Description
Dark Star 50 isolation feet
At Solidair Audio we are very impressed with the performance of our Gyrodec Pylons and have had great feedback on them. We therefore decided to have a look at developing the concept to produce some new versatile isolation feet. After much experimentation and many prototypes, we came up with a range of Dark Star HiFi isolation feet. The current model can be used directly under HiFi components or under spikes. It has cork pads to stop sliding occurring once in place under a component. The cork will be supplied ready to stick on with it’s self adhesive layer, though we can put them on here if you prefer. The feet can also go directly under spikes as they have a cup built into the centre of the foot.
If preferred we can provide the with an M6 stud on the top to screw into a platform or component. This thread format has some flexibility if different treads are needed (1/4″UNC is popular in the USA for example). The feet can be used either way up, so there is a lot of flexibility for specific applications.
The Dark Star 50 isolation feet have a wide weight capacity range and lend themselves to most HiFi isolation situations. We primarily developed them to carry more load and be more stable under speakers than magnetic levitation feet. They have excellent weight carrying capacity, so lend themselves well to this application. They can be used in sets of three for most applications. Visually two feet at the front usually looks best. It may be better to use four feet on heavy amps due to weight distribution and on speakers for stability. For simplicity the feet are sold individually so you only need to order as many as you need, but you will need at least three.
They give a clearer sound to HiFi components, with better instrument separation. Some feedback suggests that these feet give a better dynamic response than their magnetic cousins. If your system is bright or hard sounding, the magnetic option may be better as they tend to give a warmer sound, though these would also help mellow this. (Transistor based components tend to be harder sounding , so magnetic levitation is usually better under them. Individual makes and individual’s ears vary considerably, so this is ultimately a very subjective decision.)
We ran some tests under speakers and the results were quite superb. “Where has the speaker gone?” and “It’s just a wall of sound” were two of the feedback comments. It was like the sound was just in the air and not coming out of the speakers at all once the Dark Star feet were underneath. We were very pleased with the results to say the least. The speakers and turntable used were high quality, but the amp was a very modest transistor amp which made it even more impressive. There was also a considerable reduction in noise transmission to the floor, with less than half the volume in the room below the music room with the DS feet in place. So very neighbour friendly too!
The overall diameter of the Dark Star feet is 52mm (2 inches) and height around 38mm (1.5 inches). They weigh around 55 grams (2oz). Their load capacity has been tested up to 50Kg (110lb) for a single foot, but they look like they could take more. The main body is made from a carbon fibre tube which holds an ebony foot on a braided high performance thread web. They are very strong and do look rather splendid. They can be used as they are on a hard flat surface (use the cork facing), or on a soft surface like carpet (don’t use the cork on the base).
The Dark Star 50 feet and other String Theory HiFi isolation feet have less movement in them than our magnetic range, so lend themselves well to speaker isolation. We also have them on a new suspension bridge.
Some nice customer feedback, “But when it comes to the Dark Star they are great, the speakers are faster, it improves the bass (is deeper) the midrange and even tweeter performance in my Sonus Faber Amati Futura – Wow! These feets significantly improved the speakers performance, the scene is wider with better resolution, deeper and the virtual sources are more appearing and appealing – if I may say that in English :)” BK
Please note :
All our wood is obtained through sustainable Cites certified suppliers.
The price is for a single Dark Star foot.
Gerrit Jan (verified owner) –
Put them under my mildly modified KEF reference model two’s.
I am surprised how much difference these feet make.
Overall the KEF sound more airy with better 3D imaging and more definable music instruments.
They are not cheap, but nicely finished and strudy. A firm recommadation.
Only four stars because not everyone will be willing to spent this ammount on feet. It is unfortunate they will be missing out on what these feet can bring to a speaker.
Steve last –
Excellant addition to my setup, used to replace the standard spikes on my Sonus Faber Sonetto iii speakers, flooring is carpet.. special order as I needed m10 bolts.
Definite improvement in soundstage and bass response improved my listening experience, also makes them easier to move, my room is a shared living space so when i get to have an extended listening session i can move the speakers into a better position.
Dean (verified owner) –
Darkstar 50 Isolation Feet.
So, I’m going to go on a bit to say the least, as I really think these deserve more than a polite nod.
Let’s start with the service, packaging and presentation. Superb. Sensible solid cost effective packaging. They don’t cost 1000’s because they come in a titanium flight case for no reason at all. A hand written note to me personally in the box, that my friends, is service!
