Has anyone compared EVP's to Townshend Pods? I have the Pods under all of my components and the Townshend platform under my speakers. The EVPs are really expensive now as all of my equipment is on the heavy side.
A/V Room Service Equipment Vibration Protectors (EVPs)
- Thread starter tmallin
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I use EVPs under some components and previously owned Townshend speaker podiums, however I did not compare them. I did test each using the iPhone Seismograph app and results were similar.
At their price point of ~$400/four, I think comparing sonic attributes when used under components is picking nits, because they are more similar than not insofar as they are decoupling devices with different versions within the lines according to weight they're designed to support. Now, their respective effect may be more pronounced under loudspeakers. I only have experience with Townshend under loudspeakers, where they produced results consistent with most reviews and user comments.
To my mind, ease of set-up, placement, and build quality carry more weight.
Are you considering replacing Townshend products with EVP, and if so, why?
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Great question...like everyone here we are always looking for the extra edge. I have been researching isolation for the last two weeks. You are probably right that I would not be able to hear a difference between EVP's and Townshend Pods / Podiums. Others might be able to. I have to get a new component rack system due to new much smaller but heavier amps coming into my system. I am space limited. EVPs have less height which may be a factor with the rack and space. Due to the weight, I would need the 4" EVP which then is $800 for one component. Given that price, I will probably stay with the Townshend Pods. However, I might try the EVPs under my Lampi Horizon DAC just because I need more height space on that shelf.
$800 for four EVPs makes Townshend Pods a no-brainer provided you have vertical clearance for them. I believe they compress a bit taller overall than EVPs.
I use Nobsound springs under my mono block tube amplifiers. Some users say Townshend Pods sound better. Maybe. I'm not inclined to experiment at this point. $35 for four Nobsound footers (with free return) is too good to ignore.
Amazon sells Air Shims that are invaluable for lifting heavy components to allow placement of footers. They can be used to raise loudspeakers as well. I generally use three or four air shims for an installation. They were very handy during Townshend podium installation used in conjunction with furniture sliders. I've provided this tip to a few other Townshend podium owners who have spread the gospel in other forums.
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Townshend pods are just stunning. I put 4 under my turntable and it never sounded better - bass articulation, mid range range density and high end clarity significantly improved. It was clear to me I should apply them to the boxes, too, but rather than put them under each item on the rest of the rack, I've just installed 4 Townshend Corners under my rack.
I've got a seismic app on my phone. I put it on the rack and stamped my foot on the wooden, suspended floor. Nothing, nada, zilch. This was definitely not the case before I suspended the rack. I've no doubt the benefits that came from putting the Pods under my t/t have transferred to suspending the rack. I can't say I can hear it because 99% of my listening was via a dac that expired just before I put them in, so I've no reference point other than the rarely used t/t - which now sounds so good I'm questioning digital. But, I do know that putting anti-vib' devices under pre and power, previously, had very obvious effects on sound. So isolating them in this way can only be for the good.
If I get a half-width DAC, my phono amp will go back on the rack. If it's full width, it'll have to stay on the wood unit which supports tv and other ancillaries and I'll get a Townshend Platform for it. Talk to Townshend direct for best price. One of the most sensible investments you can make IMO.
I've got a seismic app on my phone. I put it on the rack and stamped my foot on the wooden, suspended floor. Nothing, nada, zilch. This was definitely not the case before I suspended the rack. I've no doubt the benefits that came from putting the Pods under my t/t have transferred to suspending the rack. I can't say I can hear it because 99% of my listening was via a dac that expired just before I put them in, so I've no reference point other than the rarely used t/t - which now sounds so good I'm questioning digital. But, I do know that putting anti-vib' devices under pre and power, previously, had very obvious effects on sound. So isolating them in this way can only be for the good.
If I get a half-width DAC, my phono amp will go back on the rack. If it's full width, it'll have to stay on the wood unit which supports tv and other ancillaries and I'll get a Townshend Platform for it. Talk to Townshend direct for best price. One of the most sensible investments you can make IMO.
