Stillpoints Ultra Vs - Wilson X1/Grand Slamms

[Frank750]

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?

I tried the Ultra SS under my Playback Design MPS5. Made a little improvement in bass and soundstage. Then tried the 5s and thought they were much better. I now have 5s under my CD player, pre amp and power supply and phono amp and power supply. Can't put them under my speakers and have SRA Ohio XL+ amp stands so I don't want to fool with the amps.

I did try them under my SME 30/12 as well but didn't like the results at all. Everything got very muddy and congested.

 

[Steve Williams]

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?

wait for Lloyd to sell his

 

[LL21]

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?

wait for Lloyd to sell his

Hah! I will say, i have looked for a year for these to come up second hand and got tired of waiting...and i am pretty patient.I waited 5 years for a bloody transport...of course, that cost a lot more too. I did see a set of 4 Ultra 5s come up once...and realized that wouldn't work since its only 1 speaker...and there was hardly any savings over new with dealer discount.

For me, these fall into the category of things you just end up keeping 'forever'. I still have my AQ Emerald Interconnects i bought in 1993...i just use them from the cable box now into my preamp. Regardless of component upgrades...i will (and have so far kept and use) HRS, Nordost QX4 and likely also these Stillpoints... They have no discernable sonic signature of their own...just greater detail, quieter background and more dimensionality. More of what i already like in my components basically.

So, much as they were 'ridiculously' expensive even with dealer discount...i dont think i'll sell these, and if the AQ Emerald interconnects are any indication...then i wont. Sorry Edorr! You might just have to go out and buy a set new!!

 

[LL21]

I tried the Ultra SS under my Playback Design MPS5. Made a little improvement in bass and soundstage. Then tried the 5s and thought they were much better. I now have 5s under my CD player, pre amp and power supply and phono amp and power supply. Can't put them under my speakers and have SRA Ohio XL+ amp stands so I don't want to fool with the amps.

I did try them under my SME 30/12 as well but didn't like the results at all. Everything got very muddy and congested.

I compared Stillpoints LP Isolator (also 5 ceramic balls inside) to the Ultra 5...both just on top of my Transport...Ultra 5 was surprising still better...maybe 10%+. enough to be noticeable...and a little irritating when i am trying to keep the budget!

 

[Bill Demars]

The retail prices are $700/each for the Ultra 5 and $996/set of 4 for the Ultra SS. The LPI is $549.
I have Ultra 5's under my stereo 6C33C amp and Ultra SS under my phono power supply and an LPI on my turntable. I started my auditioning with the LPI and listened to it vs. my Mirko weight-which to my ears has beaten everything else I have tried including the HRS clamp. The LPI allowed more information through and created an ease to the music and a less chaotic presentation. Then under the amp went the Ultra 5's and more of the same improvements became evident. Singers hung in three-dimensional space between my loudspeakers and now I could tell how big the stage was or if it was recorded in a booth much more easily. The same results under the power supply. I listened this way for several hours and played a piece that I am very familiar with-side one of La Fille Mal Gardee. Then I took out all of the Stillpoints. Wow, what a disappointment. The sounstage literally collapsed and the magic was gone. I am amazed at what they do.

 

[PeterA]

Has anyone compared these or similar devices to a Vibraplane under an amplifier or CDP?

 

[rockitman]

how to the Ultra 5's compare to the wave kinetic footer both in terms of sound improvement and price ?

 

[PeterA]

I did try them under my SME 30/12 as well but didn't like the results at all. Everything got very muddy and congested.

Frank, Have you ever tried a Vibraplane or similar air-isolation platform under your SME 30/12? I have a Vibraplane under my 30/12 with a larger steel ballast plate to preload the Vibraplane and support and isolate the motor controller. Together it further isolates the SME and results in a more articulate bass, clearer details and subjectively greater extension. I have not tried hard devices like the Stillpoints under my turntable. Sorry to be slightly off topic.

 

[Frank750]

Frank, Have you ever tried a Vibraplane or similar air-isolation platform under your SME 30/12? I have a Vibraplane under my 30/12 with a larger steel ballast plate to preload the Vibraplane and support and isolate the motor controller. Together it further isolates the SME and results in a more articulate bass, clearer details and subjectively greater extension. I have not tried hard devices like the Stillpoints under my turntable. Sorry to be slightly off topic.

I keep looking but never pull the trigger. Not sure about the air pump and whether I want to introduce that into the equation or not. If you get a chance, could you please PM me the model you use? Thanks Peter.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Frank, Have you ever tried a Vibraplane or similar air-isolation platform under your SME 30/12? I have a Vibraplane under my 30/12 with a larger steel ballast plate to preload the Vibraplane and support and isolate the motor controller. Together it further isolates the SME and results in a more articulate bass, clearer details and subjectively greater extension. I have not tried hard devices like the Stillpoints under my turntable. Sorry to be slightly off topic.

when i had the Dobbins plinth'd Technics SP-10 Mk2 and Mk3, the Garrard 301, and The Beat; they all were developed and voiced using the Stillpoints. i tried the Wave Kinetics A10-U8's but they softened the transients too much. evidently the Stillpoints work differently than isolation such as air suspension or other softer approaches.

you can never generalize with isolation and it's benefits, particularly with a turntable, and very particularly with higher resolution turntables. you have to experiment and be open to what you hear. don't assume anything.

 

[MadFloyd]

First of all: congrats, Lloyd!

