I’ve had a lot of success using isolation devices under high end components (platforms, pucks, feet, etc). My early platform days were with a Townshend Seismic Sink (metal casing with air bladder) under a series of Rega turntables, a brief flirtation with the wondrous and very expensive Vibraplane, some home builts, including a tall ceramic planter filled with soil and a bog standard patio stone perched on top for my turntable (remarkably effective, if a little too ‘Flintstones’). From the exceptional Vibraplane, to demos of superb and expensive HRS (Harmonic Resolution Systems) gear, to supportive feet too numerous to mention, I’m a big fan of isolation gear. And utterly convinced of their efficacy.

Jackie Smiley, of Starscream Communications (a PR firm representing IsoAcoustics among others), suggested I review the newest IsoAcoustics product, the zaZen Isolation Platform. In fact, the product is debuting today.

I’ve been a fan of Toronto’s IsoAcoustics since observing their Gaia Series loudspeaker isolation footers at last year’s Rocky Mountain show. It was suggested by IsoAcoustics that Audiophilia’s Karl Sigman take a set for review. They've been under his Alta Audio FRM-2M Loudspeakers ever since. He loves them. And has been bugging me for a year to get a set under mine.

So, even with a very tight timeline from shipping to review publication, I accepted the challenge to hear what Iso could do for my equipment, turntables especially. I’ll do a zaZen follow up listening to it under my digital gear and tube components.

Zazen means ‘seated meditation’ in Japanese, specifically, a practice of Zen Buddhists. The ‘zaZen’ (Iso’s spelling) is an isolation platform designed for turntables, tube amps and other sensitive high end components. It comes in two sizes (I’m assuming sonically identical): zaZen I (11.3kg capacity @ $199.99) and zaZen II (18.1kg capacity @ $229.99). My review unit was a zaZen II.

The primary function of the zaZen II for this review; supporting my Pure Fidelity Encore Turntable.

Specifications

Model I: W432mm D381mm H38mm (Isolator 33)

Model II: W432mm D381mm H42mm (Isolator 44)

Features

Iso says: ‘The combination of the platform mass and the integrated IsoAcoustics isolation technology allows audio gear to reveal greater acoustic clarity and detail.’

Construction is solid fibre board in a gloss black finish. It looks very appealing under the kit, making a subdued statement. Iso also says: ‘The platform is very dense and contains no voids, making it an ideal material for the isolation platform.’

As with all isolation devices, the crucial element are the actual isolators. Here, there are four isolators integrated into the bottom of the platform. They are patented by IsoAcoustics. The hard rubber is screwed down firmly into the isolation housing. Other than the rubber footing, I’m not sure what else goes into the patented technology.

I did think of unscrewing the isolator plate; maybe for the follow up.

Sound

Any product that can drop the noise floor, especially of turntables, even lower than the specific geometry and mechanics of the actual arm, cart and ‘table, is always welcome.

The zaZen II did exactly that.

The improvements in sound were immediate. The zaZen lent a clarity to the soundstage; instruments were more fleshed out and lifelike. And the aforementioned noise floor drop most apparent.

The first album on the Pure Fidelity Encore was Monks’ Brilliant Corners, a mint Japanese pressing of the Riverside mono original. There are no words to express how much I love this album or describe the genius contained within. And the title track was the perfect music to demonstrate the capability of the zaZen. The musicians reportedly had a difficult time making sense of Monks’ odd metered intro, and it shows in their laboured playing, especially Tenor Colossus, Sonny Rollins. His guttural tone is made even more defined, but the main takeaway is where the intro doubles time and we have a superb swing section, sounding completely normal with no eccentricities. Same intervals, etc. Brilliant! Yet, here, Max Roach’s swinging drums were even clearer than on my very carefully curated mono setup without the zaZen. Very impressive.

I’ve been steadily progressing through my very fortuitous mono haul of 2019, spending a lot of time with early ‘50s live Salzburg Festival Columbias (not US Columbia Records; later, EMI) with Karajan and the Vienna Phil performing Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Die Zauberflöte. This is where the zaZen’s effect on noise floor is so beneficial. The magnificent Miyajima Labs Infinity Mono Cartridge in concert with the Acoustic Signature TA-1000 Tonearm and Icon Audio PS1 Mk. II Phono Stage really gets the groove noise to a minimum (the Infinity uses a conical stylus profile specifically for pre 1967 vintage mono LPs), but the zaZen’s lower noise floor improves things further. And for a super reasonable $229.99. I can spend that on Discogs in five minutes! Or less.

Summary

The entry level HRS E1 platform is four times the price of the zaZen II, an unadorned Vibraplane, eight times. If my auditory memory serves me correctly, the Vibraplane is the game changer in equipment isolation and the price reflects its status. The HRS entry platform, while half the price of the Vibraplane, did an outstanding job in the closed demos I’ve heard. ‘Outstanding’ in these terms reference a positive difference. Nothing earth shattering, but effective to anybody with a set of objective ears. Even the octogenarian I was with heard the difference—in fact, the same musical cues as me. And at the same time with no prior discussion.

The excellent IsoAcoustics zaZen offers a good measure of what the very expensive platforms do at a fraction of the price. In fact, I’d call the zaZen an audiophile bargain. Begin with one for your turntable, then, if impressed, buy others as required for your other ‘sensitive’ components. Highly recommended.

Please check out our short video of the zaZen on our YouTube channel. And please subscribe. Thank you.

Further information: IsoAcoustics