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Tonal balance? The Codia already was a fundamentally neutral performer on this count to create no drastic changes. Judicious application of outboard tweak combinations accomplished only mild swings towards either transparency or warmth as component or taste required. The upshot of this exercise was that the abilities of the Stage could be enhanced beyond its own standard. A little extra effort netted a performance powerhouse.
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For comparison I had the stock Codia versus my custom creation in stock form. Mine is a simple three-pillar affair of 1.5 x 3.5" solid oak posts, Ply shelves sheathed in Formica, solid oak caps and Black Diamond Racing cones for leveling feet. Decently non-resonant and tweaked to the hilt, it has distinguished itself as a practical and capable DIY effort miles ahead of the standard wall unit it superseded. But was it a match for our Korean platform?
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Without my outboard isolation tweaks, ‘twas no contest. The Codia was the superior rack. It required my full arsenal of resonance control toys to challenge its performance. The only two areas where my fully tweaked stand demonstrated a small advantage were broadband dynamics where the Korean was a little more frequency specific; and image focus where the Codia played it a tiny bit more diffuse. But that was unadorned against fully tweaked. Those reservations evaporated when the Stage 1000 hosted the extra isolation components. At that point there again was no content.
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Relative to other performance racks, I’ve listened to quite a few under show or showroom conditions but not evaluated them in house. The fact that the basic performance of the Stage could be enhanced leads to the automatic conclusion that higher-tier stands should have the ability to best the stock Codia Acoustic Design on absolute levels. However those levels don’t come cheap. For a similar price there ought to be other overachievers which can offer a strong competition to the Stage 1000. On slightly higher financial turf, the Solid Tech Rack of Silence comes to mind for example. It combines advanced spring suspension with a minimal contact design with all the advantages and disadvantages of a moving platform. It’s effective but considerably more demanding in setup.
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Bottom line, the Codia Acoustic Design is effective. Taken purely in the context of high-end racks as vibration control tweaks, it’s a damn fine one. Our Korean contender may look demure and cosmetically inclined but that form is exceptionally functional. Rapid energy dissipation is a proven approach in other audio products including my own isolation devices and Codia play the concept to ergonomic perfection without relying on slings, pellets or springs. The Stage 1000 accomplishes the task of resonance management at a high level yet remains supremely user friendly. It matched the abilities of my combined vibration management devices. And that was no small feat since those are by no means inexpensive. From a financial perspective that makes the Stage 1000 a very cost-effective solution. And whilst most will never see the need for further enhancements, those unafraid of a little supplemental tweaking will easily achieve even higher performance.
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Who should be looking, who walk away? The Stage 1000 is obviously not aimed at the financially challenged beginner. This is a serious product which also constitutes high value when weighed against the prestige offerings. The Codia should attract those who have already invested in quality components and are looking to hear them perform in near ideal isolation circumstances. Such folks won’t be disappointed. The Codia delivers performance in a clean sophisticated décor that doesn‘t dominate the room. That combination will make it an aural delight for the seasoned audiophile and a perfect win/win where spousal approval is a factor.
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If you are coming from the well-endowed side of the fiscal and experience spectrum, the Stage 1000 will at the very least merit a nod of appreciation. There’s a lot of technology working successfully beneath that basic exterior. Spending more will potentially reap further improvements but the law of diminishing returns gets effective. You just might be pleasantly surprised by what Codia have achieved; and doesn’t that second system deserve some attention? If you can afford it, it’s worth the price of admission. The Stage 1000 is one smartly engineered rack that delivers. It’s an easy recommendation for those who demand painless premium performance.
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Quality of packing: Double thick cardboard. Styrofoam clamshell internal protection. The individual parts are protected with poly sheeting, bubble wrap, vinyl sheaths and Ziploc bags.
Reusability of packing: Solid, simple and easy to repack.
Condition of components received: Perfect.
Delivery: By hand from the dealer Charisma Audio.
Website comments: Korean website geared toward domestic clientele. The North American dealer website is informative and the inclusion of a manufacturing and assembly video is a useful touch.
Human interactions: Helpful and responsive.
Warranty: Warranted against defects for 3 years.
Final comments & suggestions: Spousal approval factor won out. My own wife has declared my existing stand tired in current fashion jargon. So the Korean impresario stays in the system as our new support of choice.
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