Isofeet by Sound Damped Steel - any experience? [Archive]

BilliumB

12-07-2015, 05:56

I'm wondering if people have any experience of these vibration isolating feet. They're made using two 3" square layers of steel joined together by a very thin layer of viscoelastic polymer - more information on their web site www.sounddampedsteel.com

I know that Gazjam has them and rates them higher than RDC cones.

I like the concept of constrained layer damping as I can understand how it might work, turning vibration into heat. Also the price at £44 for a set of 4 feet is cheaper than much of the competition.

In addition to using them as feet under loudspeakers, DAC and amplifier, I understand simply laying them on top of any equipment prone to vibration issues can have a very beneficial effect - suitably sized sheet can be provided to order.

The question is, do you have any experience of them, and what do you think? I'm considering buying a few sets to try, but don't want to waste my money if people have had poor experience with the product.

CageyH

12-07-2015, 07:19

I have a set under the Isonoe feet of my T/T and I am very happy with them.

Tarzan

12-07-2015, 07:30

l use them under my Gyrodec and they work superbly! 'calming' the sound down as it were and adding a dollop of control- they also had the same effect under my Techie/Isonoe feet also.:cool:

Recommended.

Gazjam

12-07-2015, 11:59

Use two sets:

Under my turntable like Tarzan and they allow the best qualities for the deck to come through.
Had a good (read:expensive) isolation platform under the deck previously and the Isofeet do a better job.
More surprisingly, a set under my Transporter (music streamer) had a more obvious effect, even more so when I removed the feet altogether and sat the casework directly on the Isofeet.

Great improvement using these things, and I'm getting more to put under all my kit.
Buy with confidence, worth every penny.

BilliumB

12-07-2015, 13:58

Thanks guys, really useful.

Have any of you tried them under speakers?

Cheers. Bill

Tarzan

12-07-2015, 14:04

Thanks guys, really useful.

Have any of you tried them under speakers?

Cheers. Bill

A chap over on Wigwam ( who's name l cannot recall) was using them under speakers to great effect.

clap

12-07-2015, 21:23

A chap over on Wigwam ( who's name l cannot recall) was using them under speakers to great effect.

That's possibly me. They work brilliantly under my speakers and my gyrodec.

Tarzan

13-07-2015, 05:50

That's possibly me. They work brilliantly under my speakers and my gyrodec.

Used them between speaker and stand Tristan or as the stand/floor interface?:)

clap

13-07-2015, 21:51

Speaker and stand.

Tarzan

14-07-2015, 04:40

Speaker and stand.:bulb:

The Black Adder

14-07-2015, 08:05

SDS is quite an amazing product from what the demo's show... it's proper witchcraft to me.

Yomanze

14-07-2015, 12:44

Wow, a real solution based on real engineering. Respect.

dhemen

14-07-2015, 14:30

Has anyone also tried the isoplatmat on any turntable?
I really wonder if it has any positive effect on sound quality like darker background or maybe calming the sound?
Is it logical to use both isoplatmat and isofeet?
Any thoughts?
Thanks

BilliumB

14-07-2015, 23:27

Thanks for all the feedback - as a result I've ordered a few sets of the Isofeet and will report back in a few weeks when I've tried them out.

Cheers. Bill

Tarzan

15-07-2015, 10:22

Thanks for all the feedback - as a result I've ordered a few sets of the Isofeet and will report back in a few weeks when I've tried them out.

Cheers. Bill

:popcorn:

Gazjam

15-07-2015, 13:02

I've tried double stacking them, thinking the extra mass might be beneficial under my turntable but its not worth doing.
SDS say doing this wont add to the dampening benefit as its all done on one layer of dampening.

earsopen

16-07-2015, 15:50

I have 12 of the stainless steel versions.
What you should know is that these are not made as high precision items. They seem to be cut with a guillotine and therefore are not totally flat. All 12 of mine would rock when placed on a flat surface, so the included felt bits were essential to get them to stay about level.
At the price though they are good value and the way they work does not seem affected by that imprecision.
In my set up they were used because an extra box reduced height available between shelves so the usual supports just would not fit. Now that the bigger supports are back in place I have not noticed a huge improvement over the Sound Damped Steel items, and where 2 shelves are now stacked one upon the other, the Isofeet still add an extra layer of damping by having them between the two shelves.

BilliumB

16-07-2015, 16:00

Thanks Bob. What are you using that you feel is better than the Isofeet?

Also, have you tried anything like the Isofeet against the base of the equipment, with the Isofeet resting on the flat end of a cone support (say RDC cones), pointed end down? I've got an issue that my kit sits on top of a great big brick fireplace, the top of which is not perfectly flat, so I'm not sure how easy it's going to be to set-up the Isofeet when they arrive.

