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An InXpensive Isolation Platform that Surpasses Everything in its Class

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SPECIFICATIONS & FEATURES: NEW X-rods

VSE's NEW X-rods utilize a special crossed-rod horizontal vibration cancelling system (patents pending). X-rod 1s are approximately 100 times more efficient at transferring vibratory kinetic energy to heat, as compared to single ball-type devices. The stacked layers are [fluidly] secured via one continuous O-ring, creating a single-unit device that is easy to install (in literally seconds), offers an extremely low profile (less than one inch) and provides a super-efficient, minimum-contact Neoprene isolation base.

X-rod 2s offer an additional brass mass-damping, vibration cancellation layer creating twice the intimate contact area (compared to X-rod 1s) to convert vibratory energy to kinetic energy. This diamond-lapped [center] brass plate (pictured above right) also creates a mass-damping boundary between ground vibration from below, and airborne vibration from above, which tends to cancel each other out when they converge in the middle. The remaining vibratory energy that is left over from the primary collision is then focused at a simple spring-assisted plunger device [minimally] connected to ground (also pictured above right). This secondary vibration releasing ground path creates a very important release point for ground and airborne vibration.

X-rods are the most cost-effective, high-performance isolation platforms on the market. Other higher priced platforms can only offer a small fraction of the isolation and vibration cancellation capabilities of X-rods special crossed-rod technology. As you may already know, VSE doesn't build ordinary products. Our products are always innovative, revolutionary and light-years ahead of anything else. We simply won't manufacture mediocre products. Our reputation is too important to us.

X-rod 2 SACD Player Example Installation

Shown above is a typical SACD player installation using X-rod 2, set of 4 (XR2-4). X-rods have a near unlimited weight capacity which allows them to support all source components such as lightweight components such as turntables and CD players, to heavy power components like amps, line conditioners and even speaker systems.

X-rods Unveiled

The above false-color X-ray of an X-rod [top view] illustrates the [exclusive] internal operations of the crossed-rod principle of isolation. Each roller bearing (rod) moves in its own curved race (see picture at right), similar to the saucer section of Tri-Orbs and other ball-type devices. This action is identically mirrored, but inverted and perpendicular to its opposite roller bearing race allowing for a full 360 degree fluid motion, similar to a single ball, but with many advantages over the single ball design. As mentioned above, you dissipate about 100 times the vibratory kinetic energy (convert vibratory motion to heat) than with point-to-point low asperity single ball devices. With wider surface contact roller bearings, you have much higher load bearing surfaces, but not to much surface-to-surface contact to defeat the X-rod's sensitivity to destroy micro-vibrations (see perfectly rough surfaces below). In fact, just like tapered-race roller bearing, the more you load X-rods, the more slippery [fluid] they become and the better they perform.

With the brass center plate (X-rod 2) installed, load bearing becomes much higher (no actual point contact between the rods themselves), mass-cancellation of vibration is increased many fold, and the platforms themselves become much more stable, and do a much better job of damping not only ground vibration but airborne vibration as well.

X-rod 2s use an exclusive vertical spring-loaded plunger to create a very important vibration releasing path to ground. In conjunction with the brass center plate, the ground path release plunger combines to provide better airborne vibration damping, which is inherently lacking in other similar type isolation devices in this price range. This same type of vibration release [ground contact] system is also used on our standard-grade Tri-Orb lites utilizing a gravity-loaded rod, and our industrial-grade Tri-Orb Heavys, using a similar spring-loaded plunger system.

The X-rod's curved raceways are "glass beaded" to create [what we call] a perfectly rough surface. This unique surface design (also applied to Tri-Orbs) actually causes the intimate contact area to decrease, creating a balanced contact between too much surface contact and not enough. Not to drift off the subject too much, this pseudo-effect can actually cause your music to sound impressive at first listen to an un-tuned ear, but your musical content is actually being colored so that all your music, over time, will sound the same, repetitive and boring. This undesirable coloration effect is typically caused by the undamped ball & saucer devices on the market today. When these two different textured metal surfaces make contact, one perfectly smooth (the metal roller bearing) and one perfectly rough (the curved race), they create an area of asperity-to-asperity contact that is much smaller than smooth-to-smooth surface contact. Thus creating a surface-to-surface contact with far less asperities but with much higher pressure points. If the actual area of intimate contact is decreased, then the coefficient of friction will also be decreased by at least an order of magnitude providing a greater friction resistance (hysteresis) and a faster decay time. These separate pressure points allow concentric roller bearings (rods) to more efficiently dissipate heat and vibration in the horizontal plane. When you compare the above aspects to ball-type isolation devices, that are usually at the mercy of the underside [surface material] of your component, you can appreciate the more efficient and functional application of known physical principles in the balanced X-rod design.

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