Author Topic: Footers  (Read 11166 times)

Offline _Scotty_

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
  • “Sic transit gloria mundi”
Re: Footers
« Reply #30 on: February 14, 2019, 08:47:28 AM »
FYI, I tried ceramic and steel ball bearings before spending the money on tungsten ball bearings. They really were the best under my electronic components.
 McMaster Carr has been my source for the bearings I tried.
I believe the ball transfer bearings under my loudspeakers are chrome steel but you should apply a little Triflow to them once in awhile to avoid rust on the mild steel containing the bearing assembly.
 I am looking forward to the seeing the images of your daruma clones.
Scotty

Offline mdconnelly

  • Audio Neurotic
  • *****
  • Posts: 1439
  • new ways to dream...
Re: Footers
« Reply #31 on: February 17, 2019, 08:58:36 AM »
I picked up the IsoAcoustics OREA Bronze footers a couple weeks ago (from The Cable Co) and have 3 of them placed under each of my Devialet Expert Pros.   I'm not going to say I heard an amazing night and day improvement, but I could discern a more open and deep soundstage pretty much right from the start.   There was also a more delicate extension in the top end.   They seem extremely well built and attractive to look at.  (I also love trying tweaks that DO NOT require "breakin" ;-)  Overall, pretty nice bang for the buck footers.   Now I'm toying with the idea of using IsoAcoustics GAIAs under my speakers to replace spikes in Herbie's fat gliders (on hardwood floors).

I read a lot of good reviews of the IsoAcoustics products and my experience with the OREA Bronze confirms it.   Worth checking out ... http://www.isoacoustics.com/orea-series/

Offline Putz

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 330
Re: Footers
« Reply #32 on: February 18, 2019, 09:59:04 PM »
Gaia 2s for my speakers. Gaia 3s under Amp. Oreas under phono and preamp. Really tightens up the sound. Beat Stillpoints when we did a shootout on 3 different systems, mine being the lowest ended.

As stated, you can try them for 30 days. Took me less than 30 minutes to decide to keep them.

Only needed 6 Gaias for my Salk speakers. Sold the 2 extras right away to another guy who was in the same boat.

I also have their Aperta 300 under my Salk center channel with fantastic results.

Offline rollo

  • Industry Participant
  • *
  • Posts: 6982
  • Rollo Audio - Home demo the only way to know
Re: Footers
« Reply #33 on: February 19, 2019, 08:23:57 AM »
   It appears to me that "decoulping" ones speakers and components is the key here. Footers are not equal as you have heard in demo of such.
   I really like Pon-Tunes or VEM footers. Home brew works if done right. However the engineered products seem to yield better results. Ya get what ya pay for. Almost forgot Herbies decoulpers for speakers and racks.


charles
contact me  at rollo14@verizon.net or visit us on Facebook
Lamm Industries - Aqua Acoustic, Formula & La Scala DAC- INNUOS  - Rethm - Kuzma - QLN - Audio Hungary Qualiton - Fritz speakers -Gigawatt -Vinnie Rossi,TWL, Swiss Cables, Merason DAC.

Offline malloy

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 563
  • no grave concern for repercussion
Re: Footers
« Reply #34 on: February 19, 2019, 09:12:13 PM »
Hi Paul, sorry I haven't replied sooner. My speakers have ball bearing material handling assemblies under them. See link  https://www.amazon.com/Dorhea-Transfer-Universal-Rotation-Bearings/dp/B07BLVBC91/ref=lp_16411111_1_13?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1549491728&sr=1-13
 The cups were  custom made by a machinist to Rick  Reimers specs. Apparently a ball cutter? was used to  make a 1.5inch diameter indentation about 0.25inch deep in a piece of 2 inch diameter 7075 bar stock cut to 3/8 inch thickness.
http://prairieaudiomancave.com/reviews--reports/cheap-tweaks-do-it-yourself-ball-bearing-vibration-isolation-pucks
 According to the author of blog in the above link a Shepherd’s plastic 1 ¾” I.D. non-slip furniture cup can work with smaller balls and source equipment. For loudspeakers, I can't swear that the plastic cups will have a low enough coefficient of friction to work properly when a high mass loudspeaker is placed on them. A steel or aluminum cup maybe required for the speaker to be able to move freely.
 Scotty

Thanks for the reply, Scotty! Will check these out.

