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Positive Feedback ISSUE 40
november/december 2008

 

marigo audio

VX Mystery Feet

as reviewed by Robert H. Levi

 

 

 

 

ROBERT H. LEVI'S SYSTEM

LOUDSPEAKERS
Avalon Eidolon and REL Stadium III subwoofer.

ELECTRONICS
E.A.R. 324 phono preamplifier, E.A.R. 890 amplifiers (ran as monos), NuForce Reference 9 SE V2 amplifiers, E.A.R. 912 preamplifier, and an E.A.R. 834L Tube Line Stage.

SOURCES
VPI Scout/JMW 9 tonearm, VPI SDS Controller, VPI Heavy Weight Super Platter, ZYX R-1000 Airy 3-XSB phono cartridge, E.A.R. Acute CD player, ModWright Sony 9100 Player with tube power supply. ModWright Sony 9100ES with Signature Truth Modifications, Mod/Bybee Filters and Revelation Cryo Silver Umbilical. Alesis Masterlink 24/96 Recorder/Playback Deck, and the Benchmark DAC 1 revised. Grado Statement Phono Cartridge. Pioneer DVL 919 LD/DVD Player, and a Marantz DV8400 DVD/SACD/CD player. Magnum Dynalab MD-108 Reference Tuner, Marantz 10B FM Tuner, Day Sequerra Reference FM1 Tuner, and Scott 350B FM Stereo Tuner, AQ 7500 FM Antenna, Stax 7t Electrostatic headphones, Grado Reference 1 headphones, and a Grado headphone amplifier.

CABLES
Kubala-Sosna Emotion, Harmonic Technology CyberLight, Harmonic Technology Magic 2, Dual-Connect interconnects, Dynamic Design THB Nebula, Soundstring, Kimber Select balanced, Kimber TAK phono AG, Kimber Hero balanced and single ended interconnects, and Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II balanced interconnects. Kimber D-60 Digital Interconnects. Kimber Select 3038 Silver, Kubala-Sosna Emotion, and Harmonic Technology Magic Reference Silver speaker cables. Kimber Palladian, Tara RSC and Decade, Tice, Soundstring, and Kubala-Sosna Emotion AC power cords.

ACCESSORIES
Monster Reference 350 Mark II v2 Power Conditioner, World Power Power Wing, Tice Clock, and Audio Prism Quiet Line IIs. Cable Cooker 2.5, Winds Stylus Pressure Gage, Bedini Ultra Clarifier, VPI Record Cleaning Machine 16.5. Audio Magic's Quantum Physics Noise Disrupters.

 

Just released! The taller Marigo Labs Mystery Feet called the VX. These are designed for amps and loudspeakers, if you need the extra height! If not, the TR Feet reviewed previously will work fine in all applications even under speakers and ultra heavy amps according to the manufacturer. The shorter TR Feet and the taller VX Feet have no weight limit. Like their shorter brother, the VX Feet are State of the Art for individual isolation feet and a must own unless you have the very, very best in ultra high-end racks already.

More good news. Both the TR and VX Feet now have polished feet so they are much less prone to marring wood surfaces. Ron, well done.

I placed the VX Feet under my Cary SET Amp which was supported by Vibrapods and a very heavy wood shelf with thick foam dampening. YIKES! It transmogrified into a new amp. The VX Feet shocked me on first listening! Better vocals, more transparent instruments, smear and blur vanished, music popped alive into the room…this was fabulous. I then put a pair of the TRs under the Modwright Sony 999 and EAR 834L with all NOS Mullard tubes on board and the degree of aliveness and harmoniousness increased exponentially. These TR and VX feet are the ne plus ultra of individual isolation feet. What joy!

I then tried them in my other reference system replacing my expensive Zoethicus stands under the E.A.R. 890 monoblocks with the big VX Feet. Very close call here …maybe slightly more refined with the Marigo Labs feet. I'd certainly replace any Target or other less expensive or home brew stands pronto with the VX Feet. They are wonderful and oh so musical and alive sounding. Both sizes are built wide and solid and give strong stability to any component. The VX Feet are the best yet to be in my system besting all other cones, pucks, pods, shoes, lifts …you name it, I've ever tried.

Here are some comments from their creator at Marigo Labs:

Hi Bob,

A few details. We are in the process of converting from the name Marigo Audio to Marigo Labs. And we are selling the Mystery Feet factory direct only. The VX are 1.8" H. $699/set of 3 retail. The TR are 1.6" H. Build details: Each set of 3 ( TR and VX models) has 48 individually machined sub-assemblies.

Pure parts count is 96 pieces in one set.

Best regards,

Ron Hedrich

With these VX or the shorter TR Mystery Feet, you can achieve a supremely musical neutrality to the sound of any component so supported. The resulting affect is akin to floating the the gear weightlessly above the shelf preventing all interactions and vibrations from entering. That's what these isolation feet do, subjectively. Not only does the bass tighten up and deepen, but the mids and highs become clearer and sweeter. Macrodynamics are more intense and microdynamics are more pronounced and delicate.

Evidence of any feedback whatsoever just disappears.

I'm going to stop short of suggesting that you buy inexpensive, but solid metal stands, and a set of the Marigo Mystery Feet for each component versus state of the art super stands and platforms for your gear. I think it's more a matter of what you now use in your home in this current economy. I'm not throwing away my prized Townshend Seismic Sinks…but I'm buying several sets of the Marigo Feet for anything not perfectly supported and isolated already.

I'd try the Marigo's under my VPI turntable, but the motor floats separately and I cannot figure out how to do this. The Townshend Sink will remain there. The Avalons may very well benefit from these over the supplied aluminum pucks …we'll see. By the way, the TR and VX Feet work the same and achieve the same results. Choose the model strictly by your height needs.

This is the best use of advanced materials used as constrained damping designed into an isolation foot yet achieved. The Marigo Labs TR and VX Mystery Feet are a must, must, must own! Bravo Marigo. Robert H. Levi

Retail: $699 (set of three )

Marigo Audio
web address: http://www.marigoaudio.com

 

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