My experience with cones (tiptoes-aluminum) is exactly as Sam states above: midrange and treble emphasis giving an "exciting" but ultimately tiring and irritating sound. I'm using budget gear, like you, and find that I want to smooth things out, not zing them up. I would strongly recommend Vibrapods-very inexpensive and in my opinion great results-will improve just about every area of your sound, not just clean up the high end. You should hear more happening in the midrange and better bass definition as well. I have 12 in my system now and another 4 on the way for my integrated amp, whose stock feet are about to be removed! I'd suggest ordering 8 (at $6 each) for your CD player, 4 to go under an MDF shelf (the guy in the US selling on Audiogon and Audrioreview is also selling MDF shelfs for $6) and another 4 to sit under the player on top of the MDF shelf. Before you order, fill up a couple of zip lock bags with sand and put them on top of your CD player, getting the total weight so you know which pods to order. For about $60 including zip lock bags, sand, vibrapods and MDF shelf, I think you'll have an upgrade that will really surprise you-you'll be getting much more performance out of that CD player than you thought possible!
CDP isolation options for improved HF?
Following recent thread on shelf material, I'd appreciate advice on supplentary isolation/vibration devices for my old CDP (Rotel 855). I'm mulling over new digital front end options, but meanwhile want to eliminate HF roughness now evident in my new ref system, without reducing PRAT or resolution. So how do I optimize the use of this CDP until the revolution? Some have suggested that air bladder suspensions compromise timing. Is this often true? Thanks. Ernie