Artesania Carbon Fiber and Panzerholz Decoupling Discs
Review samples provided by Artesania Audio
As a long-time user of Artesania products, I have utilized many of this Spanish company’s offerings and implemented various upgrades to the Exoteryc racks and Aire platforms, which are essential components of my reference system. Since the manufacturer’s racks and accessories are always visually appealing and invariably have a significant sonic impact, I am always excited when the company releases new products.
The subjects of this review are the brand-new Carbon Fiber and Panzerholz Decoupling Discs for use primarily with the Exoteryc Audio Racks and Aire Floor Platform. However, when pairing them with optionally available Artesania 100-mm Stainless Steel discs, they can be used with any other spiked rack, platform, or speaker stand.
These unassuming Carbon Fiber and Panzerholz discs have the pivotal task of coupling the rack to the floor. As the primary interface, they fit into a milled recess in the 100-mm Stainless Steel discs onto which the spiked pillars rest.
As standard, the Exoteryc and Aire racks come with Nylon (shown above) and Neoprene discs that can be used according to personal taste or as the situation requires. Between the Nylon and Neoprene discs, I always preferred the Nylon discs for their crisper and more expressive sound.
The Carbon Fiber and Panzerholz discs are not the first alternatives the company issued. In 2018, Artesania released the Beechwood Isolation Bases, marking the first departure from the standard disc variants. The Beechwood discs had a surprisingly significant influence on the sound, adding substance, timbral fullness, and dynamic impact. They introduced a welcome deviation from the Nylon and Neoprene discs by adding a royal dose of timbral fulness and character. However, they also made the bass and lower midrange less crisp and articulate than the Nylon discs, and they ultimately had just a bit too much character for my system and my liking.
I have also experimented with using stainless steel discs directly on the floor. While this approach can be effective with certain systems, my experiences across various incarnations of my system have consistently shown that it negatively affects sound quality. Although it results in a bolder tone that can enhance the bass, it also creates a sense of darkness and roughness in the treble. Additionally, this method seems to lower the overall perceived resolution of the sound.
Although these products are referred to as decoupling discs, I prefer to call them floor interfaces because I believe they primarily couple the rack to the floor rather than isolating it. This can be contrasted with alternative products that use compliant or absorbing materials. While the Neoprene discs do offer some level of damping, the Nylon discs, along with the new Carbon Fiber and Panzerholz versions, provide what I consider to be hard coupling. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In my modern apartment, with vinyl planking on a concrete floor that doesn’t have hollowness or any tendency to bend or resonate, I find that hard coupling typically yields the best results. However, individual experiences may vary. It’s also worth noting that both the Exoteryc and Aire racks come with a built-in isolation system in the shape of the constrained-layer Nylon cylinder/Neoprene disc assemblies, onto which the inner rack rests.
Review Context
The new discs will be listened to in the main system using the XACT S1 Music Server and Aqua LinQ Network Interface as digital sources and the Thorens TD1601 with TP160 arm with the M2Tech Nash phono stage as analog source. The rest of the system comprises the CH Precision L1 preamplifier, CH Precision A1.5 power amp, and Magico S1 MkII speakers.
Next: Listening and Conclusion
Hi Christiaan
Did you ever try the Stack Audio AUVA speaker feet under your racks, as a comparison?
Best regards
Per
Hi Per, The HRS Racks only work with their own footers, they do not accept regular threaded inserts. Exoteryc Racks already have a decouping/suspension system built in that requires rigid coupling. As I know from experiments using various floor interface disc materials, the harder materials sound best, meaning felt-tipped footers would not likely be ideal. That said, I’m positive they could have a very beneficial effect with more straightforward racks such as those made by Solidsteel and others.
Hello Christiaan, I am using DCS Vivaldi source components and Focal Stella speakers, so the system has enormous potential but is also unforgiving for mistakes. Using so far only one Copulare rack for 3 two components and home made solutions of heavy stone or wood, I discovered these supports have an enormous impact on the sound. Trying out Aktyna footers, borrowed from a friend brought huge differences and improvements, yet still not perfect and also depending which Aktyna footer type I use. My main struggle so far is to make the tweeters sound open without “ksss kss” accents and to get some aggressiveness in timbre go away while getting a deep soundstage and emotional connection.
I am sure the supports would help me realise this, as with only cables i dont seem to acheive it, and power amps just seam to reveal what has been handed to them… I am torn between going for another secondhand Copulare rack and a variation of Aktyna footers, or going for an Artesania prestige rack, which i havent heard nor tested… One option forms multiple purchases and also the option of reselling more things at lower individual prices, the Artesania option is a bigger amount in one purchase or resale… If other footers or pads or arms would be needed, it would add even more to that price…
Some in the bussine suggested that my DCS would be difficult to marry with the Focals, I dont know if this is true…
Which option would you suggest to get the most emotional connection and tame the aggressive upper mid, treble, while getting a deep and detailed soundstage?
Hi Dominique, This question touches on a far wider subject than is fitting for this comment section. I can’t get into this too deeply, but I can confirm that Artesania Audio racks are the most organic and smooth-sounding racks I have heard. I recommend reading my earlier reviews for comparisons to get a feel for how they compare to other racks. That said, although you can steer the sound perfectly fine with cables and accessories, and you can indeed, to an extent, tame edgy treble and make it more fluid and relaxed with cables and support systems, if pushed too far, this can come along with rounding of transients, reduced pacing, and a reduction in perceived dynamic behavior. So, while I wholeheartedly recommend investigating Artesania’s Exoteryc and Aire range, it may be good to consider the possibility that the speakers may not be ideal for you or the given situation. I’m not saying this is definitely the case, but the Focal speakers I heard are quite spicy and explicit.
Hello Christiaan, thanks for your honest and fast reply!
The question is indeed large, but as you were discussing footers as a follow up on the Artesanisa racks here, and my question was related to both racks and footers, I posted it here.
I did read the earlier comparisons with the Finite Elemente racks and was also triggered then by your comment the Artesania rack sounded engaging and fluid.
Maybe I will just take the plunge and see/hear what happens… after all a great sounding rack is never a bad investment!