Wilson and Stillpoints

[chessman]

I have been listening to "Friday Night In San Francisco" (Di Meola, McLaughlin, de Lucia) since it first came out, but tonight I feel like I am hearing it for the first time. The Stillpoints Ultra 5's are allowing the Wilson Sophia 2's to exhibit better attack, decay, dynamics and timbre. I have heard a lot of acoustic guitar in real life and this is the closest this CD has ever sounded to the real thing. Just breath taking. Still not a component upgrade in my book, but much more than a tweak. It has been a week now, so perhaps the improvement will end. The sense of break-in has slowed considerably.

[marcbrown]

Originally Posted by CGabriel

StillPoints and Wilson's - a match made in audio heaven. For the Wilson's the Ultra 5's are worth the extra cost. The SS work great under most components. Not so much for many turntables however. But Wilson's? A big yes!

I also have a set of Ultras under my Maggie 20.7s, mounted to Sound Anchors. So, the StillPoints are not just for Wilson's.

If you are lucky enough to have a Thor sub-woofer or other massive sub (Fathom) try a set of StillPoints under it. Very surprising what it can do.

My experience falls right in line with yours. I tried the ultra SSs under my Sophia III speakers, but the Ultra 5s were well worth the difference in my system. I also have 2 JL-113s subs. There the Ultra SSs also made a big difference.

[Masterlu]

marcbrown... Welcome!

[j3brow]

Originally Posted by marcbrown

My experience falls right in line with yours. I tried the ultra SSs under my Sophia III speakers, but the Ultra 5s were well worth the difference in my system. I also have 2 JL-113s subs. There the Ultra SSs also made a big difference.

So nice to read of your experience. I too own Sophia 3 speakers. I have SSs under the S3s. I have been seriously contemplating stepping up to the Ultra 5s. I would then move the SSs to my MCD1100 (replacing Ultra Minis) and VPI Scoutmaster (replacing stock cone feet). Really nice to read that you liked the U5 over SS. The SS are already very good! I have 24 SSs in my system at this point under speakers, power amps, power regenerator, and preamp along with 8 minis elsewhere. I have switched over to Stillpoints from Symposium. Incredible products.

[chessman]

j3brow, I went with Ultra 5s straight away with my Sophia 2s, so I cannot compare them to SS feet. But one thing is sure, I ain't gonna give them up.

[marcbrown]

Originally Posted by j3brow

So nice to read of your experience. I too own Sophia 3 speakers. I have SSs under the S3s. I have been seriously contemplating stepping up to the Ultra 5s. I would then move the SSs to my MCD1100 (replacing Ultra Minis) and VPI Scoutmaster (replacing stock cone feet). Really nice to read that you liked the U5 over SS. The SS are already very good! I have 24 SSs in my system at this point under speakers, power amps, power regenerator, and preamp along with 8 minis elsewhere. I have switched over to Stillpoints from Symposium. Incredible products.

I started with the Ultra SSs first and was very pleased, then they just had come out with the Ultra 5s. My dealer sent me 8 and under they went. The difference was not as big as when going from spikes to Ultra SSs but easily big enough to justify the cost difference. I also went from Symposium to Stillpoints except I still use a Symposium Quantum shelf with Ultra 5s to support most of stereo. I have Ultra SSs and a few minis under rest of units. Like yourself, I feel the Stillpoints have been a game changer for me and in fact could not completely connect with my music until they were placed in my system. Happy listening!

[TLi]

Has anyone compared Nordost Sort Fut with Stillpoint Ultra 5 under Alexia? I have a few sets Stillpoint Ultra SS, Ultra 5 and Nordost Sort Fut.

I wonder which is the best way to install them under my amps, preamp and speakers? It is going to be quite a lot of manual labour to install any footer under the Alexia, so some input from an experienced user will be very helpful. Thank you.

[chessman]

Originally Posted by TLi

Has anyone compared Nordost Sort Fut with Stillpoint Ultra 5 under Alexia? I have a few sets Stillpoint Ultra SS, Ultra 5 and Nordost Sort Fut.

I wonder which is the best way to install them under my amps, preamp and speakers? It is going to be quite a lot of manual labour to install any footer under the Alexia, so some input from an experienced user will be very helpful. Thank you.

Use the Ultra 5s under the speakers. Get the adapter studs to replace the factory studs. Screw the Ultra 5s onto the adapter studs leaving a small gap between the base of the speaker and the Ultra 5. The Ultra 5s will be bevel down. You need a helper to rock the speaker to one side to remove the spike, adapter and original stud.

Recommended sequence is "float" speakers first, then power supply/distributor, then amp, then sources.

No idea on the Nordost Sort Fut, but if you compare them to Stillpoints, we need a complete report.

[wpascoe]

Originally Posted by chessman

Recommended sequence is "float" speakers first, then power supply/distributor, then amp, then sources. No idea on the Nordost Sort Fut, but if you compare them to Stillpoints, we need a complete report.

So ... for power conditioning, I use a Shunyata Triton/Typhon combo. The Typhon rests atop the Triton. Do I need a second set of Stillpoints separating the Typhon from the Triton?

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

[chessman]

Originally Posted by wpascoe

So ... for power conditioning, I use a Shunyata Triton/Typhon combo. The Typhon rests atop the Triton. Do I need a second set of Stillpoints separating the Typhon from the Triton?

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

I don't work for Stillpoints, so I do not really know. I would not use a second set, myself, on the theory that the two boxes would be in sympathetic vibration due to weight and friction and the absence of moving parts in either one.