zaZen II from IsoAcoustics is a stable isolation platform designed for turntables, tube amps and other sensitive audio equipment. The zaZen brought clarity to the Pro-Ject's soundstage compared to when the vinyl spinner was sat directly on the Swedish side table. I checked the weight of the Cobra and its 13.6 kg which isnt too heavy. So it accelerates energy interactions then? The zaZen II is an effective accessory that should be part of your anti-noise toolkit. The excellent IsoAcoustics zaZen offers a good measure of what the very expensive platforms do at a fraction of the price. This enriched the focused nature of the music, enhancing transparency too while also widening the boundaries of the soundstage. Um, doesn't a catalyst catalyze? This is because when you raise the table, you also need to raise the motor to keep the belt aligned. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 1 to 3 mm is the recommended gap between the metal ends which is very small. All rights reserved. You just havent been able to detect it because vibration has increased the noise floor, masking the stuff. I also have a combination of springs or Isoacoustic "discs" (various sizes depending on equipment weight)under my components. Center Stage2is different and better because it uses novel applications in material science to achieve its isolation and damping benefits. The combination of the platform mass and the integrated IsoAcoustics isolation technology allows audio equipment to reveal greater acoustic clarity and detail. IsoAcoustics has made its name by protecting hi-fi from unwanted vibrations, and the zaZen achieves that at a pocket-friendly price point. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. Have you checked the set up of the current system and especially the cartridge? Let us know what you think if you try this experiment. Both zaZens are primarily designed to support a turntable, but can be used for other component types. The lead vocal here certainly offered a cleaner, crisper and clarity-sodden delivery. The isolators are absorbing the vibrations, so they do not resonate through, or reflect off the supporting surface. The Canadian company IsoAcoustics Inc., makers of the Orea isolation footers ($59.99 each, all prices USD), which I placed under some Paradigm Monitor SE Atom speakers and wrote about for this column in October 2018, seems to have been inspired by zazen -- which they define simply as "sitting meditation" -- in the design of their two new . The zaZen has a lower profile and is designed for lighter turntables and components that weigh up to 40 lbs. Did the zaZen I affect what I could feel with my hand? The zaZen provides a stable isolation platform with a low noise floor, designed for turntables and audio components. zaZen features an elegant medium gloss black finish over a dense fiber construction to provide the ideal combination of visual and acoustic design to complete the . I chalk up that apparent loudness to perhaps a diminished noise floor -- or maybe because the sound was clearer. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The combination of the platform mass and the integrated IsoAcoustics isolation technology allows audio gear to reveal greater acoustic clarity and detail. Finally, if you are the kind of person that loves a bit of good sound but finds high-performance audio furniture a little too overt, a zaZen under each device on your domestic furniture makes a lot of sense. The zaZen platform is denser by volume, but still much lighter than the DELOS models because of its smaller size which is more ideal for lighter components. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. A few seconds in, I took a step back from the Kallax and stomped lightly on my floor (carpet over wood). To learn more about the OREA Series, click here. wrote about for this column in October 2018, Schiit Audios Ragnarok 2 integrated amplifier. Under my SACD player made an even bigger improvement. IsoAcoustics Inc.39 Main street North, Unit 5Markham, ON, Canada L3P 1X3. The zaZen I measures 17W x 1.5H x 15D and can support up to 25 pounds. This cookie is associated with Shopify's analytics suite. Many lighter weight turntables will be fine with the ZaZen I, (up to 25 lbs.) . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Instead, there was greater contrast between the overdriven bass and the clarity of the hi-hat cymbals. I put the table on top of the Orea, played a record, then I tapped the shelf with 20gr pendulum, the sub extended 1.23 inches, then I put the table on top of the pods and repeated the the experiment, and the sub extended 0.21 inches, without isolation the sub extended 1.24 inches. Enquires only returned, dense fibre material which might be MDF. