Audio Origami IsoPod Isolation Feet Review

£155 for 3, £200 for 4 RRP

In theory, at least, getting great sound from any system isn't too complicated a process. Start by using good cables, ensure you have unsullied mains power and be sure that all your connections are clean. After this, your main concern is vibration isolation, which, of course, includes careful positioning of your hi-fi components. So you want to get the speakers sited correctly in the room and not put the source – especially a turntable – close to them. But even when everything's in the right place, the system will sound better when properly isolated from air- and ground-borne vibration.

This is because the electronic components inside hi-fi separates are microphonic to a small degree, meaning that low-level resonances can actually harm the sound. This is most obvious with turntables, CD players, and valve amplifiers, but even streamers, DACs, and amplifiers can be affected. That's why several aftermarket isolating feet are on sale, such as the Audio Origami isoPods you see here.

The vast majority of the company's work to date has been very niche and ultra-specialised. Based in Glasgow, Scotland, it is famous for the PU7 tonearm. This is an excellent-sounding design that was originally based on the classic Syrinx PU2 and PU3 – which first appeared around forty-five years ago. Given that tonearms are basically analogue vibration measuring instruments, perhaps it's not surprising that the company has decided to make isolating pods – and they have done so with the same quality and attention. Another facet of the PU7 is that given the level of performance it delivers, it's really inexpensive. Can the same thing be said of the isoPods?

Customers can choose between sets of three or four feet; the former costs £155 and the latter £200. Both come with the same number of rubber 'distribution discs' and aluminium 'distribution discs', more of which later. Each individual pod is said to be able to take 12kg, so that's enough for a seriously hefty amplifier, for example. Indeed, for the purposes of this review, my set of four went under a sylph-like Musical Fidelity M8xi that hits the scales at a mere 46kg. It's worth noting, by the way, that many similar products aren't rated to such great weights, or if they are, they're way more expensive.

The isoPods are made from a mix of varying density 3D printed honeycomb rubber layers and mild steel. This is housed in a sturdy cylinder that's finished in satin black, with subtle but high-quality metal badges on the front of each one. Each one is heavier than you might anticipate and compresses by a few millimetres when you squeeze it hard. Each pod is highly acoustically inert, but the choice of metal or rubber 'distribution discs' lets you further tune it to the application and/or your taste in subjective sound.

THE LISTENING

The isoPods make a subtle but clear improvement to the sound. It's not quite the sort of transformation you'd get by upgrading your loudspeakers, for example, yet it's way more profound than you'd expect a set of little feet to make. Indeed, the more you listen, the more you can hear the difference. Put simply, it 'demists' the sound; whereas there was previously a thin 'fog' over the recording, this is lifted to reveal something with considerably more air, space and depth. Interestingly, there are also improvements to the time domain, with the music appearing less leaden and more propulsive. In my system, the music comes across in a more sprightly and expressive way.

The most immediately noticeable improvement is the bottom end – bass seems more solid and crisp, more articulate and seems to gel better with the rest of the frequency spectrum. The bouncy techno of 808 State's Revenge is suddenly more animated, and this leads up to a midband that's less muddy and better defined. The percussion work is more engaging, with rim shots and snare drums quite hypnotic. Treble is cleaner, too, sounding less blurred and tonally smoother. The overall effect is that the music gels much better, and the louder you play things, the more this is apparent.

THE VERDICT

Overall, then, Audio Origami's isoPods do 'what it says on the tin', so to speak. This is an inexpensive and highly effective way to achieve proper vibration isolation. And it isn't just for amplifiers, as I got great results with a Rega Planar 6 turntable using just three feet. It is highly recommended as a quick and easy upgrade—even to a budget system.

Visit Audio Origami for more information