Can I go wrong with Stillpoint Ultra Mini anti-vibration isolation feet?


I am researching what anti vibration isolation feet to add to my components. I came across a Galen Carol article which compared and rated various isolation devices. The Stillpoints rated the highest among isolation feet with at 9 out of 10 rating. If purchased used I could afford Stillpoints bottom of the line Ultra Minis for my Marantz KI Ruby CD/SACD player and Luxmann L507u Mk2 integrated amp. Maybe later some more for my Shunyata Hydra Denal 6000/S power conditioner. Do you think these would be a good choice for my system in their price range of maybe $350 or more a set used.

If it makes a difference the rest of my system is a VPI Classic 2 turntable with an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge, and a pair of Magico A3 speakers. The components are sitting on built into the wall shelves. The top shelf for the CD player and turntable is a slab of marble floating on a cushion of that rubbery shelf liner you can use for kitchen drawers, which is on a floating slab of 3/4" Baltic Birch plywood on another piece of shelf liner over a fixed 3/4" plywood shelf. The integrated amp is on the middle shelf similarly designed but without the marble level. The bottom shelf, the same as the middle has the power conditioner and my DISH box for watching TV.

So what do you think? Would the Stillpoints be a good choice or should I be looking elsewhere and why. Again I’m only looking for feet, not shelves or platforms. I’m sure some of you have some experience with these devices and could help guide me along as I’ve none. Thank you for your thoughts and I'd appreciate your advice.

Below are some of the more affordable higher rated isolation feet I’ve been taking a look at from the Galen Carol list along with his 1-10 rating on each. The Stillpoints are a bit more pricey, but have the highest rating, so maybe are worth the extra investment. The full list is at https://www.gcaudio.com/tips-tricks/a-brief-survey-of-isolation-devices/

Aurios Classic- Roller Ball (8)

Pro Max- Roller Ball (7)

Decouplers- Roller Ball (5)

Black Diamond Racing (BDR) Cones- Rigid (5)

Clear Audio Magix- Other (7)

Daruma IIIi- Roller Ball (7)

DH Cones- Rigid (7)

Isolation Bearings- Roller Ball (7)

Finite Elemente Ceraball- Roller Ball/Other (7)

Cerapuc- Roller Ball/Other (8)

Gingko Mini Clouds- Viscoelastic (8)

Marigo Small Cones- Rigid (6)

Reference- Rigid (6)

Stillpoints- Other (9)

Symposium Rollerblocks - Roller Ball (8)


Thanks for looking,

Mike



skyscraper
As fate would have it the best AND most cost effective way to get outstanding iso performance in all or almost all directions of motion is by combining roller bearings of sufficiently good design with simple springs of appropriate design. The springs afford excellent isolation in the vertical direction 🔝 - probably the most critical direction - and roller bearings in cups afford excellent isolation in the horizontal plane 🔛 (infinite number of directions, no?) PLUS twist, rock and roll rotational directions. 🔄 Problem solved! 🤗

For the advanced student try a double layer mass-on-spring system for extremely low resonant frequency.
I use townshend speaker bars under my speaker stands and they make a big difference to imaging.

I have stillpoint ultra ss under my down firing sub, makes a big difference to the sub performance.

I also have black ravioli mk 2 big pads under my isotek sigmas mk2 power conditioner, again big difference to imaging and much more relaxed presentation. Beware though that I had to wait a week for the sound to settle and on day one and 2 the sound was muddy.

For my ss amp, ( Lyngdorf TDAI3400), and my Etheregen network switch I have black ravioli mk1 pads a stack of 2 plus and oak cone for eack footer (4 footers on the amp 3 on the switch). Tighter soundstage but less of an improvement than speakers and power conditioner.

Apple TV just has 3 black ravioli mk1 pads and I weight the top of the unit. Improvements as above.

All my isolation above equipment bought 2nd hand at 30% to 60% retail.

Buying 2nd hand let’s you try and you can move on for minimal loss.

I would like to try the stillpoint minis under my amp at some time but it’s not a priority.

If you want ultimate vibration control bang for your buck, I would reccomend getting some fo.q ta32 and ta102 from eBay Japan and research using it throughout your system including power outlet plates, cabling, equipment chassis (especially near iec inlet), speakers cabinetry and drivers including stands), pcb and electrolytic capacitors(careful it is conductive).

I had a pack of each so far I want to get another pack of each as it is incredibly versatile if you are careful and not concerned with warranty of your equipment you can really deliver much more SQ than what you could achieve with 1 set of stillpoint minis. If you are concerned with warranty then you can still achieve much on external chassis, cabinetry, plugs, cabling and sockets. It is adhesive but its very easy to use and remove.

Fo.q and oak cones may make a very cost effective footer option too.

Good luck with your vibration control journey.




@slaw

Hi,
The Pneupods are not designed to drain internal vibrations of a component. Damping these internal vibrations should be part of the original product design. Pneupods are designed to isolate the component from the platform/rack/cabinet on which it is placed (structure borne vibrations, especially in the critical audio frequency spectrum).
As a side note, I addressed this internal vibration problem back in 1993 by totally damping my TT-1 DAC case, PC board and many individual parts: electrolytic capacitors, toroidal transformer, PC board, and all IC chips with proprietary damping material. This had a significant, positive effect on the overall sound quality, especially reducing the noise floor and background noise.

Cheers.


Q pods from Magico sound much better in my system then Stillpoints better stage,focus,depth and bass detail.Symposium roller blocks are also much better sonically.

using ultra minis under my line stage and phonostage and love them. Saves me from spending lots on a rack