I had a chance to test the Sorvosein Sound insulator (SSI-001) with a photo shoot, so I did a product check.
This is a high-performance insulator developed for audio applications by Sanshin Kosan Corporation, the developer of sorbothane material.
Click here for the product page
https://www.exclusive-audio.jp/shop/products/detail.php?product_id=273
This is a three-layer structural design in which sorbothane, a rubber material, is supported by a base made of a combination of gold-plated brass and ebony. Solvosein is a material applied in various fields for vibration isolation, vibration damping, sound deadening, and soundproofing with its shock absorption and pressure dispersion performance.
The visual impression of the insulator "SSI-001" is a combination of ebony and gold-plated metal parts, which gives it a luxurious feel. The price is 49800 yen. It looks a little small, but it can be said that it is a convenient size for use.
Although it can be used for amplifiers and players, it is sold in sets of three (optional four-piece set is also available) because it is an audio base to improve sound quality mainly for speakers. (There is also an optional set of four.) So, two sets are required when using speakers.
The material brass is non-magnetic, has a moderate metal-like weight, has a good resonance so that it is also used for brass instruments, and has no unpleasant habits in its resonance. Ebony is a very hard and very resonant wood, and this is also a high-grade wood used for instruments such as oboes and clarinets.
The screw-type fine-tuning height adjustment is very useful for players such as turntables. What should not be overlooked is that the thin threaded section connecting the base to the ebony provides the effect of a pinpoint base that is supported by a point. The ebony of the receiver moderately prevents resonance sounds peculiar to metal, and the 8mm-thick sorbothane vibration isolator absorbs and disperses vibrations from the equipment on which it is placed.
To verify the effect of this, we auditioned a turntable and speakers this time.
First, the turntable. The turntable is installed at three well-balanced points on the hard bottom surface. Since no magnets are used, there is no need to worry about magnetism at the installation site.
The vibration control effect eliminated the blurring and the pinpoint effect made the sound muddy and clear, or should I say, the sound outline became clearer. The vibration-damping effect of sorbothane seems to produce a considerable sense of stability for delicate operations such as tracing cartridges and reading CDs. However, with the SONY PS-X70 that I tested this time, the change was mild because the cartridge was a sturdy MM type. Perhaps the effect would be considerably higher with a low-impedance, delicate MC type or a cartridge without damper.
The effect of the insulator was more obvious on the speakers. The focus was more precise and the slightest blurring was eliminated. The contours of the sound became clearer, with a clear texture extending all the way to the bottom of the low-frequency range, and the tone became less muddy. The sound is transparent and clear, with a soft extension into the high frequencies, without harshness or cloudiness, and with a very different resonance. The sound is well-defined, very well-conducted, and very pleasant to listen to.
The Sorbothane insulator "SSI-001", which eliminates the negative parts of speakers and brings out the best in them, is an insulator that shows its true value only for speakers, and its value is well worth the price.
It is a must-try item for those who want to bring out the full performance of their speakers.
Click here for the product page
https://www.exclusive-audio.jp/shop/products/detail.php?product_id=273
