Stillpoints Ultra Vs - Wilson X1/Grand Slamms

[LL21]

And Post 3...

...the Auralex Subwoofer Isolation platform ($60!!!) works better in my room than 3 Ultra 5s underneath...possible because it is helping to absorb the 30hz resononance/node with its absorption materials underneath...

...HOWEVER, with the 3 Ultra 5s on top of the sub...(placed on top diagonally but the units are upside down)...the bass is dramatically tighter...and the bass boom/node at 30hz which occurs in one spot in my room (nowhere else that i would be sitting/standing)...is dramatically more controlled...still clearly a problem but far more controlled and it occurs only fewer than 10 tracks which i have found across 1600 albums.

Specifics:

- Koyanisquaatsi...track 8...around minute 5, you get those big organ pedals...now, not only does each pedal start and stop immediately...i never had that before...but it stops so quickly, i can hear the organist actually lift off the pedal each time to release the organ pedal!!! now that's detail! (at least for me).

- Lil' Kim The Naked Truth Track 2...the opening booooomsss used to echo in the room...no more...start and stop on a dime (i always thought it lingered but it does not), and the xylophone rings are clear as a bell without interference from the bass overwhelming the room.

- Alicia Keys - As I Am - Track 6...in the opening 10 seconds or so, you can actually hear her singing in the very, very distant background...cool. Never heard that before.

EDIT:
- Keb 'Mo - Keb 'Mo - Track 5...i did not realize there was an entire bass line of music that plays an entirely separate tune all throughout this track. i may have known it was there without realizing it...and could have heard it if i tried...but now with the bass tighter across the board, this particular bass line just naturally comes out as a natural counterpart to the rest of the guitar playing, singing, etc. I went back to work...and this just popped out while i was going thru emails. ok...enuf!...back to work!

 

[Jazzhead]

And Post 3...

...HOWEVER, with the 3 Ultra 5s on top of the sub...(placed on top diagonally but the units are upside down)...the bass is dramatically tighter...and the bass boom/node at 30hz which occurs in one spot in my room (nowhere else that i would be sitting/standing)...is dramatically more controlled...still clearly a problem but far more controlled and it occurs only fewer than 10 tracks which i have found across 1600 albums.

.

That's a first , used on top of a unit . Was it recommended by the dealer , or part of your experimentation ?

 

[LL21]

That's a first , used on top of a unit . Was it recommended by the dealer , or part of your experimentation ?

The Dealer did say the LP Isolator was basically an Ultra V in smaller form to get on top of an LP. And i had read others had used it for CD Transports (which i am also doing now). So i decided to experiment.

I decided to try the isolators on top of the unit...partly due to curiosity and partly because i remember a double thickness HRS Large damping plate did make a difference but not enough with just one to catch my interest. Putting 1 on top is audible, as are 2...but the sub does not tighten up 'to that next level' until i stick the 3rd one down. 2 in the diagonal corners...and 1 in the middle.

Hearing music is obviously helpful...but when trying to dial in, i also mute the Gryphon amp...and just listen to the sub alone...and it is quite shocking how the '38hz and below' series of wwwhooomps suddenly become snappy, individual bass hits. start and stop on cue...very rare when a sub is set that low. its actually musical in its own right. normally a series of powerful rumbles. I have never heard that from my sub before in any of my rooms in 20 years. And i think many people have found (before this weekend) that the bass is exceedingly tight...but this is another level.

 

[LL21]

I placed a pair of Harmonix wooden footers at each amp, and bass reproduction is now more tight and fast, mids are cleaner and highs just remained the same - I have had this footers for quite a long time but it is under this setup that showed their benefits the most.

http://www.combak.net/feet&bases/FEET_and_BASES.html

Hi Flez...took the liberty of taking your quote from another thread and sticking it here to help others learn from your experience as well.

 

[Jazzhead]

The Dealer did say the LP Isolator was basically an Ultra V in smaller form to get on top of an LP. And i had read others had used it for CD Transports (which i am also doing now). So i decided to experiment.

I decided to try the isolators on top of the unit...partly due to curiosity and partly because i remember a double thickness HRS Large damping plate did make a difference but not enough with just one to catch my interest. Putting 1 on top is audible, as are 2...but the sub does not tighten up 'to that next level' until i stick the 3rd one down. 2 in the diagonal corners...and 1 in the middle.

Hearing music is obviously helpful...but when trying to dial in, i also mute the Gryphon amp...and just listen to the sub alone...and it is quite shocking how the '38hz and below' series of wwwhooomps suddenly become snappy, individual bass hits. start and stop on cue...very rare when a sub is set that low. its actually musical in its own right. normally a series of powerful rumbles. I have never heard that from my sub before in any of my rooms in 20 years. And i think many people have found (before this weekend) that the bass is exceedingly tight...but this is another level.

