According to Wikipedia (so it’s bound to be correct), “Zazen” is a meditative discipline that is typically the primary practice of the Zen Buddhist tradition, more informally to include all forms of seated Buddhist meditation. IsoAcoustics zaZen platforms are therefore aptly named as their function is to bring a sense of ordered calm to the product that sits upon it, and therefore create an enlightened musical experience.

Many of our customers consider music to be a meditative and restorative process, regardless of their musical preferences. So, this article is about whether these accessories can bring actual improvements to your existing kit or proposed purchase, and transport you deeper into the music…

What is a zaZen platform?

Naim Uniti Star looking and sounding good on a Zazen 11

The zaZen is a black lacquered high-density fibreboard platform that has dimensions of 43x38x3cm, with a foot attached underneath at each corner. It comes in two sizes:

· zaZen I - 38mm in height has a weight capacity of just 11.3kg

· zaZen II - 42mm in height can handle up to 18.1kg.

Showing the zaZen 1 and 11 with isolating feet

Underneath the platform is a set of four IsoAcoustics patented isolation feet that are partly recessed into the body of the block. This combination aims to reduce vibration, lower the noise floor, and increase available information heading towards your ears. The feet act as isolation, preventing most ground-based vibrations from passing through to the platform itself, thus reducing the potential feedback from loudspeakers back into your system.

As well as being designed for noise and vibration elimination the zaZen’s actually look pretty cool under most equipment!

So, how do they how fair in practice?

We tested both the Isolation Platforms across a range of equipment. What we found was:

Low frequencies – Turntables are especially well catered for by the zaZen; bass presented previously as rounded instead becomes more controlled, it remains deep – but you get greater insight into the bass shape and depth and subtlety of playing; it is faster with more impact, without reduction in mass.

Valve equipment - The zaZen imparts an enhanced mid-range and high-frequency clarity thanks to the reduction of microphony in the valves from the speakers. Bass is tighter as mentioned above.

Generally - it’s surprising just how many products do benefit from that vibration reduction, streamers in particular seem to benefit from the sense of space brought by the platforms, along with headphone amps, phono stages and solid-state amplification in general. The zaZens do bestow a sense of calm upon all the products they support, the lower noise floor allowing important aspects like voice (midrange), detail, interplay, and soundstage to become more intelligible.

A cumulative effect - There is a positive additive effect of two or more platforms, so you can add more as you go along and get an increasingly more insightful sound.

Summary

IsoAcoustics zaZen range help reduce ground-borne vibration and give you a significantly greater insight into your music. Clearly a lot of engineering nous and expertise has gone into these lucid sounding products. They do exactly as advertised and have a very positive effect.

They are simple to use - you put the zaZen on a shelf, put a product on the zaZen. Aside from some care in selecting the right model for the weight of the product, the job is done.

Visually and sonically, they complement many existing equipment racks and the equipment that sits on them; or if you are the kind of person that loves good sound but finds high-performance audio furniture at odds with the design ethos of your home, a zaZen under each device on your domestic furniture make it sound a great deal better.

What’s not to like?

Not sure what IsoAcoustic product is best for your equipment? Use the handy “Product Selection Wizard” Here.

Thank you for reading.

Rob & Jon.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

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