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". It is also important to ensure that the component can fit on top of the zaZen platform which measures 17Wide x 15Depth (432 x 381mm). Its relevant. I did notice the Aria has a good amount of hum and high frequency hiss, that seems goes away when holding the Aria outside my rack. Discover the zaZen and Delos isolation bases from IsoAcoustics. Each platform is in turn supported by four small, round, black-and-red footers IsoAcoustics designed for the zaZens: Combining the mass from the dense platform with the IsoAcoustics isolators creates a high degree of isolation. IsoAcoustics doesnt say what these footers are made of, but the bottom, flat-black disc seems to be of rubber or plastic, the upper, red disc of urethane or something similar. While I could still feel vibrations on the X1s plinth with the zaZen I in place, they felt only half as strong as they were without the platform -- and correlated with the subtle improvement in sound I heard. The finish seems reasonably durable, and cleans up easily with a soft cloth and water. I must say, the satin blue Pro-Ject turntable sat on the shiny black IsoAcoustics platform looked so much better than when the record player was placed directly on the white furniture. Both product lines feature Regardless of the good, better, or best performance from a footer, a large percentage of what you are experiencing with any type of footer, especially those located under electronic components; the principal equipment rack or speaker plinths totally affects their sonic outcome and your decision making. and Terms & Conditions Results have been very good. The pattern element in the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to. The feet act as isolation, preventing most ground-based vibrations from passing through to the platform itself. The Orbit Plus had rubber feet; the X1 has height-adjustable feet of machined aluminum with felt bottoms that Pro-Ject claims damp vibrations from the surface they sit on. Videos for related products. The Vermeer Model THREE takes the mighty Model TWO from the company and strips away the analogue inputs and a lot of the weight and price. Knowing the company which no longer exists as Vertex AQ any more I have to add (https://quiescent-technologies.com) Im sure the platforms work well. The prints under my X200 the Oreas under my DAC Transport and Turntable. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Both product lines feature disc-shaped isolators that work simply by being placed underneath your audio equipment of choice, however, there are a few differences worth noting. Have a browse and do a bit of research here and elsewhere and Im sure youll find lots of info to assist you. Just marvellous. Sign up to our newsletter to receive our latest news, offers and updates: IsoAcoustics Inc.39 Main street North, Unit 5Markham, ON, Canada L3P 1X3. The uneven gap of the Nobsound is caused by uneven weight distribution of the component which is heavier at the front and lighter at the rear. The 18th Annual Positive Feedback Writers Choice Awards for 2021 published on December 9th, 2021 hosted a wide selection of critic picks. Because these are opposite and mutually exclusive, ya know? I had to remove two springs from each footer to get the gap down to optimal levels. Maybe Its the best investment in audio youve made in years.. That said, a good hi-fi rack will improve the performance of a decent system and so can a platform such as the zaZen, albeit on a smaller scale. Jay Garrett meditates to the music with this vibration-reducing subtable, Given that it's effectively an ultra-sensitive analogue vibration measuring instrument, it should come as no surprise that a turntable is the most vulnerable part of any hi-fi system to mechanical noise. The isolation is a result of the way the 3 parts work together, so there is not a single path connecting the live equipment to the supporting surface. Now you have a Sound Tuned Suspension. Coincidentally, this configuration gave a 50% compression of the springs. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. Well I like my hifi, but actually quite dislike the sound from my turntable :-O Kind of thin, hard/forward midrange and lacking warmth and midrange body. zaZen (sitting meditation) is a stable isolation platform designed for turntables, tube amps and other sensitive audio equipment. In all cases, it improved the sound, just with some of the more upmarket devices, the improvement was mild. As if something was dragging it and now the vocal had struggled free of the same. Both in terms of aesthetics but even more so, their sonic performance. Back in what, February of this year was it? The rack governs every purchase you make from now or until you decide to audition and purchase a racking system capable of higher performance. Hi Steve Ive reviewed a fair bit of Vertexs stuff but not those platforms Im afraid. Theres many more out there and Ive talked about lots of them on this site and elsewhere. The IsoAcoustics isolation bases allow more people to experience the difference that great is. I try not to chase the wind. They work great at isolation and the sound is great. I noticed that as well but forgot to mention it when I read your post. I'll do some blind tests over the next few days if the family is up for it. All told, the differences in System Ones sound wrought by the zaZen I werent as significant as what I heard when I placed a trio of IsoAcoustics Orea footers under each Paradigm Monitor SE Atom minimonitor sitting atop my old shelving unit, but that was a more expensive exercise -- $359.94 for the six Oreas, compared to $199.99 for the zaZen I.