From the blog of OldWaveRider;
Granted, it seems like the sky is the limit on just how far you can go when upgrading your system; cables, av isolation racks and bases, power conditioners, amps, preamps, yes? This is a time where having a local Stereo store friend (or friends) that you know and trust to guide you, can pin-point what you need, after they find out what you’re trying to accomplish.
So when is the right time to add an isolation base for your analog?
- When the desire to improve the audio sound quality experience for your system hits you
- When you have the money
- When you’re convinced that HRS and the dealer is the correct go to source for such an upgrade
The Scenario:
So we had a customer friend who is a very passionate, knowledgeable, astute and devout Analog Audiophile listener who in the last year or so, he has been in the process of upgrading his turntable setup. Now granted, we didn’t get to help him with his turntable decision because he wanted J Sikora of which we are not a dealer. However, Ed did want a very good HRS Audio Rack System with Isolation Bases from us (a special thanks to Angie the Guru-ess up in Canada). We are an HRS dealer, and of course for the best isolation, one would use HRS. We think so anyhow 🙂
The System:
So Ed’s system was: Wilson Alexx speakers, C.A.T. Tube SL-1 Renaissance Black Path Audio preamp, JL7SE Power Amps, J Sikora Reference turntable and more…
The Story:
So when Ed upgraded his turntable from J Sikora Initial Max turntable to J Sikora Reference, a major adjustment needed to be made. The recommended Isolation Base , the M3X2 went from long and narrow to wide by wide and approximate 114 lb turntable handling to now 238 lbs for low frequency isolation.
So underneath the turntable in the featured image you can see the Isolation Base. Now before the M3X2 Iso Base was received and in place, the turntable was on the SXR rack by itself. And if you’re familiar with the SXR series, it does a very significant job isolating vibration, and blackening the noise floor.
Upon adding the M3X2 isolation base; What was the response after it was placed and tuned if you will on the SXR rack? I believe the words were “yes, it is noticeably more quiet”.
Prior Experience for me:
I am a firm believer in the noise dampening that can be delivered by HRS Iso bases.
A couple of years ago, long after we had an SXR rack in our showroom, when we first got in the modest E1X Isolation Base (retail around $1200 then, as opposed to $4000 + for the M3X2 bases), we placed it under our McIntosh MT5 turntable. The system was modest high end, and certainly not of the league as our friend’s system shared above. A McIntosh MC462 Amp, McIntosh C2700 preamp, Wilson Sabrina X floorstander speakers. The test result after doing an ABA test was shocking for me.
I have about 70% hearing loss in my left ear, and perhaps 40 in the right. (fortunately I was trained how and what to listen for, before my hearing went south) When I heard the difference of adding the E1X Isolation under that McIntosh turntable, I became a firm believer in Isolation Bases.
When you get the chance, talk to your local stereo store and ask if you can borrow an Isolation Base for your system. If you have a pretty good system, it just might make sense to do as your next upgrade.
Oldwaverider
