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RINGMAT VIVACITY AR
RINGMAT VIVACITY AR
Ringmat Vivacity AR is probably the most effective hi-fi accessory I
have ever used. By adding it, the overall performance of the whole
sound system, CD transport, DAC, preamp, power amp and AV system is
immediately upgraded to a spectacular level.
Famous cables may cost you a fortune, while a set of Ringmat
Vivacity AR is sold for only a little bit more than a thousand Hong
Kong dollars (= £Sterling 78). Up to this very moment, you cannot
find any accessory that is more effective and more cost effective in
relation to performance. This is the first time in history that
people have mastered the technique of anti-vibration and elimination
of hated resonance in home hi-fi and AV systems.
Ringmat products, like Ringmat Support System, Ringmat Feet, Statmat
CDi Blue, Ringmat Spike Stoppers and Ringmat Domes, are so popular,
so famous, that they have received many praises and awards from
hi-fi magazines all over the world. After several years of research
and with the cooperation of New Transducers Ltd. (NXT), Ringmat
Vivacity AR was born.
My first experience with Ringmat Vivacity AR was when I put the AV
Vivacity Panel underneath my Marantz preamp Model 7. Wow! There was
such an immediate improvement; the characterization and vividness of
the human voice as a musical instrument was so impressive.
Furthermore, both separation and low frequency had reached up to 30%
improvement. I can say that the improvement was much greater than
having an expensive pair of interconnect or speaker cables. In other
words, it was just like switching my system into some very expensive
preamp or power amp.
The AV Vivacity Panel is just a basic product of the new line. There
is a version of Ringmat Vivacity AR specifically made for hi-fi
systems; this hi-fi version brings forth the following enhancements:
1. Superior resolution and separation
2. Unusually wide and deep soundstage
3. Surprisingly robust and clean bass
4. Better dynamics and timing
5. Clearer ambient information
Our recommendations for using Ringmat Vivacity AR hi-fi version:
* Simply use the Positioning Guide and the Placement Guide to ensure
the correct position of the four domes and then take them away; put
the Dark Vivacity Panel on top of the domes and then lay the
Vivacity Sparkle Sheet on top of the Dark Vivacity Panel; finally,
lay the Vivacity Topper Panel on top of the Sparkle Sheet; then put
your equipment on top.
* Best results can be obtained by using Ringmat Vivacity AR with
sound source equipment like CD players and preamps.
* Larger domes (on existing shelves) are more effective than smaller
domes.
In conclusion, Ringmat Vivacity AR is definitely the best solution
for the elimination of resonance in hi-fi and AV systems.
AUDIOPHILE
The High End Audio Journal of Hong Kong
June 2008
Do you want to avoid
vibrations and resonance?
We try a complicated/uncomplicated solution.
Ringmat Developments is one of the companies that produce sound
improving "things" with more or less an aura of mystery surrounding
them. They have done so for more than 20 years under the leadership
of John Rogers. First product was a mat for vinyl records, but they
do also produce feet, cables, "mats" for cd players and now a range
of resonance damping panels.
Earlier experience
It is true that the products have actually been shown to work. In
High Fidelity No3/2002, we had a test of the Ringmat Support System;
also, we have tested the LP Blue Statmat, Ringmat 300 MkII XLR,
Anniversary Ringmat 330 and the Statmat CDi Blue.
Ringmat Developments have a transparent "film" by the name Statmat,
to be placed on the CD. It is kept in place by the normal cd-clamp
in the transport mechanism and is said to cause the sound to be
clearer, cleaner, with better detail and to be more natural. And so
it was, believe it or not.
Polarised panels
Ringmat is not completely new to me and, as the company does not ask
sky-high prices for their products, I was curious when they
introduced their Vivacity series. The product is placed under
equipment in order to reduce resonance. Development is stated to
have taken seven years until all details of the system were
completed.
Simply, it is a platform, a panel in Ringmat terminology, in the
form of a sandwich with two hard shells on the outside and a softer
material inside. The construction (and the way it is used) is a kind
of ‘opposite’ NXT panel, where the technique that is used to create
sound in the NXT panels is inverted so as to eliminate resonance.
The panels also have a "polarity", due to the directionality of the
materials in the structure. Ringmat suggest that, if possible, the
shelf on which the equipment is normally placed be turned over to
hear which side sounds best - by the way, this should also be done
with the Vivacity panels.
The thinking behind the Vivacity panel is very logical.
Help!
Is the first thing you think when you open the Vivacity Starter Pack
box. Things come out that make no sense at all. My first idea, on
daring to read the installation guide, is to tape the box up again
and send it all back.
But this would be too easy. Take a seat and understand the ideas
behind the system. The guide seems rather complicated, although
everything is, in fact, very simple.
You get a platform, four cork feet, a template in order to position
the cork feet correctly and a little film, the Statfoot - very
similar to the earlier mentioned Statmat, though it is square and
should be placed on the panel underneath the rear right foot of the
item of equipment being supported. The panel should be placed on the
cork feet positioned on the existing shelf or furniture. The panel
features some blue 6 mm dots and a pair of blue labels to ease the
placement of the appliance on the ‘nodal’ lines, which is important
for the performance of the panel.
Besides this there is more, with an additional pack (the Vivacity
Topper Panel Upgrade Pack). I opened this box right after opening
the first box - and again, "Help". In the box was a Fireworks Topper
Panel with a "fireworks print design" that is said to have a sound
improving effect. The Topper Panel is placed on top of the standard
panel, with a thin polycarbonate sheet placed in between. And in
order to use the standard panel together with the Topper Panel, it
is necessary to achieve the right polarity for the standard panel by
turning it upside down.
Significant sound improvement
The standard panel, when placed on the cork feet, has an immense
effect on the sound. We get an absolutely more balanced and detailed
sound with a cleaner and blacker background. The bottom becomes
tighter and the complete soundstage becomes more precise and not
least with more depth. And it is actually not a case of small
details - it is all quite obvious. We have also tried the panels
with other items of equipment that normally do not seem to be
affected when changing support feet, and here also there is an
effect. It works, and it works surprisingly well.
The Fireworks upgrade does add an extra positive effect, but
considering the effect of the basic panel, you are not getting the
same again with the upgrade.
As usual, it is important to find out what happens when everything
is removed. Do you miss it, or is everything a placebo effect? In
our experiment, we miss it and the panels are back in the system.
Conclusion
Ringmat Developments Vivacity products have been a surprising
acquaintance.
If we have to have pluses and minuses, they would both come into
use. We find that the supported equipment is stable and stands well
on the panel, as it always should do. But if you tend to change
cables a lot, you risk the alignments becoming messed up if you pull
the equipment out of position. Also, if you have a heavy item of
equipment in the middle of a system, it is not so much fun - it is
best if you have the space to lower such a heavy appliance down from
the top without having to adjust anything afterwards.
For the curious, the sound improvement is surprisingly positive,
even with the basic pack, and, compared to other "sound improving"
products, you do not get financially ruined by the purchase.
Sven Bilén
High Fidelity (Denmark), Issue 6/08
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