Great Results , thanks for the feedback . Are you using a single sub , ever tried the stereo sub config ?

 

[LL21]

Great Results , thanks for the feedback . Are you using a single sub , ever tried the stereo sub config ?

I would love to try stereo subs...and no doubt when the room allows, i will. Just not now unfortunately. But other than that 1 bass node at 30hz in that one spot...i am cool throughout the rest of the room.

 

[flez007]

Hi Flez...took the liberty of taking your quote from another thread and sticking it here to help others learn from your experience as well.

all fine! I do not have a vast experience with footers except these Harmonix which I am sure add some color but at the same time tame vibrations to a great extent.

 

[mep]

Crazy money for these devices-$700 EACH. No wonder you are claiming 25%-30% improvements in all audiophile categories. You should be able to hear things that were never even recorded for that type of money.

 

[Steve Williams]

so which is the way to go???

Stillpoints or Harmonix and how do prices compare?

 

[LL21]

so which is the way to go???

Stillpoints or Harmonix and how do prices compare?

Both expensive...I a told harmonix will warm up a system but is excellent in any event. I was told (and can confirm in my system) they did not alter the tone or voice of my system.

 

[Steve Williams]

so what's the price

 

[LL21]

Crazy money for these devices-$700 EACH. No wonder you are claiming 25%-30% improvements in all audiophile categories. You should be able to hear things that were never even recorded for that type of money.

Mep you r totally right...crazy indeed. oTOH I agree with u...OToH I really don't want the dealer bringing any more by for me to try elsewhere! too tempting...insane but also very good. Worth the money? I have always known after my auralex subwoofer platform that my floor was not ideal...I know something would end up under my Wilsons but at 600lbs each...there are very few footers for that. So cost was always going to be an issue...N2S, Harmonix, Stillpoints...all expensive. Fortunately, having bought the X1s 2nd hand (when they were 16 yrs old but mint and still packaged)...I can (sort of) justify the cost in some respects.

 

[LL21]

so what's the price

$600 each Stillpoints ultra 5. Stillpoints ultra is $300 each?
Harmonix T-666 is about 400 each...there are several models...not sure they screw into the Wilsons.

 

[Steve Williams]

Totally crazy however have a look at the ones Alon is making at Magico or his component rack for $50K

Not sure I would spend that money but until I heard what they do I might have a change of heart

Lloyd for the $5K or so you spent you could have bought a pair of Fathom subs

 

[LL21]

Totally crazy however have a look at the ones Alon is making at Magico or his component rack for $50K

Not sure I would spend that money but until I heard what they do I might have a change of heart

Lloyd for the $5K or so you spent you could have bought a pair of Fathom subs

True, but the Fathom subs would not change my X1s...and the X1s would still be singing with the floor. I got the Stillpoints for the X1s...not for the sub. The idea of buying 3 for the sub ($1500) is a whole nother matter and i am still debating it. Having heard other subs (not JL before)...i suspect the isolation of these 3 crazy expensive things would help in most cases. The Velodyne is pretty well built if no longer SOTA, and the change was much greater than i had anticipated...again still debating. However for me there is no debate on the X1s...they are more like a different speaker now, and i like them this way.

 

[Steve Williams]

lloyd

are you running your X1's full range with the Velodyne adding to the bottom end up to 35 Hz or do your subs play everything below 35 Hz

 

[LL21]

lloyd

are you running your X1's full range with the Velodyne adding to the bottom end up to 35 Hz or do your subs play everything below 35 Hz

definitely running the X1s full range. Velodyne runs in parallel from 20hz to 39hz...steep cut off on both ends.

 

[edorr]

I am leaning towards my usual strategy of waiting for a used set of 8 to show up and scooping them up. Has anyone compared the Stillpont V's with the UltraSS?

 

[DaveyF]

I use Harmonix under all of my digital components. Big fan of what they do there. Am now using Sort cones under the sub, not such a big improvement as Harmonix under the other gear. I suspect it has to do with how the floor is constructed. Mine is a concrete slab on the ground floor, are you on the ground floor LLoyd?

 

[LL21]

I use Harmonix under all of my digital components. Big fan of what they do there. Am now using Sort cones under the sub, not such a big improvement as Harmonix under the other gear. I suspect it has to do with how the floor is constructed. Mine is a concrete slab on the ground floor, are you on the ground floor LLoyd?

Good to know, Davey. Definitely big fan of isolation for my digital equipment and the tubed preamp. We are on upper level...wood floor over concrete slab. Suspect that is why i am getting such big benefit from Auralex Subwoofer platform and the Stillpoints Ultra 5s. That said, i am pretty sure Turntable is using his basement as his listening room and he is thick carpet...presumably over concrete? And he is getting benefits from Stillpoints Ultra SS under his big Wilson Maxx 3s.