CENTER STAGE LS 2.25
The Ultimate Enhancement
The Center Stage “LS” Series loudspeaker foot, a breakthrough loudspeaker resonance mitigation system, is the culmination of several years of experimentation developed from our groundbreaking Center Stage footer technology. I can say with high confidence that no matter how good your system is, the Center Stage “LS” Series loudspeaker foot will add a new dimension to your listening experience. In systems already using Center Stage, the addition of Center Stage “LS” Series feet nets a remarkable improvement. Center Stage can make any system sound better top to bottom and the addition of Center Stage “LS” Series loudspeaker feet can be breathtaking. The better the system, the better the results.
There were several objectives behind the development of the Center Stage “LS”. Firstly, we wanted to develop a novel approach to solving the problem of degradation from excess energy build up caused by vibration in loudspeaker cabinets. Consider that loudspeakers are designed to vibrate. Think of the staggering amount of time and effort loudspeaker manufacturers dedicate to cabinet design and resonance control. They go into ultra-fine detail to explain any and all advancements and deservedly so. The problem is ominous. There are issues to address related to loudspeaker weight, volume, driver array, leveling and design. Developing a cutting-edge loudspeaker foot was a unique challenge and Critical Mass Systems succeeded.
The round design is quite intentional. The rounded bottom allows the foot to remain aligned in precise contact with the floor and the bottom of the loudspeaker as the height of the foot is changed to achieve a level loudspeaker orientation or a raked-rear orientation. This precise alignment is not possible with spikes.
The entire lower ball structure is a massive height-adjustable spike. Spinning the ball clockwise raises the loudspeaker, spinning the ball counter-clockwise lowers the loudspeaker. There is roughly 0.25” (mm) of adjustment available.
The turning ratio is 3 to 1, lowering the torque required to raise and lower the loudspeaker. A safeguard is engineered into the foot which prevents the internal mechanism from over-
extending and detaching under load. Under load, the black outer shell (looks like a ball) separates from the internal structure of the foot. Therefore, vibration cannot pass upwards through the foot via the outer shell. We do this so floor vibration passing upward through the spike cup is forced into the foot through predetermined channels where it can be reduced. The upper shell is designed to pull resonance and heat out of the loudspeaker thus reducing entropy. In better words, the outer shell design and the inner shell design work hand in glove with the objectives of the manufacturer to produce vanishingly low distortion and ruler flat frequency response.
Identical to the objectives of Center Stage, the objective of the Center Stage “LS” Series loudspeaker foot is to help reveal the tremendous engineering in your loudspeakers. In fact, for those who already use Center Stage in their system and can add the “LS” Series under their loudspeakers, we promise a level of performance beyond your imagination.
What to expect during settle in
The settling in period is generally 7 to 10 days, but it can be longer. Because Center Stage LS 2.25 will dramatically greatly improve the equilibrium of your loudspeakers, you should expect your system to temporarily degrade at the outset. This is perfectly normal. Your soundstage will then begin to reconstruct a new and better equilibrium point.
In the end stage, the settling will be barely perceptible unless you really focus. It is extremely important to let the system play for at least 14 days before assuming it has reached equilibrium. Playing a system 24/7 is not necessary, but the more playing time the better. Think of it like running in a brand-new component. Run in time is normal.