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Check Townshend's instructions regarding even spring loading. These footers would benefit by adjusting their positions until the tops are parallel with the bottoms and centered along the vertical centerline. Performance will improve.
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Yes, thanks for that. I had just written to them to ask about 'lean' on the springs. Moving the pod bases makes no difference. I positioned each box using a spirit level - when the shelf became completely level I judged the box to be in the right place - but that didn't translate to the springs being completely vertical. The instructions didn't make any reference to this.
Moving the pod bases will solve the "lean"; it takes finesse and patience.
I recommend using air shims to lift the lower rack base just enough to enable repositioning the pods' bases so they align under the pods' tops. Since you use eight pods, it will take some time. It can be done.
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Yes, the EVPs are not longer the great bargain they once were. But sonically they provide excellent results. These are still what I use for acoustic isolation of electronics in my system.
Pay particular attention to the load ratings of each model. You can save money by using three per component instead of four and the sound is usually further improved that way.
If you have a choice in terms of the permitted load range, I think the sound of the LD version is best, followed by MD, then HD. The "softer" the suspension, in other words, the better the sound. Just be careful about how you move the EVPs around under the component. The bellows of the LD version is particularly fragile and is easily damaged if the top and bottom of the bellows move differentially under a component.
Supporting items via a triangle is usually sonically superior since there are fewer degrees of freedom for any permitted motion and there is no tendency for an item to "rock" back and forth as there is with four support points. I have found this to be as true with soft supports like the EVPs as it is with rigid supports like cones or spikes.
Make sure the weight of the component is evenly distributed so that the bellows of each EVP is equally compressed and that the bellows of each EVP is evenly compressed right to left and front to back. The EVPs should appear "level" in other words.
And for small, light electronic items the weight of which is well within the capacity of a single low density (LD) EVP, I've had great success balancing the item atop a single EVP in such a way that the EVP bellows appear "level" left to right and front to back.
Pay particular attention to the load ratings of each model. You can save money by using three per component instead of four and the sound is usually further improved that way.
If you have a choice in terms of the permitted load range, I think the sound of the LD version is best, followed by MD, then HD. The "softer" the suspension, in other words, the better the sound. Just be careful about how you move the EVPs around under the component. The bellows of the LD version is particularly fragile and is easily damaged if the top and bottom of the bellows move differentially under a component.
Supporting items via a triangle is usually sonically superior since there are fewer degrees of freedom for any permitted motion and there is no tendency for an item to "rock" back and forth as there is with four support points. I have found this to be as true with soft supports like the EVPs as it is with rigid supports like cones or spikes.
Make sure the weight of the component is evenly distributed so that the bellows of each EVP is equally compressed and that the bellows of each EVP is evenly compressed right to left and front to back. The EVPs should appear "level" in other words.
And for small, light electronic items the weight of which is well within the capacity of a single low density (LD) EVP, I've had great success balancing the item atop a single EVP in such a way that the EVP bellows appear "level" left to right and front to back.
I think I'm kinda stuck with the HD ones as I'm looking for something to put under a 80 lb plus turntable...
I have used AV Room Service EVP's for several years. They have performed effectively on all of my electronics including the TT (Ars Machinae M1, pictured below) which has a tripod configuration for the feet.
The price certainly has risen but they do work better for isolation than any other passive device I have tried. In that regard, and in my system, the price is in line, imo, with brands they outperform.
If you do go in the EVP direction, I would recommend stainless steel discs for any EVP used with pointed feet (like the RevOpods that came with my TT). First, the discs aid in centering the feet on the EVP and secondarily, they prevent dimpling/crushing the EVP by more uniformly distributing the weight of the TT over a larger surface area. Norman at AV Room Service confirmed (as has my experience) that EVP performance is not impacted by the metal discs because EVPs are agnostic as to what material is above or below them. I included an image of the three (3) EVPs I use on the Ars Machinae M1 which weighs ~ 80 lbs.
AV Room Service sells the discs, but I have also located them on Amazon (I do not believe they are the same source used by AV Room Service, but they appear to be nearly identical).
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