.  I haven't tried them at the speaker end or on the interconnect.

[Vinnie R.]

Hi Fork,

Thanks for posting your feedback!

Vinnie