Herbies Audio Lab Big Tall Tenderfeet for XPR-1s

[lehighvalleyjeff]

Last week I installed some firm Tenderfeet from Herbie's for my CD & my DC-1 dac. Was impressed with what I perceived as a sonic improvement. Well I decided this week to go nuts and order the Big Tall Tenderfeet Microphonic-Absorbing Audio/Video feet for my amplifiers. From what I have read from other customers, in many cases the larger or heavier the amplifier can have an impact on how much or little these feet improve sound quality. Given the generous 90 day return policy and the positive experience I've had with the other products I've bought from Herbies I felt this was a safe purchase.

As recommended, I installed 4 feet per amp underneath attaching directly under the chassis. I immediately noticed things sounding much clearer (more so than on my CD/DAC). Bass was much more well defined and less boomy but a lot tighter and deeper. Mids were almost holographic and silky smooth. Notes were sharper on attack and the decay was more subtle and extended.

Ok so to rule out psycho acoustics I took all Tenderfeet out of CD DAC and amps. Sounded flat and two dimensional. Best way to describe it was the music was a lot less natural and more homogenized.

Put them all back in and WOW. In my opinion they made a very noticeable difference in the sonics of my system. The plucks on the guitar weee just jumping out from the speakers.

Overall I'm very happy with my purchases from Herbie's Audio Lab. Now that I'm done with isolation it's time to work on room treatments.

[garbulky]

I don't know Jeff. It sounds a little like snake oil for a solid state unit. Maybe with a tube unit or a turn table?

[creimes]

Just imagine how comfy your couch/chair will become with these isolation feet, heck why not throw some on the bottom of the loveseat so when the wife and you are sitting on the loveseat you will fall in love all over again noticing things about her that you had never noticed before with those regular couch legs

Sorry I just had to be a comedian

[mgbpuff]

Although tubes are especially known to be microphonic to vibration, I suspect that some solid state devices may also be slightly subject to piezo effect noise with severe vibration. So perhaps, there is some reason for the solid state amp to sound better. Who knows for sure?

[mfeust]

It sounds to me like you really want to know if these make a real difference or is it just psycho acoustics. If you have someone that can put them in and take them out for you so you don't know if they are in or out. Then you sit down and listen and see if you can tell if they are in or not. Just an idea for you.

Mark

[lehighvalleyjeff]

Oct 1, 2016 1:25:15 GMT -5 garbulky said:

I don't know Jeff. It sounds a little like snake oil for a solid state unit. Maybe with a tube unit or a turn table?

I agree with you on the tubes. Not sure why but I removed and listened extensively then reinstalled them and listened. Rinse and repeat. Somehow they make of an audible difference in the sound (which I find very preferable). I expected the improvement from the DAC & CD and that was obvious. Was expecting a slight improvement at best from the ones under the AMPs but those are the ones that made the biggest change to the sound.

Honestly if I bought a can of snake oil it wouldn't be the first time (my cables are very overpriced, etc) but I'm really under the perception that the Herbies Tenderfeet made a change to how my system sounds. Just my two cents.

[novisnick]

Oct 1, 2016 10:42:48 GMT -5 mfeust said:

It sounds to me like you really want to know if these make a real difference or is it just psycho acoustics. If you have someone that can put them in and take them out for you so you don't know if they are in or out. Then you sit down and listen and see if you can tell if they are in or not. Just an idea for you.

Mark

Of course you'll need someone with upper body strength!! They ARE XPR-1's ya know,,,,,,he,,,,,he,,,,,he,,,,,,,
maybe this guy can help,,,,,,