Charles, going to take the plunge on the Duelund VSF Black Cu network (cap and 2 resistors) for my Zu Def4s.
Re supports under the spkrs, I've had such good results with a Symposium Acoustics Isis rack for my main components, I'm going to try Symposium Rollerball Jrs instaed of the stock spikes (4 per spkr) on a Svelte Shelf (1 per spkr).

spiritofmusic February 04, 2013 22:01

Let me know what u think of the fuses....

agear February 04, 2013 16:26

Andrew,
You make a strong point regarding long term value (which is an individual determination), this is something I always factor in my decisions. It's very easy to pour hard earned money on audio gear only later to recognize it may not have been good return on actual performance gain. Obvious each one of us has to make this call via our own standards. I'm pretty certain this new stand will be a very good product.It will be up to me to judge the relative value/performance outcome. What I may find too expensive may not be the case for someone else. I'm in a fine tuning mode now, just extract the most from my current components as I have no desire to change them.But fine tuning within reason.
Regards,

charles1dad February 04, 2013 12:59

Charles, I think that is a wise philosophy. However, given the potential impact under your speakers and a presumed trial period, it is worth a shake. I have to confess that it gets old spending big bucks for lateral movements only. It is refreshing to find something that works and is worth the investment. I look at it as a long term investment towards a foundational element in the system....

agear February 03, 2013 21:21

Considerably more expensive?
I 'll just have to wait see.I won't question the fairness aspect but I do place self imposed limits where audio is concerned.This helps me avoid impulsive and regrettable decisions that are easy to commit in this pursuit.
Regards,

charles1dad February 03, 2013 21:14

From my conversation with Star Sound, the new Sistrum products will be considerably more expensive, but Robert mentioned , the increase in performance will more than justify the higher price.

brf February 03, 2013 16:47

The one thing to be cognizant of is inflation. The cost of raw materials like brass and steel has gone up significantly in the last few years. I discovered this during the construction of my room. I presume this will have an impact on the backstage and stage products. Starsound is very fair with their pricing considering the material and labor cost involved. These are not cheesy stands.

agear February 03, 2013 14:55

Brf,
Thanks for the update.I hope they put some information on their web site soon.I'd like to know the price range.
Regards,

charles1dad February 03, 2013 00:38

Thanks Agear. I hear that the new Sistrum products will be made available some time later in February early March.

brf February 03, 2013 00:19

Roxy, they are the next generation of product from Starsound. You can give Robert a shout about them. They are not ready yet as far as I know.

Brf, due the size of my behemoth amp, I had the legs modified as well. Works well....

agear February 02, 2013 18:45

I think andrew learned about them via conversations with robert of Star Sound.I'm not sure they are actually available yet.
Regards,

charles1dad February 02, 2013 13:39

I don't see the backstage platforms on their website.

roxy54 February 02, 2013 05:36

Roxy54,
This is why I 'm curious to learn more about the new backstage platforms by Star Sound.
Regards,

charles1dad February 01, 2013 23:44

What I learned from my experience with the Sistrum SP-101 supports is that it is not so important how non-resonant your speaker enclosure is. What is more important is how the support it is on drains the resonances to ground. Before I had the supports, my speakers never disappeared as sources of sound. Now, I experience it routinely.

roxy54 February 01, 2013 23:39

Brf,
Robert is a very nice person and knowledgeable. Be patient with Duelund, those CAST are handmade.The wait will be rewarded. The combination of these two products will be some of the wisest money invested in your fine system.If you're not happy I'll be very surprised.
Regards,

charles1dad February 01, 2013 20:54

Andrew,
One point that's very apparent after a long conversation with the Absolare founder/owner is their extraordinarily attention to resonance and vibration management.They consider this to be a very important and fundamental issue to be dealt with. I would imagine Chalice Audio addresses this in a most serious manner also.The Sistrum platform effect in my system is most convincing of the need to successfully manage resonance via effective mechanical grounding. When this Las Vegas show system used the 200 watt MSB SS amps the sound was respectable but nothing more.The insertion of the 50 watt PSET completely transformed the sound, truly amazing improvement. I curious to see if Robert Harley is as impressed as I when he reviews it in the near future (to my understanding).
Regards,

charles1dad February 01, 2013 20:47

Contacted Robert at Star Sound and it looks like my amp will fit the Sistrum 101 with a few modifications. The front of my amp will need to be cantilevered over the single front support spike to fit. Super nice guy and has some incredible deals on some refurbished trade in. I might just give Sistrum a second try. Thanks Charles for the feedback. PS. My Deulunds have been delayed to late Feb for delivery.

brf February 01, 2013 20:17

Andrew,
The Chalice Audio amps caught my attention a few years ago. They are cost no object and probably sound fantastic. I may have found a rival to it, the Absolare Passion amplifier. They are both PSET 845 NFB perfectionist design and built with the same goal of being very best. I heard the Absolare amps at the show in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. It was simply superb driving Rock port Altair speakers. The very best sound I heard there, just wonderful. I'd love to hear these two head to head.
Regards,

charles1dad February 01, 2013 17:33

That is a really great observation Charles. I had discussed that very thing with Robert at Starsound a few months ago. We were talking about the Chalice amps, and Robert commented on their tube socket implementation and how proper grounding effected tube performance. Crazy stuff.

agear February 01, 2013 00:37

One of the claims made by Star Sound regarding the Sistrum platform is it will increase the component`s efficiency when placed on it.I think this is correct.My SET transformers never feel hot to touch, only warm(even when on all day long).Now with them on the platforms they are cooler,only 'lukewarm' to touch no matter how many hours the`ve been in use.I noticed this last night after they`d been playing for 6 hours.There seems to be real science and engineering involved as opposed to the typical marketing hype we often encounter.
Regards,

charles1dad January 30, 2013 20:22

Brf,
I think the SP 101 platforms would be just fine for you, the points can positioned how ever you choose to do with them. Brf, they really are excellent.
Regards,

charles1dad January 30, 2013 15:03

Hi Andrew
I did reposition the ams and they are symmetrical on the platforms now (no change in the sonics just appearance. I'll get to the fuses in a few days, darn it, the sound with platforms are improving overtime (settilng?) Can't explain it. I have to get more information on the backstage stands they maybe perfect for me.
Regards,

charles1dad January 30, 2013 14:56

I would like to give the Sistrum 101 stands a try (30 day trial) but I am concerned that my amps may not fit as they are 12"W x 24"L, therefore, when I adjust the points, the amp’s weight may not be equally distributed.

brf January 30, 2013 13:48

Testpilot sorry for the strange typo error, don't know how westport replaced your name. I do appreciate your kind comments.
Regards,

charles1dad January 30, 2013 04:24

Looks really good Charles. From the aerial view of the amp and stand, it looks as if the amp needs to rotate counterclockwise. Is that an optical illusion based on the photograph angle? I am not sure if this is really essential for sonics. For really heavy amps, it is optimal to place two points in proximity to the transformer.

Let me know how those fuses sound. They take 100-300 hrs to sound their best....

agear January 29, 2013 22:48