CENTER STAGE LS 

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.

cm-footer ls

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 spike/cup design. Developing a cutting-edge loudspeaker foot was a unique challenge. In the Center Stage LS 1.5, pictured below positioned next to a Center Stage 2M 1.5, the approximate equivalent of 5 Center Stage 2M  1.5 feet were cloned, streamlined and adapted in various ways into one loudspeaker foot.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Cylinder diameter: 3” (76mm)

Spike cup diameter: 5” (127mm)

Contracted: 3.1” (79mm)

Extended: 3.8” (97mm)

Center Stage2 LS 1.0 cylinder diameter: 2.375” (60mm)

Spike cup diameter: 4” (102mm) contracted: 2.7” (69mm), extended: 3.4” (86mm),

It appears that the foot is a “cylinder in a saucer”. This is definitely not the case. Inside the cylinder is a “spike” anchored into a spike cup. The entire lower structure including the silver base on down is a massive height-adjustable spike cup. Spinning the spike cup clockwise raises the loudspeaker, counter-clockwise spins lower the loudspeaker. There is roughly 0.75” (19mm) of adjustment available. The turning ratio is 10 to 1, lowering the torque required to raise and lower the loudspeaker. One (1) full turn of the spike cup moves the loudspeaker only 0.0769” (2mm) allowing heavy speakers to be adjusted more easily. The lower spike cup is raised at the outside edge and knurled to allow easier gripping and rotation. The curved upward edge also allows ease of movement across carpets to facilitate easier loudspeaker positioning and toe adjustments.

A safeguard is engineered into the foot which prevents the internal mechanism from over-extending and detaching from the spike cup under load. There is also a visible “stop” line near the top of the silver portion of the spike cup to warn you that the end of the adjustment range is close at hand.

Under load, the black outer shell (looks like a cylinder) 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 outer shell is designed to pull resonance out of the loudspeaker. The outer shell reduces 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 Stage2M will dramatically change the current electromechanical equilibrium of your components, you should expect your system to temporarily degrade at the outset. This is perfectly normal. Your soundstage will then begin to reconstruct itself by gently tipping upward and downward as it establishes a new and better equilibrium point.

In the end stage, the oscillations will become ultrafine and be largely experienced in the high frequencies. They 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 always necessary, but the more playing time the better. Think of it like running in a brand-new component. Run in time is normal.

Your end of the Bargain, or Making the Experience Better

Center Stage2 is good for beginners and advanced listeners, so long as you exercise extreme patience during the settling period. Sonic fluctuations you may experience during the settling period will subside as time passes. Here’s what you need:

  • Components crafted by a known and reliable manufacturer. Your components do not need to be among the “most expensive” or the purported “best” in the world. You will experience excellent results with low cost components. A host of components were used to design Center Stage2M, some of them very low cost. This was done to assure consistency of performance. It is certainly true, however, that the better your components, the better your results.
  • Neutral wiring crafted by a known and reliable manufacturer. Some wiring is a “tone control”. Tone control wiring is not necessary. The more invisible your wire, the less it makes its presence known in your system, the better your results.
  • A Clean Circuit. It is critically important to make sure that “cheap” power supplies from computers, screens, servers and most turntables etc. are plugged into a circuit separate from the circuit servicing your main components. The dirt from these low-end plug-ins will contaminate your signal. You may not have heard it before, but you will certainly hear it with Center Stage2M.
  • Stable rack(s) and/or stand(s). Home furnishings are fine. Center Stage2M was vetted on various flat wooden surfaces with Janka ratings of 1200 and higher equating to an elastic modulus of 4 GPa or greater. This means that virtually any flat surface will net tremendous results. Having said this, the better the surface with respect to its associated and/or inherent technological properties, the better the results. The results on CMS racks is superlative.
  • Proper loudspeaker set up. This is essential. Center Stage2M was designed to be most effective in 2-channel stereo system listening rooms with conventional loudspeakers of appropriate size and design for the room, and with seating positions reasonable and appropriate for the loudspeaker and room dimensions.
  • When you put Center Stage in, pull every tweak out. Center Stage2M will take about 7 to 10 days to settle. Be slow, careful and cautious about adding any other device(s) back into your system. Adding Center Stage under more of your components is the only means to realizing the full “Total Immersion Effect” so highly valued in high end audio.