Acoustic Suspension System

A dedicated suspension system completes the resonance and vibration control design of the Genesis Reference Amplifier. It also facilitates the easy placement and location of the amplifier.

Designed like the suspension system of a race car, the acoustic suspension is made of a solid acrylic suspension frame, neoprene shock absorbers, and steel spikes. It isolates the amplifier from floor- or structure-borne vibrations, and yet at the same time allows any vibration in the amplifier chassis to be “sunk” to ground.

The function of the steel spike is to have a low-impedance point to transfer all frequencies to ground. This is possible because the contact at the point of the spike is smaller than a ½ wavelength of the frequencies of vibration transmitted. Using a steel cup under the spike will defeat this function and as this will only allow passing frequencies have a ½ wavelength larger than the diameter of the steel cup, which is far larger than the point of the spike.

Hence, if the amplifier is to be placed on a hardwood floor, and you do not want to mark the floor, use a thin disc of copper (a copper penny will do) under each spike. The weight of the amplifier on the spike will deform the disc and create a small indentation. The other side of the indentation will form a little nipple to couple to the hardwood floor. Alternatively, use a little square of aluminum foil that is at least 4 layers thick.

Other features that have been incorporated include:

•A grounded Faraday Cage steel chassis for RFI and EMI rejection improves micro-dynamics, and tonal colors and contrast.

•Internal wiring using silver strands with a copper core and PTFE dielectric. The silver strands are wound so tightly together that the strands “imprint” on each other and combine to act almost as a solid- core wire. Thus, the internal wiring has the qualities of both solid- core as well as stranded wire. This wiring is used in all signal and power paths.

•Having critical components toleranced to less than +/- 1% results in a sense of aliveness and ease in the music.

•Special circuitry to “keep things warm” without wasting a lot of electricity means that your system is ready for you to listen to whenever you are.

•High-power, high current relays to switch power instead of typical rocker or toggle switches result in minimal degradation of the power supply path.

Genesis Reference Amplifier Owners Manual Ver 2.0