Hi Salectric,
Thank you for your kind comments, I really appreciate them. I will look for the recording you recommend as our musical taste are very similar.
Sal I was a devoted user of vinyl LPs for many years (that's what I grew up with). Well into the digital era I remained a diehard analog enthusiast as I didn't find digital realistic or involving.
The first digital component that changed my perception was the Timbre DAC it was a honest and natural music producer and I could go between it and my turn table without the previous let downs when doing so.

When I got the Yamamoto DAC it was aclear improvement of my beloved Timbre (which I used for 14vyears happily). What ever Mr. Yamamoto learned in building his renowned SET amplifiers over his career he sure put it into his DAC. I admire his execution, this DAC simply makes music, beautiful and naturally. It provides the emotion and soul that good analog is capable of doing (not every analog system is sucessful at this either). As much as I enjoyed my TT I don't miss its absence these past 3 1/2 years.
When I replaced the stock output capacitors (which were very good) with Duelund CAST it took the performance to the sublime and is the ideal source for the Coincident DHT based linestage and 300b SET amplifier.
The Yamamoto just lets the music flow with beautiful organic tone, harmonics,wonderful dynamics and much nuance.
I still appreciate a good analog source but have found that for me it no longer a necessity.
Charles,

charles1dad August 30, 2013 13:46

Charles, Congatulations on a very well-thought through system! There's no question that you know the sound of your system, and each component in the system, very well, which allows you to get a good read on each change you make. I share your views on the critical importance of getting the proper weight and tone density. That is something missing from so many systems today, at least judging from what I hear at audio shows.

I also share your love for acoustic jazz. That's been a lifelong passion for me. I just played one of my favorite LPs which I highly recommend----"2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West" by John Lewis, Percy Heath, Chico Hamilton, Bill Perkins and Jim Hall. Recorded in 1956 in glorious, full-bodied mono. Phenomenal music and wonderful sound. I don't know if it was reissued on CD but it is worth seeking out if it was. Of course, if you added a turntable, just think of the great music that would then be available!

salectric August 30, 2013 12:49

Agear,
What you say about the Star Sound Apprentice is true,it is their lower cost line. Their Stage and Backstage platforms are the heavy hitter premium products and are priced as such.I imagine they`re extraordinary but will leave that for someone else to discover and comment on.I`m just happy the Apprentice adds so much to my musical enjoyment while costing relatively modest money.This formula works for me.
Charles,

charles1dad August 20, 2013 02:51

Hi Agear,
That`s funny and Isochronism is essentially right. Between the findings of certain trusted reviewers(a few I really like), definitely feedback and impressions from people on this valued site along with some patience it`s amazing how well things work out. Agear, it was you and Grannyring(Bill) who got my attention toward Duelund,Star Sound and the SR Quantum fuses,thanks a lot.You can`t go wrong with that caliber of product.

Coincident was an easy choice after research and overwhelming word of mouth owner support.Once their components were heard, it was all over(there is terrfic synergy with that entire line).Yamamoto DAC,P.S. Audio PWT, and Ocellia Silver Reference cables by way of 6 Moons reviewes. It has worked out better than I had expected(and expectations were high)).

The common thread with all of the system pieces is an emphasis-priority on musicality,natural/organic character, tactile presence and tone realism. The currently popular ultra detail analytical hifi sound just doesn`t work for me at all, I need emotion and involement from my system. I`m extremely happy with the results.
Charles,

charles1dad August 19, 2013 23:40

Agear, All you have to do.... Just get a full line of Coincident gear, which is made for each other, btw. Plug the stuff together. Throw some doo-dads underneath here and there. Sure, change a couple things, if you want. Only listen to the very best music available. How hard is that to do?
I mean really? HA

isochronism August 19, 2013 21:25

Charles, Agear, I don't know about anyone else, but I sure got a chuckle out of the "victory parade" comment. Isn't that what this pursuit is about, chasing the best music reproduction you can manage, given your own unique set of circumastances?

