Cables & Accessories

Following in the footsteps of its Qplus isolation feet (HFC 435), Quadraspire has been hard at work developing alternatives for those that don’t have space for a complete rack. The Qplus Advanced follows similar principles to the smaller design and is placed under the feet of a piece of source equipment in order to mimic the performance of a full-size SVT hi-fi rack.

Each Qplus Advanced is larger than the Qplus (now called Qplus Evo). The outer edge is made of stainless steel and the bamboo core has brass inserts and a central well into which a spiked equipment foot can be placed. Quadraspire claims their introduction blocks vibrations, both from reaching the component placed on them and anything created by the component itself. 

Verdict
I start by placing the feet under a Naim ND5 XS 2 (HFC 446), which separates it from the Naim Supernait 2 it is connected to. The effect is subtle, but there is a noticeable drop in the noise floor so that Jon Allen’s Get What’s Mine sounds richer and more dynamic with less perceivable background sound to interfere with it.

The Qplus Advanced is most effective with a Cyrus Phono Signature phono stage (HFC 408) that is currently in situ on top of a mains conditioner. The effect of placing the Quadraspire feet between the Cyrus and the mains conditioner dramatically drops the noise floor and improves the sense of three-dimensionality that’s present in Annie Lennox’s Legend In My Living Room. It’s considerably more dynamic and spacious as a result and across a wide spread of material the benefits of adding in the Qplus Advanced feet remains consistent.

If your budget or space limitations mean that you can’t accommodate a conventional hi-fi rack, this is a good looking and highly effective alternative that adds some isolation without breaking the bank. ES

DETAILS
Product: Quadraspire Qplus Advanced
Price: £300 for four
Type: Isolation feet
Read the full review in April issue 448