Symposium Acoustics Rollerblocks Series 2+

Description

MY TAKE:

The original purveyors of roller bearing isolation technology, Symposium Acoustics have offered products employing ball bearing isolation methods since 1997. In their design, a concave dish has been mounted in block of special isolating material. A ball bearing (stainless or tungsten) rests in the dish and the component on top of the bearing. Rollerblocks both couple and decouple your equipment from the surface they’re sitting on. They do this by floating the equipment on bearings, thus de-coupling them in the horizontal plane, while still being mechanically coupled in the vertical plane. Symposium feels that the mechanical coupling to the footer improves performance by providing a path for vibration to be transferred out of the equipment and into the footer. – Galen Carol

Introduction -

Symposium Rollerblock Series 2+ is an equipment support system providing simultaneous coupling and decoupling of audio and video equipment. When properly installed, a set of Rollerblocks can increase overall system performance by an order of magnitude similar to a wholesale upgrade of the component it treats.

Utilizing technology employed in earthquake protection and combining it with proprietary mechanical transmission techniques, Rollerblocks are the most sonically beneficial coupling devices available. Used beneath digital equipment, DVD players, preamplifiers and other components, results can be nothing less than astonishing. Increased focus, soundstaging, image stability, dynamics and delicacy are just a few of the sonic delights awaiting the serious audiophile. When used with an effective equipment base (such as Symposium Platforms), the Series 2+ Rollerblock system provides an additional step toward ideal equipment support, which is simultaneous component isolation and drainage of chassis-borne vibration.

Symposium Rollerblock Series 2+ systems achieve their seemingly "magical" results by obeying laws of physics. Their strict manufacturing tolerances (much higher than usually found in an audiophile "tweak" device) are responsible for their world-wide reputation as the best ball-bearing isolation device available. Professional reviewers and private owners alike have spoken emphatically about the ability of Rollerblocks to enhance and improve the performance of virtually any component, including CD players, DVD players, digital transports, preamplifiers, amplifiers, and more.

Improvements in sound and picture quality are accomplished by reducing noise in the component (caused by vibration) which the Rollerblocks support without introducing any new resonances or distortions, or changing tonal character of the component. Rollerblocks drain and dissipate mechanical energy (vibration) which originates from the component itself, while simultaneously providing isolation from external vibration. This specialized, two-pronged attack on vibratory energy distinguishes the Symposium Rollerblock systems, and is responsible for their unsurpassed effectiveness and performance.

The strength of the Series 2 Rollerblock is its simple yet effective design. They are small enough to be unobtrusively inserted into any system with a minimum of fuss and setup, and require little or no maintenance or adjustment. Unlike flat race devices, Rollerblocks are self-centering and do not require that the component or the support surface be level, or that their surfaces be parallel. Also, if the component is touched or moved, the component will simply return to its center position and not bind up.

Theory of Operation -

Vibration affects the performance of electronic components, usually with negative results, and originates from sources outside or inside the component. Rigid supports such as cones or spikes provide an escape route (in essence, a mechanical "ground" connection) for vibration that is more efficient than the typical rubberized feet of most components. These cone devices work by acting as a crude "waveguide" for mechanical energy, funneling energy to a point and forcing it to encounter the support structure at an angle of 90 degrees, the optimum approach angle for energy transfer (please see our web page on the nature of equipment cones in the "Our Technology" section for a more comprehensive discussion of how and why they work). While there are some directional characteristics to these devices in that more energy can flow from the large area side to the point side than the reverse, they are unable to isolate or absorb low frequency waves, as these readily traverse the pathway, moving the support structure, the cones, and ultimately the component.

Description -

The Series 2 Rollerblock body is made from solid, rectangular blocks of extremely hard alloy aircraft aluminum, and are finished with a black "hard-coat" anodizing. This relatively thin, special layer, harder than the aircraft aluminum itself (which is harder than some types of steel), improves contact efficiency and provides "constrained layer" resonance damping to the body. The bottom of the Series 2 Rollerblock has four beveled edges, and a matrix consisting of a pattern of holes. This unique design improves mechanical coupling between the body of the block and the supporting surface, like a cone, but with much greater stability. The matrix is filled with an acoustically absorbent material. On the top surface is a precision, spherical depression which is polished to a mirror finish, specified at 6 microns or better. This is an especially good finish, difficult to manufacture with precision. It is absolutely necessary, however, for state of the art results in a bearing isolation device.

One precision ball sits in the cup depression, and rests at the bottom. At least three Rollerblocks are placed beneath a component so that the component's chassis contacts the tops of the three balls, which now function as bearings. The component rests directly or indirectly upon the ball bearings, which rest at the bottom of the polished cup.

REVIEWS:
 

Soundstage! - “The Rollerblock Series 2+ is a small, black anodized rectangular metal block with a special vibration-absorbing material inserted into a honeycomb matrix embedded into the bottom. Each block is made of aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum alloy. The top of the block has a highly polished spherical depression that looks separate but is, in fact, a contiguous part of the block. In it sits an ultra-hard precision tungsten-carbide bearing.”

“Are Symposium Rollerblocks worth the cost? I certainly think they are. In comparison to their competition, they come in reasonably priced, they are very well made, and they include superb annotation. While the Series 2+ Rollerblocks did a better job of isolating and floating my gear, the Jr. 1.1s will get you about 85% of the way there for about half the cost. Both lived up to Symposium’s claim that mechanical coupling, combined with freedom of movement, offers an effective way to drain gear of and isolate it from unwanted vibration. I was more than a little pleased with the changes -- nay, improvements -- Rollerblocks wrought in my system.”

“Try Symposium’s answer to the problem of vibration. I doubt you'll return 'em.” - John Crossett

6Moons - “Personally, I'm wholeheartedly endorsing Symposium's Rollerblocks and recommend that you evaluate a set in your own system at the earliest opportunity.” - Srjan Ebean

The Absolute Sound: "There are a lot of stands, cones, and platforms out there, folks, but these are the ones I would buy with my own money." - Jonathan Valin

Upgrade to the Grade 2.5 Superball

Take performance to the highest level with the Grade 2.5 Superball. The Grade 2.5 Superball is a special bearing manufactured to the very limits of current, 21st century technology
and constructed from the hardest machinable metal known. Quite literally, it is "state of the art."

The Grade 2.5 Superball meets guaranteed tolerances of an incredible 2.5 parts per million, or better. There is no higher grade available at present.

Spending just a few minutes listening with a set of Grade 2.5 Superballs in your Rollerblock set will convince you of its superiority.
You'll hear even more detail without harshness or "edginess," more soundstage air, superior extreme low bass impact and definition;
in short, imagine any of the Rollerblock's impressive qualities, and take those to the next level.

The Grade 2.5 Superball pushes the "state of the art" performance of the Rollerblocks by an order of magnitude, or more.

Note: Grade 2.5 Superballs can be purchased along with the Rollerblocks, or individually to upgrade an existing set of Rollerblocks.