The Aurios Media Isolation Bearings 1.2

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Performance   So what do you get after considerable amount of money, considerable amount of setup and considerable amount of sacrifice involving manual operation of your player?  Wow! That's what. Let me put it this way: I now have a new found respect for the budget Cambridge Audio CD500se CD player. This is a good budget player but with the Aurios 1.2's underneath it, it becomes a great player. There's a sense of realism I've not heard from it before. The speakers disappear, the vocals have body and take upon real shape. There is air and presence between and amongst the performers. Quiet passages are easier to follow; there is more detail and resolution. The sound staging is vast both in depth and in width. The images are vivid and very well focused. Resolution is excellent throughout the frequency spectrum. The bass is solid, firm, deep and fast.   Compared to BDR Pyramid Cones and the Nordost Pulsar Points, the Aurios 1.2's are the winners. Yes, the price difference is huge (percentage wise), but comparison is still inevitable. The Aurios offer more realism, more "you are there". The resolution is higher and the soundstage is better defined. The vocals are more believable. The whole experience is more believable. Having said this, the good old question still remains: What if I use the same budget and buy many more sets of the more affordable devices, effectively treating my entire system? Well, you'll have to try that one yourself, I don't have multiple sets of any of these so such comparison will have to be left for better days. If, unlike myself, you are in the position to try such combinations - please let me know how things turned out for you. Performance (with Tungsten Carbide Balls)    Installing the Tungsten Carbide Balls was easy enough. You just put one on top of each Aurios, right over the threaded hole, which effectively prevents them to roll about. Make sure that the balls provide minimal contact with the component above. Position the Aurios so that each ball is in contact with the flat part of the component chassis and not in the way so as to have them lodged within a screw head or an indentation. I found setting up the 1.2's easier when used with the Tungsten Carbide Balls. The top and bottom cylinders of each Aurios aligned more quickly and with better precision. I believe it has to do with the force (the one produced by the component weight) now acting more to the center of each unit rather than on the edges of the same as is the case when the Aurios are used by themselves. It's either that or because I was simply more lucky aligning them this time around. Performance wise, I found the Tungsten Carbide Balls to be a definitely worthy addition to an already successful package. An extra $50 buys you more of the same good stuff. An increase in resolution, air and openness to be more precise. I could hear further into the recording with increased special resolution as well. The presentation was more natural and offering even better integration. The vocals were even more tangible and the images even more palpable. You may think it crazy to augment a CD player with a set of footers costing as much as the player itself. And you may be right: In this case a set of Aurios 1.2's with Tungsten Carbide Balls costs about as much as my Cambridge Audio CD500SE. However it's not that crazy if you consider the fact that it's not uncommon to partner equally or more expensive loudspeaker stands with budget loudspeakers to a very positive effect. Here too we see a budget (but very good) CD player greatly benefiting from an excellent set of isolation and vibration control devices. Therefore I would go as far as to even recommend such combinations, especially if you consider that you can keep the Aurios and reuse them as you continue to upgrade your CD player. Conclusion   With or without Tungsten Carbide Balls (even more so with them) the Aurios 1.2's are simply: Ssssmokin'! They have elevated my system to a new level. Ever since I have installed them I have been flipping through my CD collection listening to my favorites, but also to stuff I haven't heard in ages. Are they worth the asking price? A confident Yes. I highly recommend them to any one looking for an excellent isolation and vibration control device at this or similar price point.     If you would like to comment on this tweak or suggest improvements to it, please click here.

Comments (add)     Vaughn I was wondering if you ever tried (reviewed) Duruma3 II isolators?? They work on the same principal as the Aurios MIB but only retail for $99.00/set of 3 where as the Aurios 1.2 retail for $399.00. If so, can you tell me which is better and are the Aurios 1.2 worth the extra cash?? Thanks so much!!!   Boris I have not tried those, but I heard good things about them.