Simply put, the footers push back low frequency noise, which darkens the soundstage making it easier to hear detail and background vocals and other atmospheric cues that really define the space where the music was recorded. At the same time the audio signal tightens up and that helps to produce a more accurate frequency response. It will literally sound like you turned up the volume without touching the preamp. The reason they work is because they are built on a sound engineering principle of Constant Natural Frequency Isolation (CNF). The material selection between the natural frequencies of the silicone we formulate and the additive effect of using a supportive metal framework is optimally tuned for audio equipment. The footers can be fine tuned by lightly or heavily torqueing down the footers on their screws. It’s something that needs to be heard to be believed; you don’t know what you’re missing ‘til you hear it!

The footers we make are modeled after the concept of what is known in engineering as a constant natural frequency isolator (CNF). Metal spikes, brass or steel or any other metal, on any audio gear by itself is not the best “isolator”. By definition an isolator must be a spring. Brass and Steel are linear high frequency isolator and do not change (meaning they do not readily compress) with a change in load (added noise). In order for metal spikes to work you need to find the center of gravity of the object being isolated and the stiffness needs to be proportional to the weight of the load otherwise vibration can transmit any frequency below the natural resonant frequency of the metal – no matter how small the point of contact. In these instances metal behaves more like a coupler.

Silicone, on the other hand, is a nonlinear isolator and it has a very low natural frequency related to its low stiffness. Although because it is highly compressible its stiffness increases with the change in load and that is important because like shocks in a car it can adapt to changes in the environment that require the isolation mechanism to be dynamic. However, silicone’s functional range is also proportional to its ability to be compressed and sometimes this results in an effective frequency isolation range of about 5 to 100 hertz.

So when silicone is used in conjunction with a metal like steel or brass you increase the silicone’s functional range. Increased pressure results from compression against the metal that in turn increases the stiffness. Stiffness is gained without losing compressibility and this increases the functional range of the isolator. The natural frequencies of the 2 isolators (silicone & metal) are combined in series (1/Fn + 1/Fn). Therefore the natural frequency of the isolator is able to remain constant irrespective of the change of the load so you end up with what is known in engineering as a CNF isolator. In the simplest terms the isolator is constantly adapting to changes in the environment so that nothing interferes with the quality of the audio signal.

CNF isolators are used in sky scrapper & bridge construction to prevent catastrophic failure from destructive resonance. CNF isolators are commercially available for industrial equipment and cost hundreds of dollars each. I have worked with silicone for over 16 years and I formulated this silicone myself to be the perfect audio isolator when combined with a rigid metal support.

My metal components are all custom CNC precision milled. All the metal is then hand polished. The silicone is custom formulated and poured by hand into each metal cylinder.