Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Thread Like Summary - The next $400 upgrade?

Desiring to modernize a home theater built in 2003, I've purchased various audio items over the last 18 months which now give me great pleasure with many hours of music every week. But I love to tweak things, and wonder about reaching the point of diminishing returns given my mostly-depleted budget. If you had invested in the following setup, how would you spend another $400 to improve stereo sound, not for more recordings?

Streaming Roon/Tidal/Qobuz > Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X SFP > Cat6 to Intel 7i7BNH NUC w/lps running ROCK > SFP fiber to Cisco 2960 > AQ Pearl to M 218 > 75 ft. Cable Matters Cat6a SSTP/SFTP for SpeakerLink > DSP5200SE w/ Zu Audio EVENT cords plugged into Shunyata 2000/T conditioner on a dedicated circuit. I use Roon's convolution engine to apply room correction filters from homeaudiofidelity.com

At the back of the theater, key source components employ a mix of Herbie's and AQ anti-vibration products, various entry-level cords from Zu and Shunyata, and are plugged into Shunyata's PS8 w/ Defender on its own circuit. Other power supplies are further isolated by iFI and Belkin devices.

DSP5200SE speakers at the other end of the room (flanking the screen) stand on M spikes into wooden cabinetry under the screen. Considering the interesting Journey posted here by Jeremy A-H, would Gaia feet be the next best use of additional dollars?

During my research, I came a cross quite a few reviews on various forums where the Oreas and pucks had been compared and the overall conclusion was that there was little or no difference between them. It was the fact that all the supports were covered by the same patent that swayed me in favour of the pucks (as well as the price difference!). Once I had tried them I was totally convinced, and they were far superior to the Vibrapods that were being used.

The graphs for the Oreas show that they work at their best over most of their weight range, so as long as you use the pucks within their weight range you should get the same benefits as the Oreas or Gaias, as they all work on the same principle.

Just a thought.

My latest dealer price list offers singles. I would assume the same would apply to the UK. It wouldn't hurt to ask the dealers over there.

So when selecting model, stay within 90% of the weight limit for best results. At least this is how I interpret their recommendation.
We also have to account for some speakers only using 3 rather than 4, so need to subtract that from the weight limit as well.

Example:
DSP80000SE, 105kg
Gaia Theis 3 units within 90% of weight range. 145kg -25%, -10% = 97,88kg
Gaia Rhea 3 units within 90% of weight range. 190kg -25%, -10% = 128kg

Proper Gaia Titan version for DSP8000SE is then Gaia Rhea.

DSP7200SE, 55kg
Gaia I 3 units within 90% of weight range. 100kg -25%, -10% =67,5kg
Gaia II 3 units within 90% of weight range. 55kg -25%, -10% = 37,1kg

Proper Gaia version for DSP7200SE is then Gaia I.