Vortex HiFi VO-40-SO Bioceramic device feet

Vortex HiFi VN 45 DB Gerätefüße

The Vortex HiFi VO-40-SO device foot is made of porous bioceramic with ultrasonic dissipation and structure-borne noise decoupling.

Most hi-fi device feet are designed incorrectly: they are supposed to prevent sound from the floor and hi-fi rack from penetrating the device. In fact, however, these designs primarily block lower frequencies – those that hardly interfere with the sound in digital devices with highly sensitive clock generators.

But what is rarely considered is that
the actual vibrations that shape the perception of music come from the device itself. In particular, the tiny, high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations generated by every modern hi-fi
device influence the perception of music far more than one might think. They penetrate the housing and
remain trapped on the bottom of the device. There they generate resonances that modulate the electromagnetic environment, making the perception more restless, tense, and less natural.

The Vortex HiFi porous bioceramic device base VO-40-SO turns this world upside down.

Not only does it solve the classic task of decoupling from the rack base, but above all it creates a perfect bridge for the ultrasonic vibrations generated in the device from the device to the highly effective damping body made of porous bioceramic, which treats these ultrasonic components particularly effectively. A precisely calculated aluminum ball creates an impedance-optimized transition through which the mechanical energy is directed into the porous bioceramic, where it is absorbed with minimal loss.
This makes the music appear freer, more spacious, more transparent, and richer in detail—with more emotional information and less stress.

For the true music lover, this is more than just technology. It is the gateway to a new dimension of listening.

1. Ultrasonic vibrations in hi-fi equipment – facts and figures
In addition to the audible signal, modern hi-fi components also generate high-frequency, mostly inaudible mechanical vibrations in the ultrasonic range (> 20 kHz), which have a measurable influence on the perception of music quality.

2. Acoustic impedance – key parameter for ultrasonic transmission
The transmission of ultrasonic waves between materials is determined by the acoustic impedance:
Z= ? × c
where?
= material density (kg/m3)
c = speed of sound (m/s)

2.1 Specific values for aluminum and porous bioceramics
The impedance difference is approximately 142 times. Without impedance matching, almost 100% of the ultrasonic energy is reflected at the interface. Targeted impedance matching via the aluminum ball and a special ultrasonic paste (optional) drastically improves the transmission of ultrasonic energy.

3. Wavelengths and reflections in bioceramics
The short wavelength (~ 1.5 cm at 20 kHz) in the porous bioceramic material allows for numerous reflection points within the 35 × 35 mm cube. The large hole filled with wool and the handmade, irregular structure prevent standing waves through destructive interference and absorption and effectively reduce reflections.

4. Mode of action and advantages
Optimal impedance matching enables low-loss ultrasonic coupling from the device into the porous bioceramic cube. The short wavelength in the porous bioceramic material in relation to the base size (35 × 35 mm) means that reflections and standing waves would be significantly more problematic without the large hole and the wool. The large inner hole filled with wool and the handmade irregularities further increase the damping. The 5 mm thick felt pad ensures effective decoupling from the rack floor, prevents feedback, and minimizes structure-borne noise.

5. Application
Please handle the Vortex HiFi VO-40-SO device feet with care. For sound reasons, they are made of extremely porous and therefore sensitive ceramic. This ceramic is very fragile. One blow to the edge and the edge is broken. However, damage to the edges or corners does not affect the sound quality in any way.
The Vortex HiFi VO-40-SO device foot is available as a set of 3, a set of 4, and a version with felt for decoupling from the device base individually.
A set of Vortex HiFi VO-40-SO 3 consists of one coupling foot with an aluminum contact ball and two decoupling feet with felt on the top.
The differences are not great, but we recommend placing the contact foot under the heaviest part of the device. This is usually where the transformer is located. The two decoupling feet are then positioned so that the device stands stable and does not wobble. This occurs when the feet are placed as far apart as possible. However, it should be on the vibrating part of the device base, not directly on the edge of the device.

We recommend that two people set up the devices on the feet and that the devices are not moved back and forth on the feet, as the aluminum ball is likely to be the same hardness as the device base and may cause slight scratches.

As the decoupling felts of the feet compress with increasing device weight, the decoupling decreases more and more. This is not quite as bad, as the coupling via the aluminum ball with the device base has by far the greatest effect on the sound, but from a device weight of approx. 20 kilograms, slight deterioration can already be heard. These are not sudden deteriorations, but rather a steady increase in slight deterioration.

Conclusion:
The Vortex HiFi porous bioceramic device base VO-40-SO combines optimal impedance matching, highly effective ultrasonic damping thanks to the large inner hole and wool filling, and effective structure-borne noise decoupling thanks to the felt underlay.
Since the electrical signal remains unchanged, but the electromagnetic environment is freed from stress-inducing ultrasonic modulation, this interaction results in a significantly more relaxed, natural, and information-rich musical experience—with greater spatiality, transparency, and emotional depth.