Isolation pucks. A simple case of more music with less distortion.
Our investigations into the how’s and why’s of isolating audio and A/V components to achieve high level performance, and not simply to change the tone or add phase effects to soften sound, have resulted in a product range called ‘Float’.
Effective isolation from mechanical vibration?
External vibrations do react with your audio and A/V electronics like Amplifiers, Streamers, Servers, etc., and also electro-mechanical components such as turntables, CD and DVD players, not to forget loudspeakers and sub-bass units. Internal vibrations are also produced by electrical equipment itself, particularly transformers, but even power transistors vibrate; servos and motors present a further range of vibration issues.
All rubbers, silicones, springs etc. will dampen certain resonances, but their compliant material ‘memory’ adds their own resonance character and fall short of best practice isolation. These materials also tend to act as a ‘stopper’, so vibrational energy is reflected back, rather than being an energy conduit or ‘sink’. This applies to hard isolation cones as well. All well designed products using these materials will work to some extent but are fundamentally flawed.
The principle used in Float isolators is different, they do not use compliant or damping materials, but an arrangement of ‘floating’ spheres held within two circular cup shaped channels, so vibrational energy is ‘spent’ in the micro-movements of these spheres without losing a direct connection path between component and the platform its sitting on.
The Float design
Float isolation pucks are slimline designed, to sit quite discretely under your equipment. The Silver or Black coloured hard anodised aluminium two part body hides a bespoke ball race manufactured from chromium steel (a non-resonant material ‘cage’ holds the balls apart).
Three spheres are set into the top and bottom faces to act as ‘feet’ to ensure stability, and coasters supplied with the pucks can be used above or below each Float. Supplied in sets of three and four, with additional coaster sets also available.
Float for loudspeakers, racks and sub-bass units
A set of Float connecting components with either threaded fixing options (M6 and M8) or for spike feet options available available.
Float positioning
Broadly, we suggest they are positioned under equipment feet, or next to the existing feet. There is an argument for using three Floats, particularly under lighter components, for fewer vibration ‘sink’ points.
Try positioning one of the set under or close to the transformer in the equipment. There is scope for experimentation to find the best sounding configuration, as your equipment and where it is sitting will influence the sound performance to some degree
Float isolation is particularly effective under turntables and electrotechnical equipment such as CD, DVD and Blue-ray players, servers and computer equipment with mechanical hard drives, and loudspeakers.
Float Specifications
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Outside diameter: 49.0mm Dia.
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Height excluding coaster plate: 23.0mm
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Height inc. coaster: 25.5mm
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Height with Loudspeaker accessory and coaster: 37.0mm
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Height adjustment on Loudspeaker accessory: +8.0mm
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Boxed weight. Set of 3: 0.55Kg
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Boxed weight. Set of 4: 0.66Kg
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Boxed weight. Loudspeaker accessory, set of 4: 0.46Kg
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Colourways: Silver & Black.
Enjoy
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Greater clarity across all frequencies
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More musical bass notes (less ‘muddy’)
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A wider and deeper sound stage