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IMAGEHIFI 03.2004:
Finite Elemente Cerabase
Price: from 420 Euro
by Dirk Sommer, Photo: Rolf Winter
Even if Finite Elemente's range of products in the meantime also includes design furniture, the main emphasis of the Germany based specialists remains focussed on sound-improving racks and sound improving accessories. Cerabase rounds off the existing system in a highly effective way
But these
components can still give you a headache: Because you can't get very far
with just the one, the inevitable question is what do you call three or
four of the interface elements. Cerabases? Cerabasis? Or is it better
to say four Cerabase? So for the sake of argument, I'm going to use Cerabase
in the singular and Cerabases for the plural.
Finite Elemente racks have become established far beyond Germany's borders,
as is clearly evident when you visit international exhibitions or the
audio rooms of renowned hi-fi component manufacturers. Luis Fernandes
and Bernd Brockhoff have not been resting on their laurels however, but
have been intensively examining the interfaces between component and shelf
and between the "audio furniture" and the floor. This resulted
first of all in the Ceraballs, really affordable aluminium feet for coupling
the components to the rack shelves. A small ceramic ball between the two
housing sections was used to ensure controlled dissipation of resonance.
And this worked as well as ever – but, not only in the company's
own racks. I certainly cannot recall a single occasion where the use of
Ceraballs didn't result in improvement to the sound. Depending on the
audio components however it is possible that - generally more expensive
- feet from other manufacturers bring slightly greater improvements. Blind
brand loyalty isn't much here, all that helps is testing within your own
four walls. But, as already mentioned, the price-performance ratio in
many cases comes down much in favour of the Ceraballs.
And they most probably served as a precursor model for the Cerabases.
The large interfaces comprise three special stainless steel sections with
hand-polished surfaces. The base has three recesses arranged around a
guide rod with an o-ring. The recesses accept ceramic balls that are produced
in the USA for use in high-precision bearings and which allegedly have
tolerances in the micrometer range. The second section, that is placed
and centred on the guide rod, also has recesses on its bottom surface
for the contact with the balls. On top there is an M24 fine thread, with
its counterpart located in a very solid socket. In total this design allows
a height adjustment of 10 millimetres. A drilled hole in the socket as
well as various enclosed screws allow the top part of the Cerabase to
be fixed securely to a piece of furniture, a rack or a component.
In my audio room a Pagode Master Reference seemed appropriate for a first
trial, as all that was on it at the time was a Brinkmann Marconi and a
Nagra DAC. Nevertheless the effect of the four Cerabases used to replace
the simple spikes was clear: The low bass came across with more pressure
and improved definition, the overall reproduction seemed quicker and the
imaginary soundstage larger. With the second rack the conversion took
a great deal longer, because this time Luis Fernandes and I had to deal
with the Wadia 3200 drive, the FM -Acoustics phono stage and the Brinkmann
LaGrange. A meticulous adjustment procedure is inevitable. Although some
time has passed in the meantime, there is not even the slightest doubt
about the positive effect of the Cerabases. And as can be expected with
many components where mechanisms play a role, the improvements are even
clearer across all of named disciplines. One hundred percent convincing!
One of my purely private interests recently has been acquiring experience
of smaller power amplifier units, some of which are no longer in production.
In one of the comparisons my wife, who couldn't see what I had changed,
showered praise on the improved image, the fuller bass foundation and
the improved depiction of the second amplifier. But it was the same amplifier
as before! All I had done was to fit three Cerabases. And this was not
an isolated case. All of the power output stages named in the components
of the system were helped by the Finite Elemente feet to produce an even
more convincing reproduction quality.
image x-trakt
For Pagode owners there is really no doubt. The Cerabases are an absolute
must, because every component on this rack enjoys the benefit. It is rare
that such a low investment achieves so much sound improvement. And even
under power output units that you would normally place directly on the
floor the Cerabases achieve a great deal. Especially under the more expensive
amps you should certainly go for this tuning device! |
image infos
Component interface
Finite Elemente Cerabase |
| Load capacity: |
125 kg each |
| Height adjustment: |
+10 mm |
| Diameter (Ø/H): |
70/50 mm |
| Height: |
50 mm |
| Weight: |
0,7 kg |
| Warranty period: |
60 months |
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