Symposium Rollerblock Jr. review

[Yardbird]

I have been reading audio reviews for years and noting the systems used to test various components, and while I would usually pore over the main components, the tweaks were usually ignored. I frankly believed them to be the concern of anal audio types, the details guys. I was a big picture guy who was too busy enjoying my ride on the component go-round to pay attention to minor details!

Well, I may or may not be an anal audio type, but I am definately NOT one to ignore the many happy reports from members who are enjoying improved system performance from these tweaks. My new philosophy is that any reasonable effort, even the somewhat arcane, is justified, if it brings me closer to the real thing - a live performance in my home! And while many tweaks are far less expensive than a component upgrade, I've come to learn the results can be just as convincing.

I had decided early on that this would be my year for system refinement, so I've been exploring different ways to improve what I already owned - consolidate my holdings, so to speak. So, earlier this summer, I made my first foray into high-end A/C conditioning with the purchase of a PC Audio Power Plant Premier, and WireWorld Silver Electra power cords for all of my components. I was amazed when my noise floor dropped thru the floor!

One of the members who posted responses to my PPP review, J3brow, suggested I explore Symposium products, when I was ready to take my system to the "next horizon". His comments started me thinking and reading about vibration control, or proper component isolation. I began to wonder how some of these tweaks might work in my system, since it had recently received the "silent treatment" from the new PPP and cords! I called our friendly local dealer, who suggested the Rollerblock Jr's for my components, as a cost-effective approach to component isolation. For the uninitiated, Rollerball Jr's consist of two titanium cups seperated by a ball bearing.The cups support your component and rest on your shelf, with the bearing in between. Resting your component on Rollerblock Jr's instead of directly on the shelf minimizes contact with, and reduces the transfer of, vibrations from the supporting shelf to your component. Those vibrations serve to smear your audio signal, robbing your system of clarity. Vibration-induced jitter is the enemy of good audio. If you want to know more of the technical details I suggest you check out the Symposium website, which is full of good information. Despite the fact I was obviously dealing with the arcane, I repeated ten Hail Marys and ordered six sets of three, one set for each of my components;

1) MCD500
2) MS750
3) C500t - both units
4) MEN220
5) PS Audio PPP

I did nothing with my MC501 amps, or my B&W802 speakers since I am in the process of auditioning speakers, and it was suggested that the biggest "bang-for-the-buck" would be realized with the sources, preamp and PPP.

Well, my hunch was right about taking advantage of my system's newfound quiet... the results were impressive, to say the least! But, it has taken me a week of listening to a wide variety of recordings to really appreciate how profound a change these tweaks have made. Some of the changes are more subtle than others, and weren't apparent to me on every recording, but practically every parameter of my system's sound reproduction was improved - instrumental texture, harmonics, seperation, dynamics and overall sound stage depth. For the first time, I have experienced a 3-D effect, due to the expanded depth of my sound stage. the orchestra, or band, is arrayed from front-to-back, instead of just side-to-side. The speakers seemingly have dissappeared on some recordings! On Dvorak's Ninth Symphony, second movement, off of a Phillips SACD, there is a recurring theme that is played by a single flute. This flute now has texture, air and place on the sound stage I've never heard. On Charles Mingus's tribute to Lester Young, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", off the remastered Columbia release of his album "Ah Um", the horns are startling in their presence, spit buzzing in their mouth pieces as they play their solos. Similarly, Satchmo's gravelly voice and breathing past his vocals and horn on "I've Got It Bad"/The Great Summit with Duke Ellington, was so THERE it was simply a part of the instrument. Roy Haynes's snare drum head and swishing brushes create a vivid textural backdrop to Oliver Nelson's resolute tenor sax work on his "Stolen Moments"/MCA. The drums on that track are mixed way back, well under the sax, and so this detail is revealed at a relatively low level. Also clearly revealed is the intonation problem between Paul Chambers' bass and Bill Evans' piano when they play the bass line together. On Vivaldi's "Four Season's", the 3rd movement of "Spring", English Chamber Orchestra/CBS (digital), the cellos' lower harmony line to the 1st violins melody, has never been so present, bow work clearly audible on all stringed intruments. I was listening to a group of individual musicians, not a blended hi-fi orchestra!
I could go on and on, but because of all those audible new details, there is new level of humanity revealed in my music whenever I listen.