I don't understand the theory behind Stillpoints, but it sounds like it's the opposite of spikes (isolation versus coupling)?

I have my spiked Sashas on Herbies Isolation Feet


(bonus is you can move speakers around easily)

 

[mep]

First of all: congrats, Lloyd!

I don't understand the theory behind Stillpoints, but it sounds like it's the opposite of spikes (isolation versus coupling)?

I have my spiked Sashas on Herbies Isolation Feet
View attachment 9112



(bonus is you can move speakers around easily)

How can these be any good? The most expensive version of the feet which are made with titanium (which is a very expensive and very hard to machine metal) are only $40 each. That means you can Herbie up both speakers for $320 which is slightly over half of the cost of ONE Stillpoint.

 

[arnies]

Hi Lloyd,

Good to hear that you got a chance to hear what the Ultra 5's can do in your system.

I have the Ultra 5's under my Beat turntable, my Allnic H3000 phono stage and the H3000 outboard power supply and my Absolare preamp. I use the Ultra SS's under the outboard power supply for my MSB transport and the outboard power supply for my MSB Diamond DAC and under my external crossover for my Rockport Arrakis. I have compared the Ultra SS to the Ultra 5 using my Allnic phono stage (both the main unit and the power supply). In my system, both the Ultra SS and the Ultra 5 improve the sonics in the same areas, but the Ultra 5's just do more of it and once you hear what they do, it is difficult to not use them. I havent' tried either of them under my VTL Siegfried amps yet, but I do plan to do that in the not too distant future.

Arnie

 

[LL21]

Arnie, Mad Floyd, Mike Lavigne, Frank750 and Bill Demars,

Quite a serious group to be providing such great feedback in such a short time! Thanks for sharing, as you've all had experience or knowledge of Stillpoints (Madfloyd with Herbies) much longer than I. Good to know i am in good company!

I did not actually realize how many people with serious systems use isolation to this level...even though i am thoroughly convinced by the HRS, Artesania products...few people i actually speak face to face with use this stuff. I am very happy with the Stillpoints. System is settling in nicely once again...and i am just rotating thru albums i know well and enjoying.

 

[Bill Hart]

Has anyone compared these or similar devices to a Vibraplane under an amplifier or CDP?

Albert Porter uses both Vibraplanes and Stillpoints (not in combo on the same component as far as I know). You can probably reach him directly through his site, since I gather he doesn't post here.

 

[Bill Hart]

First of all: congrats, Lloyd!

I don't understand the theory behind Stillpoints, but it sounds like it's the opposite of spikes (isolation versus coupling)?

I have my spiked Sashas on Herbies Isolation Feet
View attachment 9112

(bonus is you can move speakers around easily)

Floyd, although i didn't try them on my speakers, i did try the Herbies' feet under my phono stage power supply, along with about 5 or 6 other products (which I think I cataloged in a thread devoted to the subject). I found the Herbie's feet under the power supply to soften things, compared to the others. Perhaps, with a nasty sounding CD player, that's the right route.
The other surprise, at least among 'cheap' tweaks, was the Vibrapod/cone combo. Pretty effective (not in the league of the Stillpoints, but not anywhere near their price).

 

[rockitman]

Anyone using the stillpoints ess rack ? The insanity continues...

 

[LL21]

By damping my CJ preamp with Stillpoints Ultra 5, i can hear other changes to the preamp more easily.

For example, without the Ultra 5 on top of the preamp, the difference between having little dampers (i got them practically free) on the 2 lucite CJ tube guards is 5%. Subtle but worth keeping the dampers on top. Once i put the Stillpoints Ultra V on the preamp, then the difference of having those little dampers on the lucite guards is somewhere between 10%-15%. Again, i suspect the Ultra 5 is damping/isolating the unit so that i can hear other changes more easily. I can see now why people who find uses for these in one place in their system...end up with these on a number of components.

 

[LL21]

Anyone using the stillpoints ess rack ? The insanity continues...

I will have to pass on that one...I had my rack made many years ago for significantly less than an HRS, Finite or Stillpoints rack and i am keeping it. In truth, every component is now isolated individually quite nicely including (finally!) the speakers and sub. The tonality is exactly where i've had it for the last 4-5 years, but increasingly refined. The bass has finally tightened and the detail/decay level grown. I have one last tweak on the 22nd, and that is me with my 3rd 'fully evolved' system after nearly 8 years since i started building it...longer than i originally remembered after going back thru my files...wow.

 

[microstrip]

Most of these mechanical devices really change the sound of equipment - I have tried a few. However sometimes they improve certain areas at the expense of others - IMHO a long time evaluation is needed before having a definitive opinion on them. Otherwise we risk just jumping in the difference.

In the particular case of my Audio Research equipment I have found that most of the time using special feet affects the fullness of the system, creating an apparently more dynamic, but IMHO more "hifi" sound. When I had conrad johnson electronics the effect of the Finite Elements tuned shelves with resonators of the Pagode Master Reference was impressive. The ARC's also show some improvement in this rack, but the difference is not so large as with the cj's - or simply I got used to the its sound signature and do not find it as impressive as before!

An important aspect is the interaction of different mechanical systems - if you have a special tuned rack, putting another device in series can seriously affect the primary performance of the rack.

BTW, you can find the Stillpoints patent here - good for DIY people! http://www.google.com/patents/US6655668.pdf