I'm sure, like most of us, you must have had times when things would not go your way, but that is what eventually gets us where we want to be. Some of us suffer through more "learning" than others, but with perserverance, we eventually make it to our own individual "summit of listening pleasure" spot.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan August 19, 2013 19:55

According to Robert at SS, the apprentice stand was favorably compared to the Ultra 5s which represent the TOTL product in a magazine review which should be forthcoming. This bodes well for SS, and remember, the apprentice is their base model.

Charles. we may soon grow weary of your victory parade. You have had one success after another which is atypical for audio. No fair....

agear August 19, 2013 13:46

08-18-13: Charles1dad
Given the considerable price gap between the Apprentice and the Stillpoints(particularly the Ultra) I suspect two different buyer groups.However with the known effectiveness of the Apprentice it`d be interesting purely on a performance/result basis.
Charles

That is also my basis of interest. Stillpoints Ultra seem to be the current gold standard in isolation devices, and I would be curious to see if their performance is indeed superior or inferior to the Sistrum products.

roxy54 August 19, 2013 06:04

Given the considerable price gap between the Apprentice and the Stillpoints(particularly the Ultra) I suspect two different buyer groups.However with the known effectiveness of the Apprentice it`d be interesting purely on a performance/result basis.
Charles,

charles1dad August 19, 2013 03:14

Two things...First, I want to affirm what Agear said, and I forgot to mention. I was told when I got the Sistrum speaker platforms that they would need some days to settle in by Robert, which in my mind, I did not believe. He specifically mentioned that I would perceive that the bass was in some way diminished. Well, surprise, it was true. It was about 5 days before I realized the amazing difference the platforms made, although there was a very noticeable one from the day they were installed.
Now, at the risk of being thought completely nuts, I will say that the same thing has occurred with the Apprentice platform underneath my transport. I was a little underwhelmed for the first few days, but as of yesterday, I can easily hear the differences (improvements) from the next room. It is really impossible to describe the relaxed sense of organization and flow, as well as previously hidden gradations of volume and other nuances that appear when vibration is drained away from a component efficiently.
Second, I too would be very interested in a head to head comparison between the Apprentice platforms and the much vaunted Stillpoints, especially the ultra.

roxy54 August 19, 2013 02:57

Agear,
I thank you for the insightful impressions you gave me last week.I`ll look into the threaded support option also. Robert did mention that the sound improves noticeably with a few days of settling in(I`m happy with them now).
In the last year Star Sound,Duelund CAST,High Fidelity CTI-U Digital cable and even the Synergistic Research Quantum fuses(yep,they made a difference) all have been very significant upgrades in my system without any change/swapping of my core components. Its been a very good year as a result of this fine tuning.
Charles,

charles1dad August 19, 2013 01:24

Work it out with Lee Morgan's The Cooker and Duke's Big 4 two of my favorites. Lee's breath will be in the room with you. Tom

theaudiotweak August 19, 2013 00:17

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for your comments and again for the needed help earlier today, much appreciated.

Roxy54,
You`re no boken record,when a product delivers on its promise that`s worthy of praise and recognition.

Thanks Tom,
Your description of the Apprentice impact and results is right on the mark.That`s exactly what we heard today.
Charles,

charles1dad August 18, 2013 23:25

Bravo Charles. Now you are really cooking.

On my Gamma Summits, the Sistrum apprentice stands with threaded bolts in addition to the points made them more stable than Stillpoints and better sounding too. With a heavy floor stander and low profile stands like the apprentice, you should be fine if you add the threaded inserts. On heavy floor standing speakers with a broad base (Zu IVs for example), they are very, very stable with points only.

Also remember that there is a settling time. It will mellow out and get fuller and honestly better sounding over the course of a week or so...

agear August 18, 2013 22:29

Hello Charles,

Just looking in. Way back close to the last century I had my Dunlavy SC4's on 101's. I too had a dedicated room in a walk out basement no pets and kids old enough to know better. The platforms made it for me.

Speaker profiles such as the one you have were one of many prompts that made for the design of the Sistrum Apprentice..adaptable low profile and low center of gravity.

