Russ Andrews is launching a duo of audio equipment supports as part of its Torlyte Platform range, to bring all the audible benefits of the recently upgraded Torlyte design to sound systems based around smaller audio components. The two new models are specifically designed to fit compact equipment, such as Cyrus Audio’s half-width products and older Naim pieces, plus phono stages, DACs, headphone amps and power supplies. They are built using exactly the same ultra-light, but incredibly rigid materials that sits within the lightweight wooden construction of the platform as are used in the full-size platforms. “The increased rigidity of the new design and low mass construction serve to provide both a stable and secure mounting for the audio equipment, while being more efficient at dumping unwanted energy to ground”.
As Russ Andrews, Technical Director and Chairman explains, ‘The design of Torlyte flies in the face of the perceived wisdom that high mass support is the most effective way of housing audio equipment. It is the result of years of intensive research into the real causes and effects of unwanted vibration on the performance of the system. I discovered that the acoustic feedback of energy through the loudspeakers and into the hi-fi components is a major cause of time delay or ‘smearing’ in the music. This is exacerbated by the use of high mass supports which effectively trap acoustic feedback from the speakers in the equipment. The low natural resonant frequency of high mass objects results in more energy being stored and slowed down as it passes through the equipment.
‘Torlyte addresses this problem by utilising very low mass shelves and supports, which store little energy and delay it less. This raises the speed of reaction to the feedback energy and as a result reduces the time smear. It is impossible to stop the energy, but by ensuring it moves as fast as possible through the system, and that all parts of the system vibrate together and very fast, then the vibration ceases to matter. To do this, Torlyte couples all the parts of the system together in such a way that the energy passes freely through, with the system components coupled to the floor rather than decoupled, resulting in the ‘dumping’ of unwanted energy into the ground’.
The new medium-sized Torlyte Platform features the new Russ Andrews ‘low profile’ Jumbo Cone Feet, which are affixed to the underside of the platform in a three-point configuration, ensuring equal pressure on each contact with the surface on which it rests. The small Torlyte Platform features Big Cone Feet. “The feet act as the conduit for the energy to be dumped”.
Torlyte Platform prices
Small (220mm wide x 200mm deep x 50mm high) £174
Medium (250mm wide x 390mm deep x 50mm high) £205
They are covered by a 25-year warranty and a 60 day money back guarantee if not entirely satisfied with the performance upgrade.