High End Isolation - HRS, SRA, Active platforms

I personally use Symposium Ultra shelves and solid couplers under my amplifiers and linestage, and Svelte Shelves under my speakers. I am particularly happy with what the shelves do under my speakers (tighten up the bass and improve clarity).

But, these and any other isolation devices are "tuning" devices and can alter the sound in both positive and negative ways. In particular, I've heard such shelves used under CD players that made the sound dramatically drier and analytical sounding. It would be simpler if "more" or "better" isolation was always better, but that is just not the case. One has to experiment.

A friend has a massive, three section HRS stand and separate amplifier stands from HRS. I cannot really say how each affected the sound, but, his system sounds very good with these items. The big component stand is incredibly well built and beautiful to look at; what else matters?

..i would put the star sound technology 'sistrum platforms' depending on how heavy the gear ..the sp-1 or sp-101 ...up against all comers...they are superb ..and they are based on science....

Cheap yet highly effective Machina Dynamica Promethean Springs sandwiched between your choice of wood or acrylic boards those you buy locally to save shipping

I first heard of this one man company via a PS Audio newsletter last year. Paul McGowan liked his stands.

http://www.akustik-manufaktur.de/

Unfortunately, the website is in German but there are lots of pictures featuring his hand made modular stands. I purchased a couple of his bases and few sets of his feet. Not cheap but the bases added both warmth and clarity when used under my PS Audio Premiere and TT. This is usually rare for me. I'm planning to buy some modules for a stand but am still thinking about the configuration and finish I want.

I had mixed results with the feet. They added a lot of clarity when used under my Rhea but it came with some glare. Most of the glare went away when I added a thick bubinga shelf on top of the thin mdf one in my very old target stand. I have been switching back and forth with BDR #4 cones. The BDR cones sound a little smoother but don't deliver nearly the same level of musical details as the feet; the music was slightly smeared. With the feet under the Rhea, I found it much easier to set my VTA. I suspect the feet work best on stands made from the same material.

Beauty is subjective but if you like a minimalist modern style of stand that could also be furniture these are very attractive.

Don't be fooled by the pictures as they are extremely heavy, almost like concrete. I imagine it's some sort of resin composite. I was told by the owner, Roland, that a set of stands can only be shipped by sea freight.

I like the difference his bases have made to my system but I don't have experience with any other stands. Roland claims the other brands in Germany "Finite element or Copulare – they have almost the same price, but they are toys against my products – promise".