UNBOXING AND BUILD

The AUVA 70s arrived in two presentation boxes (4 per box). The boxes are of good-quality card construction; black with the Stack Audio logo inlaid in silver on the lid. Internally, the individual isolators and associated threaded inserts and bolts are cosseted by a foam insert. It’s an elegant package that reflects the price of the product; opening the box to reveal the contents was like opening the box on an expensive piece of jewellery. Attractive packaging is a nice touch; you may never look at the box again after you have fitted the isolators to your speakers but it undoubtedly adds an element of perceived value to the product. Incidentally, the larger AUVA 100s come in a wooden presentation box.

I have previously reviewed Stack Audio’s Linn LP12 modifications and also the company’s Link 2 streamer. First-class engineering and build quality run across all of these products and the AUVA 70s are no exception. The isolators are machined from aluminium and are black anodised. As with the packaging, the build quality exudes a sense of quality that reflects the product’s price point.

Internally, the technology within the isolators is patent pending. Within each isolator, three cells contain particles of material including tungsten that dissipate vibrations and convert them to heat. I gave the isolators a shake and could hear what I would describe as “metallic sand” moving within them. I don’t know how accurate this description is but Stack Audio itself describes the absorption of the vibrations as being like throwing a ball into the sand pit – the sand absorbs the energy from the ball and it is stopped dead in its tracks. Three spikes screw into the base of each isolator for use on carpeted surfaces. Alternatively, for wooden floors, an adhesive felt pad can be attached to the base of the isolators to prevent the damage that spikes might cause. If you fit the pads, the spikes can still be added later should your flooring type change. The top of each isolator houses a threaded insert that accepts an attachment bolt that connects the isolator to your speaker. Stack Audio will provide the appropriately-sized bolt for your speaker.

Set Up

Set Up took a matter of minutes. I disconnected my speakers, laid them flat on the floor and unscrewed the existing spikes. I then screwed three AUVA spikes into the base of each isolator and the connecting bolt into the top of each isolator. The isolators were then simply screwed into the holes where the original spikes had been. Job done. Stack Audio also supplies a set of nuts for each connector in case the isolators need to be individually adjusted to ensure leveling, but I found that these were not required. With a total of twelve spikes gripping the carpet under each speaker, the Sincerus 80s were noticeably more stable than they had been previously.

Shortly after I had installed the isolators, I received a text from Theo Stack at Stack Audio inviting me to give him a call if I was having any problems with the installation. The installation had been so straightforward that I felt sure that there must have been some tricky, vitally important bit that I had missed so I gave Theo a call just in case. Nope – all good, phew! Helpfully, Stack Audio provide some advice on speaker placement as part of their installation instructions and also a couple of Deoxit wipes to clean up your speaker terminals and help you get the most from your upgrade.

Sound Quality

Before we get to sound quality, there is a bit of a back story that seems relevant to mention. At the time the AUVA 70s arrived I was having a new bathroom installed. While the bathroom installation was reasonably straightforward, it was a period of time characterised by banging, drilling, sawing, dust and debris. The front door was almost permanently open so that workmen could come and go, it was often -5C outside and there was no point in having the central heating on as the heat all just rushed out of the door. Hardly the ideal conditions in which to review audio equipment.

Obviously, I couldn’t resist trying the AUVA 70s out so after the workmen had finished for the day, and before I popped over to visit my son so that I could get a shower, I played a couple of tracks. Did the AUVAs make a difference? Yes, I felt sure that I could hear more detail from my Audio GE Sincerus 80 speakers and the soundstage seemed a bit better, but was it a night and day difference? No, I didn’t think so. Recognizing that conditions were not right, I delayed further listening until work on the bath-