Offline mdconnelly

  • Audio Neurotic
  • *****
  • Posts: 1439
  • new ways to dream...
Re: Footers
« Reply #35 on: September 11, 2019, 12:00:50 PM »
I was so pleased with the Isoacoustics OREAs, that I wanted to try the GAIA II footers for my speakers.    Isoacoustics sells them for $299 for a set of 4 (twice that for both speakers in my case).   Fortunately, I noticed them on Amazon at $259 per set so I popped.  (it seems they rarely sell them for less than MSRP).   Besides, Amazon offers 30 days to return at no cost.

Got them and, to be honest, I'm a bit astonished.   I had been using spikes into Herbie's fat gliders, so I didn't expect a big difference.   I was wrong.   It was quite a noticeable difference - far more than I expected.   In my room, I always felt bass was a bit too dominate.   I even stuffed the rear ports of my Von Schweikert VR-35 speakers with dacron to tame it a bit (as suggested by Albert VS).   With the GAIA IIs, the bass dominance changed.   Bass tightened and I swear went even deeper.  I took out the dacron and am loving what I'm hearing.

In addition to the change in the bass, I find that the sound stage is more open, with voices and instruments more defined in sound and space.   And the top end just seems more relaxed and natural.   I've still got a few weeks before I have to decide whether to return them or not, but I really can't see any chance of that happening.   Not cheap by any means, but a worthy investment from my perspective.  YMMV but definitely worth a try.

Offline rollo

  • Industry Participant
  • *
  • Posts: 6982
  • Rollo Audio - Home demo the only way to know
Re: Footers
« Reply #36 on: September 12, 2019, 05:31:30 AM »
  Nice review Mike. Thanks.

charles
contact me  at rollo14@verizon.net or visit us on Facebook
Lamm Industries - Aqua Acoustic, Formula & La Scala DAC- INNUOS  - Rethm - Kuzma - QLN - Audio Hungary Qualiton - Fritz speakers -Gigawatt -Vinnie Rossi,TWL, Swiss Cables, Merason DAC.

Offline Barry (NJ)

  • Audio Neurotic
  • *****
  • Posts: 1712
Re: Footers
« Reply #37 on: September 12, 2019, 11:44:10 AM »
Has anyone tried the Hudson Hi-Fi footers?
Some of their other products look interesting too.
Happiness is when your system overcomes your nervosa ;) 
So much media, so little time... My Media Room...

Offline steve

  • Audiologist
  • *
  • Posts: 1238
Re: Footers
« Reply #38 on: September 13, 2019, 11:58:32 AM »
 
I think what is overlooked the most is what is used under the footers. I try to use similar but dissimilar materials. Some footers drain, some isolate. Using the appropriate footer is not by chance. Isolate TT, Isolate transport. Drain amp, Preamp, Tuner, Tape deck and phonostage. Speakers ????
What is your favorite and why ???


charles

Nice topic Charles. I am currently using a rack and dislike it. I am decoupling my phono stage,
11A Line Preamplifier, and CD player, using 12.5 inch bicycle inner tubes half blown up, purchased from
Walmart . Tried it on my TT, but just a little unstable to my taste. I just placed one under each monoblock
and hopefully no blow out.   :lol:  Will see how it goes.

cheers
steve
« Last Edit: September 13, 2019, 04:21:50 PM by steve »
Steve Sammet (Owner, Electron Eng, SAS Audio Labs, Ret)
SAS "V" 39pf/m 6N copper ICs,
SAS Test Phono Stage
Acutex 320 STR Mov Iron Cart
SAS 11A Perfect Tube Preamp
SAS 25 W Ref Triode/UL Monoblocks
2 way Floor Standing Test Speakers

Offline Nick B

  • Audio Neurotic
  • *****
  • Posts: 4093
Re: Footers
« Reply #39 on: September 13, 2019, 02:14:38 PM »
Has anyone tried the Hudson Hi-Fi footers?
Some of their other products look interesting too.

