Acoustic Dreams Dead Balls

earlmarc · « **on:** 10 Jul 2006, 06:10 pm »

I have spoken with a number of audio friends recently who have been very happy with the performance of the Acoustic Dreams Dead Balls. Many of them have extensive experience with various isolation devices. Has any members tried the Dead Balls?

http://www.acousticdreams.net/DeadBalls.htm

launche · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Jul 2006, 06:28 pm »

Looks interesting and very attractive, although I have no idea what the demonstration video was attempting to accomplish.

Keep us posted

Papajin · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Jul 2006, 09:33 pm »

I thought that was the name of a new band until I clicked on the link...

TomW16 · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Jul 2006, 02:19 am »

Where can you purchase them and for how much?

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 Jul 2006, 02:52 am »

After clicking on the link, and looking around on the site....this was more interesting.

There are similar styled products using balls...Gingko Audio, Herbie's, ect..but...who knows soundwise...

dcktr · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 Jul 2006, 04:17 am »

You can buy the dead balls, (unhappy balls) from http://www.arborsci.com/detail.aspx?ID=362
Save $$
If you call them up, you can buy all unhappy balls without buying the happy balls. I have them under my CD player. I like them better than vibrapods. Pick your poison as far as keeping them in place. I allow a small amount of motion for mine.
Ron

earlmarc · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Jul 2006, 04:41 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 11 Jul 2006, 02:52 am

After clicking on the link, and looking around on the site....this was more interesting.
There are similar styled products using balls...Gingko Audio, Herbie's, ect..but...who knows soundwise...

Lonewolf, their tube amplifier offerings are very nice indeed. They are expensive! Price range from $5000 for the smaller integrated to $30,000 for the larger mono-blocks. I will be trialing the Dead Balls. I'll let you know my impressions.

Carlman · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Jul 2006, 03:09 am »

Quote from: dcktr on 11 Jul 2006, 04:17 am

You can buy the dead balls, (unhappy balls) from http://www.arborsci.com/detail.aspx?ID=362
Save $$
If you call them up, you can buy all unhappy balls without buying the happy balls. I have them under my CD player. I like them better than vibrapods. Pick your poison as far as keeping them in place. I allow a small amount of motion for mine.
Ron

FYI, the unhappy balls are $2/each.... I should have them Friday.

Unfortunately, I think my main problem is my floor.... hardwoods over a big crawlspace... and then a big hollow wall behind me... kind of makes isolating components seem silly when the whole room resonates... but hey, it's easy and fun to try.

-C

earlmarc · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 01:32 am »

I received the Acoustic Dreams Dead Ball isolators and currently have them under my CD player. I find them attractive, they add princely gold slippers to an understated black chassis. I find them more supportive compared to the Gingko Balls I was using before. The Gingko Balls took alot of trial and error before getting good balance. They would roll to and fro when changing CDs and would require adjusting occasionally The Dead Balls don't roll around inside their inlays and thus are easier to position. They are very steady. A little more time with them should allow me to describe if they are any benefit.

R_burke · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 05:22 am »

1) how much $ are the acoustic dreams dead balls?

2) Do you just put the unhappy balls under equipment, do you cut them in half?

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 06:58 am »

Never heard of a toridial transformer:

http://www.acousticdreams.net/AyonSpherisDetailImages2.htm (scroll down)

or am I just uninformed?

gitarretyp · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 02:27 pm »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 15 Jul 2006, 06:58 am

Never heard of a toridial transformer:

http://www.acousticdreams.net/AyonSpherisDetailImages2.htm (scroll down)

or am I just uninformed?

Toroidal transformers are pretty common. I'd be willing to guess at least one component you own has one. You may recognize one out of a shield toroidal transformer.

earlmarc · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 04:30 pm »

Quote from: R_burke on 15 Jul 2006, 05:22 am

1) how much $ are the acoustic dreams dead balls?

2) Do you just put the unhappy balls under equipment, do you cut them in half?

I believe the Acoustic Dream Balls are $150.00 for a set of 3. The Dream Balls come with round bases that have an inlay that supports the balls. Something like how a diamond sets into a ring inlay.

Occam · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 05:00 pm »

Quote from: R_burke on 15 Jul 2006, 05:22 am

2) Do you just put the unhappy balls under equipment, do you cut them in half?

I have the arbor scientific dead balls [they bounce just like in that spiffy video at the Acoustice Dreams website and I assume they're both made of the same nosorex(tm)], uncut, under all my equipment. For components for 20lbs+ the weight of the component itself will keep the 3/component in place. For lighter (or heavier if you desire) faucet washers, or appropriately sized O-rings, on your shelf will keep them from rolling about.

I'd personally prefer mi-rollers -
http://mihorn.com/miroller.htm
and folks whose opinions I value think highly of like Hyperion's magnetic floaters-
http://www.hyperionsound.com/magnetic_floater.htm
and many (no personal experience) think highly of Herbie's isolators -
http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/footers.htm

But I'm a cheap SOB and for less than $10/component feel the dead balls a no brainer to evaluate the potential of isolation. Not that some of the above aren't potentially better, but they're simply the 'Sarah Lee' of physical isolation...
Everybody doesn't like something, but nobody doesn't like Sarah Lee.

Carlman · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 07:37 pm »

I can't believe it... I bought the 'unhappy' balls and I couldn't be happier... Very good tweak for $8/component.

It's not earth shattering by any means but sounds a little smoother/cleaner with the balls vs. without. Cool!

Who knew unhappy balls could actually make someone happy?

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 07:44 pm »

Hi Gitarretyp,
Thanks - I certainly have heard of toroidal transformers, just not Toridial, as silkscreened on the decorative cover over same in the details pix linked to.
Not encouraging.

gitarretyp · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Jul 2006, 10:37 pm »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 15 Jul 2006, 07:44 pm

Hi Gitarretyp,
Thanks - I certainly have heard of toroidal transformers, just not Toridial, as silkscreened on the decorative cover over same in the details pix linked to.
Not encouraging.

D'oh. I missread their misspelling.

earlmarc · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Jul 2006, 01:45 am »

My impression of the Acoustic Dreams Dead Balls are that they offer increased bass articulation, inner resolution and detail retrieval as well as quieter operation. They exceed my Sand Box as well as other isolation devices I have tried which include the following: Gingko Balls, various brass spiked feet, vibrapods, sorbathane feet, and maple platforms. I will be comparing the Acoustic Dream Dead Balls to the Adona Platforms in a week or so.

SET Man · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Jul 2006, 02:11 am »

Quote from: launche on 10 Jul 2006, 06:28 pm

Looks interesting and very attractive, although I have no idea what the demonstration video was attempting to accomplish.

Keep us posted

Hey!

I think that video clip try to show that the Dead Ball will absorb the shock better than the other ball instead of responding to the shock by boucing or should I say repel back the force by boucing.

Very interesting I must say. They make sense to me and don't look like some BS stuffs out there. But for the price I think I will try the "unhappy balls" first instead.

Take care,
Buddy

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Jul 2006, 03:15 am »

Quote from: Carlman on 15 Jul 2006, 07:37 pm

I can't believe it... I bought the 'unhappy' balls and I couldn't be happier... Very good tweak for $8/component. It's not earth shattering by any means but sounds a little smoother/cleaner with the balls vs. without. Cool!

Who knew unhappy balls could actually make someone happy?

Carl,

What's the approximate size of the unhappy balls?

Thx, John /TCG