Critical Mass Systems, Inc. shelves are patented. Recently, we developed dual-zone 12-stage damping systems for our Ultra-Platinum, Ultra-Diamond, MAXXUM-Ultra and OLYMPUS-Ultra filters. Each is designed to function exclusively with its associated architecture and damped in accord to tolerances of 1 to 10 thousandths of an inch.

Inside each of the above-mentioned filters are 3 fixed damping plates. These are located on the base plate of the filter, the resting area of the filter upon which the component is placed and on the interior plate below the resting area of the filter. Then, 8 internal damping stages are arranged 4 zones below and 4 zones above an elastomer which represents the 9th damping stage. The elastomer also serves to lower natural frequency. Each of the 9 internal damping stages are precisely calculated thicknesses of aluminum alloy, copper alloy and acrylic damping material. There is an important reason why we use very specific metal alloys, elastomers and acrylic damping materials.

You know the term “push/pull” as it relates to amplification. We can use “push/pull” in a different, very important way. Remembering that vibration cannot be stopped, think of the Critical Mass Systems, Inc. architecture described in the Approach Section as sophisticated resonance shaping systems that delivers energy into the dual-zone, 12-stage damping systems in a predictable manner. This architecture represents the “push” in the push/pull equation. The dual-zone 12-stage damping system represents the “pull” in the push/pull equation, managing the energy pushing upward toward the component to develop a balanced transfer of energy into and out of the component.

The reason balanced energy transfer is crucial is because of 2 fundamentals that are often ignored. First, you can overdamp a component. Overdamping results in a loss of depth, detail, slam, presence, pace and so on. Dull and lifeless systems sound like big, expensive, hifi radios. Second, components can be underdamped. Underdamping results in annoying, unnatural brittle edges in the presentation which cause listener fatigue. And, worst of all, both abnormal conditions can occur in systems at the same time. There is nothing worse than a flat, hi-fi soundstage with glaring edges in the vocals and instrumentation.

Critical Mass Systems, Inc. focuses on the principles of thermodynamics applicable to High End Audio. High End audio presents a range of challenges broader than those found in other industries where vibration is a barrier to performance. Our mission is to suspend disbelief, meaning; to provide the means to which electronics can make reality come out of your loudspeakers.

From the labor of our efforts came the LS loudspeaker series, the Center Stage 2M series, and most recently, the Center Stage Ultra Series.

Audio Becomes Visual – The Total Immersion Effect

The Total Immersion Effect can be described as a highly articulated acoustic sound field that extends from the back of the soundstage and sometimes wraps around the listener. It is crossing the threshold where audio becomes visual and the listener becomes part of the recording.

Center Stage products are designed to suspend disbelief. You experience something on the order of a 4k hi-rez 3D surround-event. You see the image in space, you hear and see the musical event occur inside the image, and then you hear, see and feel the sensory event spread out around you from the soundstage. Audio becomes visual and you become immersed in the sound field.

Knocking down the “wall” that separates the listener from the musicians requires the electromechanical balance inside the components to reach an ultrafine point of equilibrium and to hold that equilibrium point across 20,000+ Hz in a fluctuating energy field so that the component can remain stable enough to create the Immersion Effect with consistency in the listening space