Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) EXR Audio Stand
HRS Footers with Artesania
Now, I wondered, how would the HRS Vortex footers work on top of the Artesania KSH2 Krion shelf? Would we be able to transfer some of their sonic qualities to another brand rack? Well yes, indeed we are, as it turns out! On top of the Artesania shelf, there’s the by now immediately recognizable effect, in part comparable to the effect the footer has on an HRS rack. The Vortex brings fuller bass, deeper tonal saturation, and broader soundstaging whilst retaining focus. In a direct comparison, the Vortex footers make the StillPoints sound comparatively lean although the latter do sound more articulate and expressive. I’m not sure if the match is ideal, however, as the overall balance also leans over a little to the overly relaxed side.
I used stainless steel discs to avoid damaging the Krion panel
It’s entirely possible that the Krion shelf or the Artesania rack itself do not mate ideally with the Vortex’s design. Still, interestingly, while the StillPoints are most articulate, the Vortex footers once again seem to make the bass go deeper. Note that it’s not just a solidifying or thickening but an actual more robust behavior at the deepest frequencies.
I also tried the Helix and the Nimbus footers on the Artesania rack and the results were in line with my earlier experiments using the HRS EXR rack.
Ultimately, what is obtained this way is a hybrid sound with more body and substance but not entirely the solidity or dynamic impact of the full HRS solution. So, while I certainly encourage trying HRS footers with other brand racks or platforms, the Vortex on Artesania, or the Nimbus or Helix, for that matter, is not equal to a full HRS solution.
Top level versus bottom level
In comparing the EXR’s top level to its bottom level, I found differences, but compared to many other racks, they turn out rather small. Basically, the top level sounds a little airier, more expansive, and free-breathing while the bottom level sounds a little more controlled. We’re definitely not talking about extremes and unless directly comparing, the difference is not worth obsessing over. I would certainly be happy to use either position for review assessments.
The EXR Point Footers on top of Artesania ISBAWB 100 Floor Discs with Nylon inserts
EXR Rack Point Footer Adjustment
After moving the EXR rack to a different position next to one of the heavily loaded Artesania racks, one of its Point footers needed readjustment due to the laminate floor compressing the underlayment and bulging just a little more. After readjusting the Point footers and tightening the washer nuts for good measure, I discovered that this had a rather large influence on the sound.
Just as that penny dropped, I recalled having read about it in the instruction manual where it says “Do not torque the washers or Points tightly”. I guess this also goes for the tightening nuts.
With the Point Footers screwed all the way up and the washer nuts tightened, the sound was very noticeably tighter and more controlled. But because the rack has plenty of tightness and control of its own, I feel it sounds more balanced, more spacious, and more atmospheric when the footers or washer nuts have been only gently tightened, or even not tightened at all. The latter is to be preferred if the objective is to obtain the airiest, most enveloping soundstage experience. Of course, as with my footer preference, YMMV, but it is good to be aware of this.
Floor Discs
Before I proceed to the HRS Damping Plates, I need to discuss one more final variable. Optionally, HRS can provide Floor Protection Discs but these were not included along with my review sample. The rack’s Point footers are rounded and not very sharp so I don’t think they will very easily damage the floor. But even though my floor already features plenty of dents and holes, I’d rather not create any more.
Besides preventing damage to the floor, I felt it best to treat the HRS rack the same as the Artesania racks by using the same Floor Discs underneath. The same, in this case, refers to the Artesania ISBAWB 100 Floor Discs which are supplied with Exoteryc racks along with three different inserts of which I use the Nylon insert under all Exoteryc and Aire racks. This is how the EXR rack has been judged so far.
Earlier experience has shown that Floor Discs, as unimposing as they may appear, can have a significant influence on the sound, so I felt it important to also listen to the EXR rack using two other discs.
Searching my inventory, I found two kinds of basic Discs. First, flat black discs of undisclosed metal that were originally delivered along with a Finite Elemente Spider rack, and second, smaller yet taller Stainless Steel discs that were originally delivered along with a SolidSteel rack. Of the two, I suspect the flat black discs may be closest to the discs that HRS supplies.
Going from the large Artesania Discs with nylon inserts to the small flat black discs had an immediate effect on the sound, certainly not as profound as the influence of the rack itself, but definitely audible. Compared to the Artesania discs, the flat black discs provided leaner, tighter, and purer, more direct if arguably soberer sound.
Going from the flat black discs to the taller Stainless Steel discs provided a more impactful bass and a fuller lower midrange whilst retaining the purity. The Artesania discs, by comparison, provide a more relaxed, fluid, and refined sound but with less robustness and bass drive. Given that the results are all good and equally valid, and system synergy will dictate what’s ultimately ideal, I cannot really decide on a single best solution. But in light of the sonic differences, iI will say it is definitely worth experimenting with to see what works best in any given situation.
Next: HRS Damping Plates and Conclusion
Once again, thanks for the in-depth examination of these components. i really like your short, astute, descriptions of how they sound.
I own CH Precision gear. The voicing of CH gear is very natural with its own support spikes in place. Music flows freely, as it does in nature.
I have tried any number of third party top plates and footers. Almost all introduce damping that clamps down and restricts flow, resulting in a loss of naturalism, and moves towards audiophile sound. None of these devices are keepers.
I gather you’re not a fan of the CH provided spike isolation system?
Artesania racks bypass component feet by design and over many years I got used to how that works and sounds. Outside of initial experiments on the floor and a few occasions where I heard my CH equipment with friends, I have no real experience using CH with its own feet or the CH Spike Option. I don’t have enough experience with it to proclaim being a fan or not. The HRS racks provided the first occasion where I seriously tried them and since I also tried a range of other footers with the CH and HRS, I would say my prefefence is more down to the combination of audio component and rack than the CH footers themselves. So, long story short, I don’t really have an opinion on the CH footers just yet.
This is a fascinating point about using HRS Chassis products with CH-Precision. I am the representative for HRS to many CH dealers in the USA. They have found that the Vortex and Damping Plates significantly improve when combined with an HRS Base. Please remember that the CH chassis design is not at fault but rather the extreme levels of fidelity that allow you to hear the results clearly.
How many Vortex footers (3 or 4) did you use under the Grimm? I’ve lately been using 4 of the Stack Audio AUVA footers to good effect with the MU1 on my HRS rack. And as you found I have been very pleased with 4 Vortex under my dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC for about a year.
Hi Steve, sorry, notifications ended up in spam somehow, leading to my late response. I tried the MU1 with 3 Vortex footers and 4 and did not discern a very large difference. Both work well but with 4 footers, I found it is very important to set the tension on the adjustable 4th footer very precisely to achieve even distribution. With the very lightweight Grimm, this can be a little tricky.
Mail filtering is unfortunately a common problem we’ve all experienced. Based on your review, and already having been using Vortex footers since late 2020, at the urging of Michael Latvis ( he’d already had experience using these under his dCS DAC with his racks), I went ahead and purchased a set of 4 and noted the immediate improvement compared to the Stack Audio AUVA feet I’d been using under the Grimm MU1. Your experience mirrors mine. I also tested the potential for additional benefit of some damping plates atop the MU1 in varied sizes and configurations to no clear effect.
Thanks for the feedback, Steve!