I mentioned earlier my intent to refine my system this year, but despite my proceeding without a plan, I seem to have stumbled into an effective order of approach for these system enhancements. First, by adding the MEN220 which optomized my system-room interface, then conditioning my A/C with the PPP and Silver Electra cords, I had dramatically lowered my systems's noise floor and achieved a reasonably well sorted-out synergy between my components, cables and room. Consequently, when I isolated my components with the Symposium Rollerball Jrs. after the other changes, I avoided loosing some of the benefits to system ineffeciencies that existed before. All of the new clarity and detail was fully apparent.

I may not be as young as I once was, but this dog is still able to learn a new trick or two! Excuse my using the old audio as life analogy, but it has become apparent to me that good audio, like good living, is often found in the little things, or details, that we find all around us. If we choose to ignore those details, our audio (and our lives) may well be the poorer for it! My system, my music and therefore, my life, has been enhanced by these system upgrades. As the Gipper once said, "All in all, not bad". Ted.

[hkval]

It is easy to tell you are loving this search. Tweaking is simply bringing out the best from what we already have and it can be a lot of fun.
Enjoy the music!
Howard

[chessman]

Awesome review! Thanks

[jdandy]

Ted.......What an enjoyable read. You paint a wonderful picture of a gentleman enjoying the fruit of his audio labor. The order of your steps introducing tweaks to your system was correct. Had you not first improved the quality of the power distribution with the PPP, then lowered the noise floor with the premium IC's and PC's, you might not have been able to fully appreciate the advancements to the integrity of your sonic signature provided by the Symposium isolation products. My experiences parallel yours exactly.

It is such a thrill to press play on the CD player, sit down and be swept away by the musical performance. When it becomes just the music, you have arrived.

[Masterlu]

Ted, it sure is nice when a plan comes together!

Glad you are enjoying everything to the Max.

[Omerta]

Originally Posted by jdandy

When it becomes just the music, you have arrived.

Dan....That is a great way to put it. The only downfall of Symposium products is once you tried them you can't seem to stop until you have placed them under everything.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Omerta

Dan....That is a great way to put it. The only downfall of Symposium products is once you tried them you can't seem to stop until you have placed them under everything.

Lou.......I hear you. I started with one set of three Rollerblock Jrs. under my MCD500. Now I have them under my MEN220, MS750, C1000C, and C1000P. They're like potato chips. You just can't have one.

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Ted.......What an enjoyable read. You paint a wonderful picture of a gentleman enjoying the fruit of his audio labor. The order of your steps introducing tweaks to your system was correct. Had you not first improved the quality of the power distribution with the PPP, then lowered the noise floor with the premium IC's and PC's, you might not have been able to fully appreciate the advancements to the integrity of your sonic signature provided by the Symposium isolation products. My experiences parallel yours exactly.

It is such a thrill to press play on the CD player, sit down and be swept away by the musical performance. When it becomes just the music, you have arrived.

Dan,
Thanks for the compliment. I read your and other reviews here and, along with Ivan's recommendations, decided if I liked the results I would be isolating all the components anyway, so I may as well do it right and be able to judge the full treatment, as opposed to a half measure. When I consider the results, I have to think I made the right choice. Ivan was a big help. He can be very generous with his time! I am amazed at how long it took me to focus on the importance of A/C conditioning and component isolation. I guess we live in such a consumer-driven society, with so many messages around us all the time, I sometimes catch myself arbitrarily dismissing a potentially good idea because it sounds like just another sales pitch! Not good, but hard to avoid... Ted.

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by hkval

It is easy to tell you are loving this search. Tweaking is simply bringing out the best from what we already have and it can be a lot of fun.
Enjoy the music!
Howard

Indeed, Howard! I have come late to this realization, but better late than never! Ted.

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by chessman

Awesome review! Thanks

My pleasure, Randy!