isonoe

advanced isolation for hi fi components & PA

The Isonoe Isolation System is sold in packs of 4 isolators.

Each isolator has a 6mm thread making the system compatible as a retro fit with many industry standard turntables and CD-players.

The isolators are equally effective at blocking the ingress of vibration into the mechanical assemblies of both turntables, and CD players - the more isolation from vibration afforded to the optical tracking mechanism within a CD-player, the less work needs to be performed by the error-correction software, thus preserving detail and spatial integrity.

DJ equipment applications:

Rather than hinder trick-DJs by enabling a "jelly wobble" effect to exist when they make adjustments, as with more primitive isolation systems, the Isonoe system acts as a 2-way shock absorber which cushions forces induced into the platter / plinth by the DJ's hands, without springing back abruptly.

Excessive lateral movement by isolation systems employing air, springs or suchlike, creates uneven wear on both the stylus, and more importantly the sides of the vinyl groove. If the plinth / platter are subject to sufficient force, the Isonoe system will spring back in a gentle, "viscous" manner, whereby it returns to the horizontal state gradually and smoothly (compression of the visco-elastic polymer coupling will only occur in incidences of extreme physical abuse).

"Wow" constitutes one of the most insidious forms of colouration, even in its most subtle form - pendulum-like lateral movement by any turntable will result in a disconcerting increase in wow.

A typical DD turntable weighs 12kg, therefore the bearings in the base will not slide around if lateral forces are exerted (e.g: "back cueing") upon the supported device

 Isonoe Isolation System installed at Fabric London

TECHNICAL ASPECTS

Designed utilising cutting-edge 3D CAD modelling and simulation, the Isonoe isolation system is machined from raw magnesium alloy billets by multi-axis CNC machinery to within a tolerance of 1 micron.

The system embodies numerous mechanisms that inhibit the transfer of vibration:
The central cradle mechanism (application filed with the Patent Office) is formed from a visco-elastic polymer able to deflect vibrational energies across a broad bandwidth.

The body and hub are made from a specific grade of magnesium alloy imbued with exceptionally high rigidity, implemented to maximise the ratio of stiffness between the elastomer cradle and the alloy (the higher the ratio in favour of the alloy, the greater the efficacy of the elastomer cradle).

Stainless-steel bearings in the base of the outer body block the transfer of energy by keeping the point of physical contact area between surfaces to a minimum (akin to a more contemporary version of spikes in hi-fi).

An independent research study proving the effectiveness of the Isonoe isolation system is currently being undertaken by the World leading Institute of Sound and Vibration research facility at Southampton University: http://www.isvr.soton.ac.uk/

Frequently asked questions

Q: What types of surface are recommended to be optimally effective for mounting the ball bearings on? Stainless steel is a very hard compound, and the further the ball bearings penetrate into the surface underneath them, the less effective their ability to block the transfer of the vibration into the outer body will be. For this reason we recommend the hardest possible surface you can find - instrument glass is optimum, some dense hard woods or ceramic materials can also be used. Isonoe sell cost-effective accessories designed to seat the isolators effectively:
A pack of 4 discs made from instrument glass - these glass discs can be seated either upon a conventional table or stand, or they fit inside our Sorbothane "coasters":

Sorbothane "Coasters" - used in this application the turntable's base will be extremely well secured. These coasters can be used in their own right as a vibration-damping accessory for conventional turntables, or they can be implemented to make an ideal base for the Isonoe Isolation System providing another level of isolation.

Q: How far can I screw the Isolators into the threads on the player's base?

A soft, compliant bushing has been fitted around the thread to seat the hub optimally on your player. If ride-height adjustment is needed, you will see that the bushing compresses the more you twist the bolt clockwise into the thread. After a couple of turns the bushing is fully compressed, and cannot be inserted further into the thread - this supplies around 3mm of travel in and out of the thread for spirit-level adjustment.

Q: Why is the Isonoe Isolation System expensive?
In order to machine raw billets of magnesium alloy into a precision tolerance product, an engineering facility with multi-axis CNC machines typically costing several hundred thousand pounds each must be used; also, a specific grade of magnesium alloy is used for its acoustical properties, and as a result of both these criteria the product is never going to be cheap wherever it is manufactured in the world. We could have made the system from plastic or GRP to save cost, but it would not have been anywhere near as effective. If you consider the price to be high we would suggest showing the product to your local machinist and obtaining their opinion.

Pack of 4 isonoe feet £90 including VAT    ( Export £76.60 GBP pounds sterling )