 No, haven’t heard of this company. Interesting products and I bookmarked the website .
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline rollo

  • Industry Participant
  • *
  • Posts: 6982
  • Rollo Audio - Home demo the only way to know
Re: Footers
« Reply #40 on: September 14, 2019, 10:58:55 AM »
  Thanks Steve tried almost everything. It all sounds different. Decoupling appears to be most affective method. Combined with drawing out  resonance and then isolating inner tubes will work. Just a PIA to keep inflated and level. I still have several Arcicci Air Head that do exactly that. But the darn valves leak.

charles
contact me  at rollo14@verizon.net or visit us on Facebook
Lamm Industries - Aqua Acoustic, Formula & La Scala DAC- INNUOS  - Rethm - Kuzma - QLN - Audio Hungary Qualiton - Fritz speakers -Gigawatt -Vinnie Rossi,TWL, Swiss Cables, Merason DAC.

Offline steve

  • Audiologist
  • *
  • Posts: 1238
Re: Footers
« Reply #41 on: September 23, 2019, 01:45:01 PM »
  Thanks Steve tried almost everything. It all sounds different. Decoupling appears to be most affective method. Combined with drawing out  resonance and then isolating inner tubes will work. Just a PIA to keep inflated and level. I still have several Arcicci Air Head that do exactly that. But the darn valves leak.

charles

So far mine, phono, 11A are working very well, and not deflating. But then I used a nearly empty can of tire inflater/sealer to partially inflate the inner tubes. That, along with the supplied screw caps have them up since I purchased them, a year or more ago.

cheers
steve
Steve Sammet (Owner, Electron Eng, SAS Audio Labs, Ret)
SAS "V" 39pf/m 6N copper ICs,
SAS Test Phono Stage
Acutex 320 STR Mov Iron Cart
SAS 11A Perfect Tube Preamp
SAS 25 W Ref Triode/UL Monoblocks
2 way Floor Standing Test Speakers

Offline rollo

  • Industry Participant
  • *
  • Posts: 6982
  • Rollo Audio - Home demo the only way to know
Re: Footers
« Reply #42 on: October 09, 2019, 11:57:45 AM »
Steve great idea using Tire inflater/sealer for inner tube. The wheelbarrow tube is perfect size. Always had issues with tube deflating. Valve issues as well. However when level and NOT loosing air very good results.

charles
contact me  at rollo14@verizon.net or visit us on Facebook
Lamm Industries - Aqua Acoustic, Formula & La Scala DAC- INNUOS  - Rethm - Kuzma - QLN - Audio Hungary Qualiton - Fritz speakers -Gigawatt -Vinnie Rossi,TWL, Swiss Cables, Merason DAC.

Offline rollo

  • Industry Participant
  • *
  • Posts: 6982
  • Rollo Audio - Home demo the only way to know
Re: Footers
« Reply #43 on: October 09, 2019, 11:59:06 AM »
Steve great idea using Tire inflater/sealer for inner tube. The wheelbarrow tube is perfect size. Always had issues with tube deflating. Valve issues as well. However when level and NOT loosing air very good results.

charles

   Better yet "Blue" rubber balls.

charles
contact me  at rollo14@verizon.net or visit us on Facebook
Lamm Industries - Aqua Acoustic, Formula & La Scala DAC- INNUOS  - Rethm - Kuzma - QLN - Audio Hungary Qualiton - Fritz speakers -Gigawatt -Vinnie Rossi,TWL, Swiss Cables, Merason DAC.