You probably now have a wall to wall floor to ceiling sound stage. Enjoy! Tom. Star Sound Technologies.

theaudiotweak August 18, 2013 21:45

I know that I have sounded like a paid shill on these forums since I got my SP101 platforms, but now you know why. I sincerely believe that anyone that does not use the SP 101 or the Apprentice platforms has not heard what their speaker is capable of. Congrats Charles, and enjoy the music.

roxy54 August 18, 2013 21:26

Charles, what a difference the Apprentice made. I couldn't believe the degree in change. I hear no negative problems with the platforms only positive. The slight edge that may have been present on peaks is totally gone. In place is a beautiful tonality that is more open, dimensional, and more musical than before. Enjoy my friend.

jwm August 18, 2013 20:26

I was able to place the speakers on the Apprentice stands with help from my good friend Jwm (jeff), it's a two man job for certain. Once placed the tall speakers are fairly stable but not to the degree of the Coincident outrigger cones. My room is in a finished basement there re no pets and my kids are grown and out of our home. So I'm reasonably comfortable with the set up on the platforms.

In terms of their effect on the sound, they're a homerun! Talk about immediate and blatantly obvious improvement, wow, they improved the system's music reproduction dramatically. Resolution, openness, transparency, dynamic contrast it's all better.there is a more spacious and venue atmosphere awareness, tone and harmonics get even better.
Jeff and I were both surprised, not that there's improvement but the unexpected magnitude and its undeniable presence.

As others had predicted, the increased performance is greatest with the speakers. This is a near mandatory asset for an audio system. Big sonic gain for relatively modest cost.
Thanks Robert.
Charles,

charles1dad August 18, 2013 20:10

Roxy54,
When you effectively address the vibration generated in a system the improved sound quality is undeniable. I've been very pleased with the musicality and sound of my digital source for quite some time. I achieved the natural/organic character that was desired, there's much emotion and involvement. The tonality, harmonics and timbre remain organic but with increased resolution, ambience and the nuances/subtle aspects of the music. I'm glad I bought these platforms. If they don't work with the speakers I may ask Robert to make something custom that screws in and provides a wider footprint. I want this vibration/resonance solution for the speakers very much.
Charles,

charles1dad August 18, 2013 13:44

Understood. Stability is less of a factor for me because my speakers are wider and I have no kids in the house. I also wanted to mention that the Apprentice under my transport has finally banished one of my biggest issues with my all-digital system; the sound of pianos. I always perceived a ringing in piano notes, almost regardless of the recording, that really annoyed me. It is now 95% gone, and for me, that is a very big plus, as I very much enjoy jazz piano.

roxy54 August 18, 2013 04:31

Hi Roxy54,
I'm a firm believer in the"Live Vibe" mechanical grounding concept, the proof is heard in my system, the music presentation improved . I don't question the potentially greater effect with the speakers, it's a matter of stability on the Apprentice platforms with narrow footprint speakers that are 52 inches tall and heavy.
Charles,

charles1dad August 18, 2013 03:19

Charles1dad,
That is great. I'm confident that if Robert recommends it, you will be more than happy. More than ever before, your speakers will disappear. More than that, vibrational energy being efficiently drained to ground has the effect of clarifying all of the frequencies as well as giving the perception of more fluid rhythms and less overhang.
I used outriggers like you in the past, and they were effective, but this is a different and higher degree of improvement.
I will be anxious to hear what you experience with them.

roxy54 August 18, 2013 02:18

Hi Roxy54,
Thanks for the very kind comment on my system. I have the Sistrum 101 beneath the Frankenstein SET amplifiers and love the results. Grannyring (bill) is correct, they won't support the tall and narrow Coincident speaker in a stable manner. Robert of Star Sound is aware of that and suggested the Apprentice platforms as a more secure option. If this works and is stable, then good. If not I'll return them, but keep the remaining Apprentices for my components (these are really working out well there).

charles1dad August 17, 2013 22:59

Talk to Robert. They make a brass threaded screw insert for the speaker base in addition to the points. This locks in the stand pretty firmly and should be stable

agear August 17, 2013 21:59

I had the 101's on several occasions, but they are not a stable platform for speakers ....easy to tip over. One of mine did! They improved the sound wonderfully but.....dangerous!

grannyring August 17, 2013 21:32