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This review first appeared in the July 2013 issue of hi-end hifi magazine High Fidelity of Poland. You can also read it in its original Polish version here. We publish its English translation in a mutual syndication arrangement with publisher Wojciech Pacula. As is customary for our own articles, the writer's signature at review's end shows an e-mail address should you have questions or wish to send feedback. All images contained in this review are the property of High Fidelity or Finite Elemente. - Ed


Reviewer: Wojciech Pacula
CD player: Ancient Audio Lektor Air V-edition
Phono preamplifier: RCM Audio Sensor Prelude IC
Cartridges: Miyajima Laboratory Shilabe & Kansui
Preamplifier: Ayon Audio Polaris III Signature with Regenerator power supply
Power amplifier: Soulution 710
Integrated amplifier/headphone amplifier: Leben CS300 XS Custom
Loudspeakers: Harbeth M40.1 Domestic + Acoustic Revive custom speaker stand
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, AKG K701, Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro 600Ω vintage, HifiMan HE6
Interconnects: CD/preamp Acrolink Mexcel 7N-DA6300, preamp/power amp Acrolink 8N-A2080III Evo
Speaker cable: Tara Labs Omega Onyx
Power cables (all equipment): Acrolink Mexcel 7N-PC9300
Power strip: Acoustic Revive RTP-4eu Ultimate
Stand: Base IV custom under all components
Resonance control: Finite Elemente Ceraball under CD player, Audio Revive RAF-48 platform under CD player and preamplifier, Pro Audio Bono PAB SE platform under Leben CS300 XS
Review component retail in Poland: 2.450zł + 90zł/set

What drew my attention to the Rogoz Audio 4SG50/BBS anti-vibration platform was the last abbreviation in its model name. The alpha-numerical prefix is so anonymous that it tells us nothing. I didn't even think to decipher it. But I had good intuition about the BBS balancing board system being an anti-vibration approach which they developed specifically for this series of platforms. Company owner and BBS designer Janusz Rogoż had this:



"The platform structure incorporates a new proprietary Rogoz Audio anti vibration system, BBS (Balancing Board System, Patent P.404137 pending). This system combines a threaded height-adjustable steel-alloy upfacing spike with a conical carbon-fiber decoupler resting on its point whose convex top sits inside a down-facing metal cup embedded in the bottom of the shelf. The restricted range of motion between the intermediary coupler and bearing allows for some lateral play to marry the advantages of minimum point-of-contact kinetic energy transfer into heat with the effects of addressing vibration with sliding friction."


We wrote about the Rogoz company on prior occasions so you might know them as specializing in anti-vibration products like pads, racks, platforms, speaker and audio stands. What all their products share is a high-quality appearance, a positive impact on the sound confirmed by reviews in High Fidelity and Audio and reasonable pricing. It's a combination of traits that might be of highest import to many. All of this also holds true for the 4SG50/BBS platform. It is a system with four legs filled with quartz sand. The top is 50mm rosewood-veneered MDF riding on the frame with the BBS system. The structure is complemented by 3S40 spikes and BW40MKII anti-vibration interfaces which can be put between component and shelf.


"Our spikes with sandwich structure and adjustable height are designed for high-end audio systems. The anti-vibration effect of the spikes which rest on massive protective disks consists of minimizing energy transmission between base and audio components. Minimizing the contact patch results in kinetic energy turning to heat by entropy. The spike structure was tuned by means of a special alloy blend between high-fiber steel and carbon polymers. Available colors include silver, gold and silver/gold. The BW40MKII interface bases also use a sandwich structure. This exploits the anisotropic material properties where differences in surface densities—tensile and compressive stresses—make for the desired damping characteristics. Available finish colors are silver or silver/gold."