Insulators

[DonBattles]

Looking to install some insulators to my audio system. Instead of going with the standard ceramic units you usually see at various audio vendors/sellers I found some antique glass units that look really cool. There are many different sizes and run between $2.50-$100 each depending on size, color, and rareity. Common clear glass units seem to go for $2.50-5.00 each. Seems like a great alternative unless glass would add some sort of unwanted noise

[Whart]

Don~ I think if you do a few Internet searches of the various fora when these things were first introduced commercially in the audio community, you'll find opinions all over the lot, from snake oil to real improvement. As to materials, there are people who advocated the ceramic or porcelain jobs, various other commercially available ones (I think shunyata made them and may still offer them) and a host of home made versions, ranging from toilet paper rolls (pretty unsightly in my estimation) to wood blocks (which wood, don't ask, i don't remember), to the vintage glass insulators you are considering, to making little teepees out of chopsticks and rubber bands.
I have 8 or so of the early commercial ones- made from porcelain or ceramic. Honestly, I don't think i really heard much if any difference, but aside from issues whether you have a wood floor vs a synthentic carpeted floor (apparently claims of improvement relate to using elevators on the latter), I use them for cable routing. For example, the power umbilical between my line stage and its power supply is smack in the middle of all the inputs and outputs on the chassis that carries the audio signals. So, by using one of those elevators, I can route the power umbilical up and to the side of the chassis and it doesn't get near the signal cables. Likewise, on the power supply umbilical from my phono stage to its power supply, another one is used to keep that power cable as far away from adjacent signal cables as possible. It makes for a neater installation. Beyond that, I can't tell you they do much sonically for me, in my system. And, as you may know, moving cables around may itself have an effect, so experiment to your heart's content. I'd be interested in hearing from others, pro or con, since I'm gonna remain sorta neutral on this- I can tell you that I've heard changes in my system (with witnesses of good standing in the audio community), simply by changing the little ball bearings in the footers on my stands. So, I'm a tweaker. Just not real sure about the sonic changes that come from cable elevation- apart from dressing the cables, as I mentioned above, to keep the signal stuff away from the power stuff.
Hope that helps....

[DonBattles]

Thanks for the reply. Much like you my first reason for using them would be utilitarian and don't really expect a sonic difference. Mostly I'm just curious who here was using what.

[Still-One]

Don
I have used the ceramic/porcelain ones for several years and have no idea whether they have any positive impact on the sound. I can tell you they have no negative impact and I think it looks better behind with the cables lifted off the floor. That is why I use them.

Jim

[Franklmu]

I have the same isolators as Jim, and i have the same remarks. It's also better for the dust

Frank

[GaryProtein]

I don't use insulators. As others have posted, I don't think they make a difference in the sound, and in several cost-no-object systems shown here, they are not present. If Ivan gets them, he is going to need boron fiber reinforced concrete to support his trail of cables!

As far as dust is concerned, if dust accumulates behind my speakers where the wires are, I use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Since I love "processed air" my windows are rarely open so I have very little dust and it really isn't a problem.

Finally, I like you Don, so I WON'T suggest you see what they have for sale at Coconut Audio!

[DonBattles]

Originally Posted by GaryProtein

I don't use insulators. As others have posted, I don't think they make a difference in the sound, and in several cost-no-object systems shown here, they are not present. If Ivan gets them, he is going to need boron fiber reinforced concrete to support his trail of cables!

As far as dust is concerned, if dust accumulates behind my speakers where the wires are, I use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Since I love "processed air" my windows are rarely open so I have very little dust and it really isn't a problem.

Finally, I like you Don, so I WON'T suggest you see what they have for sale at Coconut Audio!

A little late to the party with all of Smokey's issues, pretty funny

[ehoove]

I use the same isolators that Jim does and do so more to keep things in order. With 7 wire runs going to each side, I need some way of controlling things or I end up with a rat's nest! (Tri-amped mains and a sub)
Regards,
Jim

[MyPal]

Coming soon to my listening room...

[Parabellum]

Originally Posted by MyPal

Coming soon to my listening room...

Steve..... I am interested in buying the ESD Cable Isolators MK II, like the ones you ordered. Do you get good results with them? I am also interested in the Shunyata Dark Field V2 but they are 3 times the prices.