FLOAT ISOLATION PUCKS. AN INTRODUCTION.
Float Isolation pucks - a simple case of more music with less distortion.
Our investigations into the how’s and why’s of isolating audio and A/V components to achieve high level performance, and not simply a change in tone or addition of phase distortion to soften the sound, have resulted in the product range called ‘Float’
Effective isolation from mechanical vibration?
External vibrations do react with all your audio and A/V electronics, like Amplifiers, Streamers, Servers, etc., along-side electro-mechanical components such as turntables, CD and DVD players, and loudspeakers, sub-bass units, as well as the racking or supports, even the flooring they sit on.
Internal vibrations are also produced by the equipment itself, particularly from the transformers, but even power transistors vibrate. Servos and motors present a further range of vibration issues all interacting with external vibrations, both interacting with the electronics components which adds micro-distortion and raises the ‘noise-floor’. All of this masks and colours the music you hear, or the audio visual experience.
All rubbers, silicones, woods, springs etc. dampen certain resonances, but their compliant material ‘memory’ adds their own resonances and fall short of best practice isolation. These materials and springs also tend to act as a ‘stopper’ so vibrational energy is reflected back rather than being an energy conduit or ‘sink’. This applies to isolation cones as well. All well designed products using these materials will work to some degree but are flawed vibration isolation solutions for audio and A/V use.
The principle used in Float isolators is different, they do not use compliant or damping materials, but an arrangement of ‘floating’ spheres held within two circular cup shaped channels, so vibrational energy is ‘spent’ in the micro-movements of these spheres without losing the direct connection path between component and the base on which it is siting. This isolation concept has been used by others, but we know our Float range takes the concept further, offering an attractive, simple to use and cost effective design. A comprehensive isolation product range that works.
Float design details
The Float range has been designed to be slimline and sit quite discretely under equipment and components. The Silver or Black coloured hard anodised aluminium body parts hide a bespoke ball race, a non-resonant ‘cage’ holds the high quality polished spheres apart, manufactured from very hard chromium steel. Three widely spaced spheres are set into the top and bottom faces acting as ‘feet’ to ensure stability, and every puck is supplied with a ‘coaster’.
Float ‘original’ pucks use a very hard plastic (POM) feet spheres, the Float 30 and carpet Float 30, use chromium steel feet. Different materials have different resonant frequencies, producing different sound ‘qualities’. The Float design and chosen materials selection impose the most natural (smallest) sound impact of their own. For instance, the use of ceramic balls, either as floating spheres or feet were found to impose a rather ‘grey’ sound quality and slight reduction in dynamics, when compared with our selected materials.
The Float pucks with their coasters are supplied in sets of three or four, the exception being Carpet Floats with three spike feet fitted on one face to stand on the solid floor below the carpet.
Float pucks absorb or ‘sink’ vibrational energy, they are not designed to stop or dampen very large vertical movements such as footfall on poorly constructed or old flooring.
Float positioning
When used under electronics and electro-mechanical components, we suggest they are positioned under the existing equipment feet but try using them next to the feet as well, some experimentation may prove useful. There is an argument for using three Floats, particularly under lighter components, bringing greater mechanical stability with fewer vibration ‘sink’ points. Try positioning one of the set under or close to the transformer in the equipment, again, there is scope for experimentation to find the most effective isolation points.
Float isolation pucks work particularly well under turntables and electro-mechanical equipment such as CD, DVD and Blue-ray players, servers and computer equipment incorporating mechanical hard drives; alongside loudspeakers, sub-base units and racks. The bigger the transformer in your equipment, the more improvement in sound quality you will hear, so putting them under your power or integrated amplifier is going to have more effect than under equipment with smaller transformers in them.
Enjoy
Effective component and loudspeaker vibration isolation.
Greater clarity, lower noise floor.
Clearer more musical bass notes in particular
A wider and deeper sound stage
Float Options
To offer a Float solution for most situations there are three options available and several accessory components.
Float ‘original’, for use under components up to 30Kg in weight (with 4 pucks)
Float 30, for use under components up to 120Kg in Weight (with 4 pucks)
Carpet Float 30, under components up to 120Kg in Weight (with 4 pucks)
and accessory items:
Threaded components (M6 and M8)
Spike shoe component
Coasters
There is also a Float spike shoe coaster available for floor and rack surfaces protection, offering enhanced isolation from vibrational resonance when used under spikes.
Based on the Float spike accessory design, it offers a degree of sound quality enhancement that’s achieved through careful detailing of the component. Perfect for use where Float Isolation pucks are just too tall.
For more specific details see:
Reviews
" I am impressed by the overall realism, while silences between musical phrases are inky black, which highlights the very low noise floor with the Floats in place... The Floats are extremely well made and do a great job of minimising those bad vibrations.' Neville Roberts Jan. 2023
- Awarded 5 star Hi-Fi Choice 'Recommended' badge
" I would like to thank you. Your Float components are a real upgrade to my system, I could not do without them now. I used them initially under my Garrard 401 and heard an instant improvement in clarity and experienced a more vivid sound stage. Another set are now under my tube phono-stage and again, another step-up in sonic performance. I plan to use Floats under everything including my speakers eventually, they are that good, well done! "
- R.E.
" The pucks are lovely. They elevate the turntable sound (also supported on an isolating platform), which I didn't think was possible to be honest. Very pleased, the clarity and sound stage is definitely better with the Floats in place. Great product! "
- P.B.
For more specific model details see: Introduction | Float | Float 30 | Carpet Float 30 | Float Spike Shoe
