I had the opportunity to test the Solbothane Sound Insulator (SSI-001) as a photograph, so I checked the product.
This is a high-performance insulator developed for audio use by Sanshin Kosan Co., Ltd., the developer of Solbothain materials.
The product page is here
https://www.exclusive-audio.jp/shop/products/detail.php?product_id=273
It has a three-layer structure designed with a gold-plated brass and ebony base supported by rubber material Sorbothaiin. Solbothain is a material that has been applied in a variety of fields for its shock absorption and pressure dispersion performance, such as vibration damping, vibration silence, and soundproofing.
The insulator SSI-001 gives the impression of the combination of ebony and gold-plated metal parts with a luxurious feel. The price is 49,800 yen. . It looks a little small, but it can be said to be a convenient size.
It can also be used as an amplifier or player, but since it is an audio base that improves sound quality, mainly speakers, it is sold in sets of three (there are also available as an option) Therefore, if you use speakers, you will need two pairs. .
The material of the brass is a non-magnetic material, and has a moderate weight that is typical of metal, and it has a good sound that is also used in brass instruments, and is a metal with no quirky quirk that is disgusting in its resonance. Ebony is a very hard wood that resonates very well, and is also a high-quality wood used in musical instruments such as oboes and clarinets.
The height adjustment, which can be adjusted using a screw type, is very effective for players such as turntables. What you don't want to miss is that the thin screw part that connects the base to the ebony provides the effect of the pinpoint base, which supports it at points. The ebony receiver moderately prevents the resonant sounds unique to metal, and the 8mm thick anti-vibration material Solbothane limits to absorb and disperses the overall vibrations from the equipment that is on the device.
In this case, I tried listening to the test using a turntable and speaker to verify the effectiveness that can be achieved.
First, the turntable. Installed at three points in a balanced manner on the hard bottom. Since no magnets are used, there is no need to worry about magnetism when installing.
The vibration-damping effect eliminated the vibration and the pinpoint effect made the sound clearer, and the sound's muddy appearance was eliminated, and the sound's contours seemed to have become clearer. The vibration-damping effect of Solbothaiin seems to create a considerable sense of stability in delicate operations such as tracing cartridges and reading CDs. However, the SONY PS-X70 I tried this time was a rough MM cartridge, so the changes were mild, and I think that a low-impedance delicate MC type or a cartridge without a damper would be much more effective.
The speakers were more clear about the effects of the insulator. The focus was fixed and there was a slight blur. The sound's contours are clearer, and the clear texture extends to the bottom of the low range, giving it a tone that is free from muddy. It is transparent and clear, has a soft stretch into the high range, and there is no tingling or clouding, making the sound completely different. It's well-balanced, the sound is very good, and it's very comfortable to listen to.
The Solbothaine insulator, the SSI-001, which maximizes the effectiveness of the negative aspects of the speaker, is an insulator that truly exposes the speakers, and it can be said that its value is well worth this price.
This is an item that anyone who wants to fully bring out the performance of their speakers should definitely try.
The product page is here
https://www.exclusive-audio.jp/shop/products/detail.php?product_id=273