Gaz, have you tried anything like this?

Cheers. Bill

Meloski

17-07-2015, 03:34

I purchased an IsoPlatMat for my SL1200, combined with a new original 3mm Technics platter mat and I realized amazing results over the cork and felt mat combination I had previously. My plan is a set of Isonoe Suspension Footers with a set of SDS IsoFeet beneath, add a fluid dampener, Techie isolation complete, for now.

Gazjam

17-07-2015, 08:39

earsopen

17-07-2015, 09:58

I have only tried the Isofeet under the equipment feet or between shelves as mentioned previously. To raise the support directly under the casing would be difficult in my cabinet. A cabinet is more of a pain to get supports under heavy equipment than a rack, especially to the back of it, but I like closing the doors and hiding the hifi which also keeps a lot of dust out.

I normally use black ravioli big feet directly under the case which works better than rdc, and does not leave a balancing act that can be knocked out of line because they are not very slippy so remain in place when the cabinet is pushed back against the wall.

BilliumB

17-07-2015, 18:02

Not tried that Bill, but will give it a go later today for you.

Thanks Gaz.

nomismo

18-07-2015, 14:35

I brought 2 sets and used with great effect under the spikes on my Kefs

clap

21-08-2015, 23:58

Any more feedback guys?

brian2957

22-08-2015, 00:33

Yup , I recently bought a set of Isofeet . They're under my music server and they're excellent . A cleaner , smoother but more dynamic sound . I've just ordered another set for under my amp . Well pleased with them . I've used all sorts , including RDC cones , but the SDS feet beat all of them hands down .

BilliumB

22-08-2015, 01:22

I've bought some but not tried them yet!

Cheers. Bill

AlanS

22-08-2015, 02:03

I bought a set. They took ages to arrive.

Placed them under my phono stage and tried under a CD player. Too subtle for me man. Perhaps they will spring up one day and surprise me. Shall not try any more unless they do.

clap

22-08-2015, 07:09

clap

22-08-2015, 07:09

I've bought some but not tried them yet!

Cheers. Bill

Sounds like a job for the weekend.

Floyddroid

22-08-2015, 13:29

Any good for power supplies ja think?

brian2957

22-08-2015, 14:14

I would say give it a try Steve . . I know Gary uses one under his Gyrodek motor to great effect .

Meloski

22-08-2015, 15:14

How important is it to isolate my amplifier. What are the benefits. I have very little clearance above and these would fit.

Gazjam

22-08-2015, 18:35

I would say give it a try Steve . . I know Gary uses one under his Gyrodek motor to great effect .

I use two!
Doubled up they are more effective...not (I suspect) due to extra damping but the extra mass.

BilliumB

23-08-2015, 20:52

Sounds like a job for the weekend.
I'll get to it, but spending too much time at the beach at the moment!

Cheers. Bill

Tarzan

09-09-2015, 18:32

That's possibly me. They work brilliantly under my speakers and my gyrodec.

Tristan, could you remind us what loudspeaker and stand you were using?:)

clap

09-09-2015, 19:55

Tristan, could you remind us what loudspeaker and stand you were using?:)

I've got them under my totem arrow between the speaker and the supplied wooden plinths. However, I suspect they would work brilliantly between any speaker and stand. Same idea as those very expensive Townshend speaker decoupling bases imo, about £400 cheaper. The SDS are probably not as good but maybe 80% as good.

brian2957

09-09-2015, 19:59

They work very well under my music server . It has a fan and a thin steel case . They don't work under my Brio R or my Rega DAC which have much more substantial casing. I think they would be very effective under a CD player .

Soundeck

19-10-2015, 08:23

HI Bill, try the IsoFeet and IsoPlatMat, if you don't like them I'll give you a full refund (less postage).

Gazjam

19-10-2015, 08:41

The Isofeet work really well under my Logitech Transporter, a genuine lift in sound quality.
Recently, put a set under my new valve power amp and had another noticeable improvement.

This is on a glass surface.

Tarzan

25-10-2015, 17:07

Just installed a set under the Gyro, and a set:cool: of four inbetween my Harbs and Skylan stands with a nice improvement in sound quality, namely relaxing of the sound, control and musicality- well worth the outlay- very nice.

Gazjam

26-10-2015, 09:41

Yup, they work great under Gyro.
Try em under the motor unit too.

Tarzan

26-10-2015, 10:42

Yup, they work great under Gyro.
Try em under the motor unit too.

Have done.:eek:

Tarzan

26-10-2015, 20:47

Further musings on the SDS Isofeet, the two sets l received from Les at SDS are the ones without the foam and according to Les these "sound better than the Isofeet without the foam backing"), any road the system now sounds a LOT more quieter if that makes sense- folk try these under your speakers or as a speaker stand/ speaker interface.