Before acquiring his Merrill Williams R.E.A.L. 101.2 turntable, the author Robert read several reviews, which praised the turntable’s robust design and effective isolation. While the 101.2 indeed outperformed his previous turntable in minimizing sensitivity to vibrations, he discovered that true isolation goes far beyond just reducing footfalls and room vibrations. This revelation came courtesy of the Townshend Seismic Isolation Platform, a recommendation from a trusted audiophile friend who had experimented with numerous isolation shelves and footers over the years. He had highly recommended the Townshend Seismic Isolation Platform, asserting it was superior to any other he’d tried. Sceptical yet intrigued, the author decided to give it a shot, starting with his integrated amplifier rather than his already well-isolated turntable.
Transformative Impact on Sound Quality
The Townshend Seismic Isolation Platform arrived promptly from the UK, well-packaged and with clear instructions. Initially, he placed the platform under his amplifier, curious about the potential improvements, given his past experiences with various isolation footers like Ayre Myrtle Blocks, BDR Cones, Symposium Rollerbock Jr’s, and Aurios Pros. The results were astounding.
Great records are the product of meticulous recording techniques, and the Townshend platform revealed this in spades. It dramatically enhanced the spatial definition of instruments and vocals, making their placement and interaction within the recording space more apparent. This newfound clarity and realism transformed his listening experience, particularly with classical music.
Classical Music Brought to Life
The impact of the Townshend Seismic Isolation Platform on classical records was profound. The platform brought an unprecedented level of richness, clarity, and hall integration to the sound, making the orchestral layout and individual contributions of musicians more discernible. Records that once sounded muddled and uninspiring were revitalised.
A notable example was an RCA Living Stereo pressing of Jascha Heifetz performing Vieuxtemps’s Concerto No. 5 in A Minor. Previously, impressed by Heifetz’s violin but felt the orchestra lacked presence. With the Townshend platform, the entire performance snapped into focus, offering a fuller, more lifelike sound and better integration of the orchestra and the recording venue.
Experimentation and Further Improvement
Encouraged by these results, Robert then placed the Townshend platform under his turntable, replacing the Aurios Pros isolation bearings. The improvement was even more pronounced, enhancing clarity, high-frequency resolution, bass definition, imaging, transparency, and overall musicality. It became evident that his Merrill Williams 101.2 turntable was not as well-isolated as initially thought, and he resolved to acquire a second Townshend platform for his amplifier.
Conclusion: A Worthwhile Investment
The Townshend Seismic Isolation Platform has proven to be a game-changer in his audio setup. At well under $1,000, it offers an incredible return on investment, rivalling the improvements brought by high-end upgrades to speakers and turntables. For anyone serious about classical music reproduction or high-fidelity sound in general, the Townshend Seismic Isolation Platform is an essential addition, providing a level of clarity and realism that truly brings music to life.
