Isolation methods for your VK50SE preamp
I had listen to both 50SE and 5SE, before deciding to go with 5SE. Reason being the 5SE is slightly rounder and smoother, while 50SE is super transparent but just a bit too 'in the face'. Personal preference. To summarize my experience: Aurios are well engineered isolatio device, at used price of $150, they are worth it. However, placing Aurios directly under 50SE is not as good. I have a little 3M Bumpon rubber on top of the Aurios to decouple so I don't get a metal-metal contact. The rubber feet of the 50SE cause the sound to lack transparency. Whatever you do, as long as the rubber feet are bypassed, the sound will improve. Sorry, not to brag, but the 50SE benefits not just from isolation, which already discussed by above posts, as a tube unit, and very huge and heavy, it needs the vibration (for example, feedback from speakers and room) to be drained away. The best such vibration dissipation device is carbon graphite based design (Black Diamond Racing is not the best solution, because of the heavy core inside, it stores too much energy, which it then releases those stored energy slowly over time, smearing the microdynamics). |
Hi, I use the Synergistic Research Designer's Reference Squared X-series power cord with great results. Underneath, I have installed the Aurios MIB devices. They seem to "relax" the sound a bit giving the VK-50SE more graceful presentation. I would also consider the Symposium isolation platforms which I use under the VK-60s (Svelte Shelves with large couplers), but have no room for the 3.5-inch platform. The VK-50SE need at least 3 to four inches of breathing room. Have fun. |
To Avnut, you really ought to look into Symposium Isolation products. they have the complete solution for Vibration control. I am using the Svelte shelves, Ultra shelfs, and Rollerblocks with TREMENDOUS results! my $250,000 reference system has improved at least 30% from full Symposium treatment!! I can't say enough about these products, and since I have tried almost every isolation pod, footer, spike, shelf, rack and you name it over the past 10 years nothing to date has had more impact on my system than Symposium Acoustics. feel free to email me at: [email protected] for cool photo's of Symposium products in use. |
What confuses me is that many products get recommended all the time. I now realize that a rack or platform is a serious component that needs to be thought out and planned for depending on your specific components. My aim is to produce a system that can produce great dynamics, while the presentation is one of ease and in no hurry. Unfortunately, I heard tube-type liquidity in my system. I did not think this was possible. Is it possible that I may need several individual platforms or stands...one for each component? I'm thinking the maple has a softer sound that is appropriate for my preamp and possibly my cd player. I might also try a granite slab under my amps possibly to retain the clarity in presentation. So far, I have put the preamp back onto the spiked wood platform (ugly diy). I will let it settle in today and listen tonight and see what happens. Thanks. |
I've tried several things on my 50se. DH Cones, Bright Star air bladders, Symposium Rollerblocks and now a Arcici Suspense rack. Rollerblocks seems to do the most for transaparency and dynamics IMO. Have you tried power cords yet? What about dedicated AC circuits? All that helps to with the BAT gear. |
