Bol1972, so you are just using three under each speaker. Four are always better than three in my experience. But one needs to have height adjustability to do this. |
Heymikey, I have tried the Ultra SSs and the Ultra Fives under both Tidal Contrivas and BMC Arcadias. I am on a suspended wood floor with no carpeting under the speakers.
The SP Ultra SSs were dramatic, almost unbelievable. The sound stage took on great realism. I bought many more for use under components. Then I went to CES where the Ultra Fives were introduced. I heard a demonstration with the Fives substituted for the SSs. I took home eight Ultra Fives. On both speakers and my amps the SP Ultra Fives literally made the SP Ultra SSs sound broken or in effective. It is like going from a $5k amp to a $10k amp and similar for speakers.
I should note that I reviewed both and said most of this. |
Kiddman, I know a guy with 84 SP Ultra Five. That is real reverence. |
Hifisand, I have never gone beyond four SPs Ultra Five, but four is definitely better than three. IF you carefully get all four in contact with the component. Since you have bases for your Fives, you can make micro adjustments to get all four in contact. Otherwise you would have to find tiny shims to get that contact.
All that I can really say is that I can clearly hear the benefits under speakers and my amps. I use four of either SSs, Minis, or Five everywhere. Incidentally, I once asked Paul Wakeen whether five were better than four. He said apparently as he has a customer who has a six legged SP Component Stand with six Ultra SSs on it. I am not going there. |
Geraldbarry & Richards, initially I used four SP Ultra SSs under my Tidal speakers. I was amazed at the benefit. Shortly thereafter I heard a demonstration of the SSs versus the Ultra Fives and bought 8 on the spot. They are at least five times better than the Ultra SSs.
While the Ultra SSs can be slightly adjusted for height without being threaded into the speakers, the basic Ultra Fives unless they are threaded into the speakers or have the special base, cannot be raised or lowered. |
Melbguy1, buy two more SP Ultra Fives and compare four of them with three of them. One warning is be certain that all four are in contact between the speakers and the floor. You will keep eight rather than six. Yes, five are even better. Incidentally, this is true also of all components, at least in my experience and yes including the need to make certain that all four are in contact. |
Melbguy1, the Stillpoint ultra base add nothing to the performance of the Ultras other than height adjustment. One thing that I have learned is that there is no such thing as too much isolation with StillPoints products. I know a guy with 92 Ultra Fives. Having tried Ultra Fives under Ultra SSs with a big improvement and using Ultra Fives under amps and then used them mounted on StillPoints Component Stands, thus gaining additional four of the "technology" feet, etc. I have given up saying enough is enough. Try an Ultra Five on top a component.
I guess everything depends on what "balanced" means, but I doubt given any operationalization of balanced that I can think of, that is a true statement.
It is too bad that Magico does provide more anchor points. You could just put two in the corners in the back. |
Ozzy, that is the StillPoints recommendation given to me verbally. I don't think I have ever seen it in print.
On my old Tidals I found it sounded better that way. Star Sound Tech., however, says no flush against the speaker is best. Perhaps which is best depends on the technology used as StillPoints seeks to absorb vertical vibrations and Star Sound seeks to pass them to earth.
I cannot have them stand off under my BMC Aracadias as the thread inserts move further into the speakkers with the weight of the speakers on them. |
Yes, and on the Ultra SSs, where you need to unlock the hardhat, if you have them mounted on threads, you need to remember that when screw them up, you will also be screwing the hard hat down and tightening it. This is no issue for the Ultra Fives or the Ultra Minis. |
Tsushima1, very interesting. I have had some experiences, not with speakers, where the Ultra Fives were too much.
If you are using four Ultra SSs under each speaker, which IME has always been better than three, I would warn you that it is very easy to lock the SSs. Be very careful to have a least a quarter turn from locked. Basically if you want to screw one upward at the base, you will be tightening the hard hat or locking it. |
Nile49,
I have had a major problem with my Ultra SSs as the tend to lock up. I suspect that the spike would not and will try them. Thanks for the heads up. |
Bo1972, where are you going to use them? At CES they had them on their rack, not on the speakers where they used Ultra 5s.
Has anyone tried the Ultra SS with the new spike? |
Bo1972, do you have to include a Stillpoints base to use the Ultra 6s? Is that included in the $900@ price? |
Bo1972, how is the "platinum" series different? |
Bo1972, I can find nothing about Stillpoints platinum series, but suspect it is just Ultra 5s with their bases. |
Bo1972, Why I might ask did Stillpoints not use the Ultra 6s under their speakers at CES? They told me they were not intended for speakers. |
Bo1972, hmm, I was told by the manufacturer and his US distributor when I asked why the speakers were on Ultra 5s and you are going to ask a distributor??? That makes sense? |
Gpgr4blu, yes, he told me today they can be used for anything except speakers. |
