Critical Mass Systems CenterStage2 Isolation Feet
$240 apiece (and up)
The first iterations of Joe Lavrencik’s pricey acoustic-isolation feet didn’t overly impress JV (or RH). But these second-generation versions…well, they come very close to living up to the hype that Joe has lavished on them (he thinks they’re the best products he’s designed). Through the ultra-transparent MBL 101 X-treme loudspeakers, the differences they made parked under two pairs of MBL 9008 A monoblock amplifiers (resting on Lavrencik’s superb CMS Olympus stands) quickly became obvious—a wholesale relaxation of the sound, which by comparison seemed slightly bunched-up (like a sock fresh out of the dryer), and a consequent improvement in definition and dynamics (particularly apparent in the lower octaves) that made deep bass lines easier to follow and increased and better controlled slam in the mid-to-upper bass. Yeah, they cost a bit, but once installed they’ve proved indispensable—and Product of the Year-worthy, in JV and RH’s opinion. (reviewed this issue)
$240 apiece (and up)
The first iterations of Joe Lavrencik’s pricey acoustic-isolation feet didn’t overly impress JV (or RH). But these second-generation versions…well, they come very close to living up to the hype that Joe has lavished on them (he thinks they’re the best products he’s designed). Through the ultra-transparent MBL 101 X-treme loudspeakers, the differences they made parked under two pairs of MBL 9008 A monoblock amplifiers (resting on Lavrencik’s superb CMS Olympus stands) quickly became obvious—a wholesale relaxation of the sound, which by comparison seemed slightly bunched-up (like a sock fresh out of the dryer), and a consequent improvement in definition and dynamics (particularly apparent in the lower octaves) that made deep bass lines easier to follow and increased and better controlled slam in the mid-to-upper bass. Yeah, they cost a bit, but once installed they’ve proved indispensable—and Product of the Year-worthy, in JV and RH’s opinion. (reviewed this issue)