Artesania Carbon Fiber and Panzerholz Decoupling Discs
Listening
As I mentioned earlier, I have always preferred the Nylon discs and have been using them with all my Exoteryc and Aire racks up until this review. Additionally, I also use the Nylon discs along with the matching Stainless Steel discs under the HRS EXR racks. This gives me several different locations to test the new discs.
Given my positive experience with the Carbon Fiber Linear Arm update for the Exoteryc racks, I was eager to try the Carbon Fiber discs first. Starting with the main Aire platform that supports the CH A1.5 power amp, I removed the Nylon discs and substituted the new Carbon Fiber discs. Oh, my, the difference was not subtle!
The bass became much tighter, the midrange crisper, and the treble more articulate. The pacing improved, feeling more urgent, and the imaging became more focused. In summary, these discs provide a crisper, more transparent, direct, and exciting sound. On the other hand, the bass and midrange had become quite a bit leaner, and I noticed that the upper bass and lower midrange had lost some of their body and richness. As a resuly, the overall presentation had shifted to the more analytical side. While my mind appreciated this change and preferred it over the Nylon or Beechwood alternatives, my heart remained uncertain. The improvement was undeniable, especially with rhythm-driven music, where the increase in energy and pacing was impressive. However, with vocals and more sensitive music, I found that the delivery lacked soul and emotional depth.
I should note that I have tweaked my entire system to sound as crisp and articulate as possible while retaining refinement and flow. It’s possible that I could restore the ideal balance by making further adjustments elsewhere in the system. But before exploring that option, I was eager to see how the Panzerholz discs would perform.
Knowing what the Beechwood discs do, I must admit that I had doubts about trying the Panzerholz discs. I was concerned that the Panzerholz might add too much character, which is something I generally try to avoid. But if there’s one thing I learned when it comes to audio, it’s that it’s all relative, you may be in for a surprise, and you won’t know for sure until you try it.
Replacing the Carbon Fiber discs with Panzerholz discs under the Aire platform supporting the CH A1.5 power amp made a significant difference. Again, it was not subtle!
To my surprise, the Panzerholz discs reinstated the tonality and even improved it beyond what the Nylon discs could achieve. They offered a more realistic representation of drum sounds and percussive wooden instruments, including the piano. At the same time, they maintained the articulation, precision, and excitement that the Carbon Fiber discs provided. If I had to nitpick, I would say the transparency was very slightly reduced compared to the Carbon Fiber discs. However, the overall balance was just right and clearly ideal for my system. This experience reminds me of the adage that balance is everything; using more of a good thing doesn’t necessarily lead to a better result. The Carbon Fiber arms I use throughout my system were a significant improvement, as are the Carbon Fiber discs. However, combining both might skew the sound too much in the same direction unless adjustments are made elsewhere in the system.
Next, I installed the second set of Panzerholz discs under the Exoteryc rack that supports the CH C1.2 DAC and L1 preamp, and sure enough, the sound became ever more spritely, exciting, and, most importantly, so much more realistic.
With the Panzerholz discs applied successfully, what shall we do with the remaining Carbon Fiber discs? You guessed it: to try them with the HRS EXR racks! These racks have a different impact on the components placed on them compared to Artesania racks. The level of synergy also varies depending on the components, which is why I utilize both types. The EXR racks have a grounded and robust sonic impact that complements the airier and more relaxed nature of the Exoteryc and Aire racks. The EXR racks feature rounded spikes, similar to Artesania racks, but even rounder, allowing them to be used directly on the floor. Alternatively, the company offers small spike bases to protect the flooring. During my review of the racks, I preferred using the 100-mm Artesania stainless steel discs with the nylon discs for an ideal balance of robustness and fluidity. At that time, I did notice that the nylon discs reduced the expression and directness compared to using the standard spike bases or direct placement on the floor. Nonetheless, much like with the Exoteryc racks, the nylon discs added air, fluidity, and delicacy to the earthy character of the EXR racks which balanced them more ideally for my taste.
This part of the review coincided with my weekly analog session when my friend Wouter always brings a collection of records that he has carefully cleaned. He uses a meticulous multi-step process that involves soaking, scrubbing, two different cleaning agents, repeated rinsing, and a Degritter ultrasonic machine, with amazing results, even on new records. As a result, we were inspired to first try out the EXR platform that I recently installed for the Thorens turntable.
As I had heard earlier with the Aire and Exoteryc racks, swapping the Nylon discs for the Carbon Fiber discs under the EXR platform had a significant influence. But unlike with those racks, the balance was now absolutely perfect!
The bass became tighter and more articulated, transients became spritelier, and the overall liveliness improved. Although the discs slightly reduced the fullness of the sound, the racks still had plenty of reserves in that area, resulting in a more linear and neutral balance. One of the delightful features of the Thorens turntable is its lively and bouncy character, which was enhanced just right, adding to the realism without detracting from it. No matter what we played, the sound was exciting and engaging, but it never felt overly lean or aggressive.
I then decided to use the remaining carbon fiber discs under the EXR rack, which holds two digital sources, and the PS Audio P20 Power Plant. It’s important to note that the P20 is the only active component in the analog signal path. While the improvement was more subtle than what I observed with the turntable, it was still unmistakable!
I’m finding these new discs to be quite addictive! If I had more sets, I would just keep adding them under the existing racks and platforms. However, for this review, the message is clear: Despite serving me well for all these years, the Nylon discs are no longer satisfactory, and I have no choice but to replace them all with the new discs!
Conclusion
Artesania has done it again, and you won’t want to miss this: the new Carbon Fiber and Panzerholz discs are a true game-changer. If you own an Exoteryc or Aire rack or even another brand of rack that can be paired with the Artesania 100-mm Stainless Steel discs, I highly recommend giving these new discs a try. They have genuinely elevated my setup, and I no longer want to listen without them!
As it follows, not just Highly Recommended, but also HFA favorites!
External Links
Manufacturer: Artesania Audio
Distributor for the Benelux: Aspera Audio
Read Also
Artesania Exoteryc Audio Rack
Artesania Aire Floor Platform
Artesania Modular Floor Platform
Artesania Modular Rack
Artesania KSH2 Krion Shelf
Hi Christiaan
Did you ever try the Stack Audio AUVA speaker feet under your racks, as a comparison?
Best regards
Per
Hi Per, The HRS Racks only work with their own footers, they do not accept regular threaded inserts. Exoteryc Racks already have a decouping/suspension system built in that requires rigid coupling. As I know from experiments using various floor interface disc materials, the harder materials sound best, meaning felt-tipped footers would not likely be ideal. That said, I’m positive they could have a very beneficial effect with more straightforward racks such as those made by Solidsteel and others.