Stillpoints and reference-level speakers

Bill, What speakers do you currently have? Tom

Agear is correct in using the APCD2 coupling discs on his cork floor. You should also use these discs on hardwood,stone or tile floors. I prefer the sound benefit when using a coupling disc between the point tip and the bottom of the component. The coupling disc increases the surface area of the point tip by equalizing the mechanical impedance of the different surface materials. If you have carpet over a sub floor or over concrete I would always direct couple the point to the floor below. Tom..Star Sound Technologies

Here is what I have encountered.

Cables take time to break in and so do mechanical grounding devices such as those we design. Energy is always in search of ground and when that point of contact is broken or moved it takes time to re establish that reference point. All materials reach a state of relaxation or a reduction of stress, that is what takes place and can be heard when you move a cable from one location to another.

Our designs carry over to real acoustic instruments and you can easily see and hear the ground point establish itself. During a cello performance when the instrument suddenly blooms acoustically on stage you know the reference has been established. Upon return from intermission the instrument takes a couple of minutes to find this reference point once again, you can hear this happen as well.

Speakers and electronics depending on their material and mass will take varying amounts of time to settle in and establish a a relaxed ground state. With an audio component on board we recommend 72 hours as a guide line for our products to establish their reference point. Tom. Star Sound Technologies.

There is a gain in apparent dynamics with just the Audio Point alone. The shelf between the two points increases the collection area of the tip. When all is mechanically grounded to a much higher mass such as a floor then energy migrates in that direction. The apparent increase in level and resolution comes from the enhanced direction provided by the reactive materials and shapes. What you are hearing is a signal more time coherent, one less corrupt from material storage influences and modulation. Tom. Star Sound Technologies.

While picking and choosing and auditioning new materials for the latest platforms this session appeared.

There was a variation.. of many tried that was less than 1/2 of 1 percent difference in gross material content. The presentation of this single platform was like having an animated 3D surreal Dali oil painting on the wall in front of me bending and blending itself onto the ceiling. It was if I were in a fish bowl looking around with double vision. While this vision within a vision was totally engaging it was also totally wrong. Strange how a little thing like chemistry can make for such a big change in sound. Speed propagation thru the material was the culprit. Tom. Star Sound Technologies.

I have a table that can be used. The alloy I was seeing and hearing in "surround sound" had an additive that was a hardener to increase the wear characteristics. Great if you needed brakes for your race car but this one additive made for some crazy scenes. Less than one percent can make for some large differences so there was a long selection process and much listening to all the many concepts. Tom

Change the color change the sound. Change the material and change the impedance. Change the color and change the propagation of sound thru the material. Change the color no.
Tom. Star Sound Technologies.

Color reference was in the context of material makeup selection which in this case changes the color and the sound. Tom

There is a big difference between a large high mass highly reactive speaker cabinet in comparison to an amplifier, power conditioner or any electronic component. In many situations the 1.5" AP will sound better than the two inch version however the 2" AP will clearly sound better in other applications.

Loudspeakers produce much more energy and vibration increasing resonance that affects the performance of each driver in combination with the enclosure. The two inch audio points were supplied for the larger Revel which has a lot more mass and surface area compared to an electronics chassis and smaller speaker designs. In this case we added more brass weight in order to attract the heavier amplitudes of resonance and unwanted noise that forms up on a dense speaker chassis. In this particular application the two inch Audio Points would clearly outperform the smaller version.

The Audio Points were provided as a quick fix/improvement and will eventually be traded back when the larger Sistrum Apprentice XL becomes available this fall.

Please remember it is not fair to compare an Audio Point performance and functionality to any Sistrum Platform design as the platforms are designed with a totally different geometry and present a much larger area of reactance. Tom. Star Sound Technology

Some things are worth repeating. Tom

Gary

I don't think Norm was kidding about the polishing effects whether brass or stainless. Much of the information travels on the skin of the material so keeping them shiny bright is a benefit. Tom

Audio Points are currently in the 24TH year of production. The product has evolved over time in material science, machining techniques and finishing processes. In some cases, years of environmental exposure has darkened the cosmetic appearance of the brass.

Star Sound is constantly striving to improve the product. Should you have any Audio Points that have tarnished or discolored over time we will refinish them to the current product standards for a nominal cost. Upon return you will notice an improvement in performance as oxide or the tarnishing of brass slows the speed of resonance transfer on any brass part and limits sonic performance. We will not remove larger scratches or dents imposed from abuse.

Audio Points’ current packaging instructions contain this information:

No Brass Polishes – EVER! The ‘Trade Secret’ Star Sound finishing and brass bonding process assures years of sustained and natural brass cosmetic appearance, without oxidation. Store-bought brass polishes are abrasive and will destroy the finish, promoting oxidation that will certainly devastate the performance of the Audio Points, as well as any of the accessories. While competitors state that oxide establishes a natural patina look to the brass, the patina oxide produces is never a desirable effect for sound and performance efficiency. Tom..Star Sound Technologies.