So, the system they are joining.
Iv’e been an audio geek for 40 odd years, so my system has had plenty of time to grow, and grow it has. Up front there is a Hitachi HT660 DD with Goldring MM cart (my wife’s every day deck), a Garrad 401 with SME3012 and AT33PTG2, and a Michelle Orbe with Audiomods arm and Dynavector Karat D3 cart. All go into a Keces S phono, and Mark Levinson 26s, feeding Bel Canto 1000m monos. At the end is a pair of Thiel 2.4s and a B&W PV1D sub. This system is top flight and was already playing at a very serious level. I have had guests literally looking at me with that WTF!!
It is a very revealing punchy system, which is how I like it.
So, the Thiels had custom spiked Granite and Ply platforms under them and the Darkstar 50’s were purchased to take over there. I live in a flat and was particularly interested in the reduction of sound transference through the floor. But hey, I’m an audio geek, so obviously I was hoping for some audio geekery too! Speakers are on carpeted floorboards. I have left the spiked granite platforms in place as Victorian floorboards are a law unto themselves and they get the tweeters up to ear level. Three feet between each speaker and platform. NOTE: I have no kids or pets in my house, I’d put 4 Darkstar 50’s in place for more stability if I did.
I was listening to The Amazing Snakeheads – Amphetamine Ballads when the Darkstars arrived, so I replayed that once in place.
This band although quite laid back, were still quite aggressive and the vocalist has a drawling distinctly Scottish delivery. Now remember this system was already pretty wow but straight away I noticed stuff that was always there, but now it was just there. By that I mean a gentle rap on a cymbal or tap on a guitar body were so obvious that they were “just there”. I didn’t have to listen for it, or have a little “ooh did you hear that” audio moment. Everything was there as it always was but now it was an obvious and integral part of the music. This went for that drawling vocal too. Each word was utterly distinct without losing any of the accent or delivery style.
Annie and Dave on the Eurythmics Revenge album took a little step apart and became even more distinct from each-other. As they both sang the line “the last time” they were together but perfectly individual.
The seperation of instruments on Thelonius Monk at palo Alto was enhanced thus the cymbal and snare could propel the music precisely as it should. When the bowed bass solo comes in, you can almost count how many strands are on the bow!
When Bowie sings the word “you” for the third time on the track Time, he literally steps out of the system, a real wow moment.
More complex music like Dave Mathews – Before these Crowded Streets, always stunning, is now effortless to follow. Eminem’s machine gun delivery is so easy to understand it’s quite something. A single key piano key strike on Cassandra Wilsons cover of Come On In My Kitchen is not something you now wait for, it just is, and a brilliant is it is! A really massive pay off is with Hardcore. Something like Jello Biafra with D.O.A. becomes far easier to understand with a top flight system, With these feet each member falls (amazingly) even more distinctly into the mix so that even non lovers of rowdy punk would at least hear what’s going on.
The voice of the system hasn’t changed, the Garrard/SME/AT is still a hint warmer than the Orbe/Audiomods/Dynavector but subtleties, expression, definition, accuracy, have all improved to the point where the speakers really are doing that disappearing trick!
And then this cherry on the cake.
My system lives with me in a room with soft furniture and tables and books etc. I’m not filling my living room with weird tubes and panels no matter what they do. So I would often click minus 1db left, or very slightly drift my head side to side to centre up a drummer or singer, the room will be the room!
The Darkstar 50’s have brought a perfect soundstage and utterly accurate imaging. A place for everything, everything in it’s place. This alone would be worth the cost.
Remember the Darkstar 50’s have done this in a top flight, high end system, that was already at the top of it’s game. Within the context of my system, these are cheap as chips, special offer knock down mates price and an utter bargain for what they have brought to the table.
I have years of experience with audio and have heard and played with everything from a NAD amp with Wharfdale Diamonds, to a Levinson Reference system with Revel Salons and an eye wateringly expensive Blue Pearl Audio TT with Wavac valve amps and Tannoy Westminsters.
I would happily state that I believe any system 1 or 2 steps up from entry level budget would justify the cost of these. As your system grows/upgrades the Darkstar feet can move along too and will do their thing, which makes them even more cost effective. Not so cheap that you could be blase about a set, but in a world of high end audio prices (and these are high end) they are a bloody bargain.