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Following a highly revealing and successful upgrade to WellFloat Delta Isolation Base units for my MartinLogan ESL11A speakers, I decided to turn my attention towards individual component isolation (specifically amplifier & turntable). This to me is a natural progression.

Unlike speaker isolation, individual component isolation was not at the bottom of my ‘hi-fi tweak to do’ list. But, it certainly was not anywhere near the top of my list! I had complete faith in my Quadraspire Q4 racks which held and housed my entire individual components (turntable - CD player - phono stage - amplifier and preamplifier). I purchased the main rack over twenty five years ago after exhaustive testing of racks made with a variety of materials. The second lower height rack (for amplifier only) was purchased within the last year. Testing, or demoing hi-fi related equipment at home back in the day was not as easy or transparent as it is today and my ‘trials & tribulations’ story was featured in What Hi-Fi magazine publication. Quadraspire was the last rack I tested back then and it was a clear winner as music sounded uncoloured and natural. I did add various sized oak coned isolation feet to most of my components over the years, which did improve detail and soundstage focus overall.

Slow forward to 2025. Discussions with various isolation companies began slowly, then accelerated as the weeks rolled on. Component isolation (and its importance) certainly has gathered pace over the years with many manufacturers producing a multitude of options at various prices in the form of pods, pucks and platforms. My listening room was soon an obstacle course of small odd shaped boxes. I wanted to specifically focus on isolation for my Audio Hungary P200 valve amplifier, C200 preamplifier and AMG Viella V12 turntable. Though I received many isolation units in appropriate quantities to isolate all the above components at the same time, I knew it would make musical sense to deploy a methodical approach. I therefore initially concentrated solely on amplifier isolation, with occasional deployment of isolation devices under my amplifier and preamplifier at the same time. This afforded me a concise musical picture of the effectiveness of specific isolation devices quickly.

On this occasion, unlike my speaker isolation experience, I made the conscious decision NOT to look at Wellfloat isolation options FIRST. In fact, I was not sure I would even need to look at their options. Just as with my speaker isolation experience, the Wellfloat component isolation options were the most expensive by far. However, it was clear within a short time that many of the more affordable options were not going to work for me. I can understand why some of these options are popular as they did make a ‘difference’ to the sound signature and overall soundstage, however, I had many isolation components to compare, so, some of those differences were not always ‘musically right to my ears!’ As I have sated in other experience reviews, hi-fi is not a one size fits all situation!

Stack Audio AUVA EQ

WellFloat Board Slim model 3534SF

Further Recommended Viewing

Component isolation page two coming shortly...

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