Vibrations coming up from the floor, from a speaker shaking the shelf or from a footstep on a wooden floor are transmitted to electronics and the tonearm of a turntable. SSC addresses this problem with a 24 mm-thick black platform placed beneath the device and mounted on six proprietary suspension elements. It sits on the shelf of a hi-fi rack without any changes to the installation and supports a load of 70 kg.
SSC is a German manufacturer specialising in audio equipment isolation. Its name sums up its principle: String Suspension Concept. Each SSC element contains a mesh of tensioned strings that works between the load and the support. Rather than transmitting vibrations from one rigid part to another, this mesh absorbs and dissipates them. In the brand’s feet, it is housed in an aluminium casing. The Solidbase uses six of these elements, distributed beneath the platform’s surface.
This approach is the opposite of spikes, which rigidly connect the device to the rack. The aim is to prevent the chassis and its support from exchanging vibrations. On a turntable, the stylus follows microscopic movements in the groove, so any unwanted vibration reaching the tonearm is read as a signal. In a CD player, the mechanism and optical assembly are sensitive to jolts. Some electronic components also respond to vibrations, a phenomenon called microphonics, well known in tube amplifiers.
The platform measures 440 × 360 mm, a width that accommodates standard-width electronics of around 43 cm. The 36 cm depth accommodates most source components, DACs and compact integrated amplifiers. For a deeper device, check that all its feet rest on the platform: it is their position that matters, not the overall dimensions of the casing.
The 24 mm thickness adds to the height of the device. On a rack shelf where space is already tight, make sure there is enough clearance above, especially for an amplifier that runs hot and needs airflow around its vents, or for a turntable whose lid needs room to open.
SSC intends the Solidbase for entry-level and mid-range electronics. Turntables benefit most, for the mechanical reasons described above. CD players and phono preamplifiers come next, the latter processing very low-level signals with high gain. A DAC, a network player or an integrated amplifier can also sit on it. The 70 kg load capacity far exceeds the weight of these devices, leaving plenty of headroom even for an amplifier with a large transformer.
The effect depends on the original support. A lightweight rack on a flexible wooden floor, or a shelf near a subwoofer, transmits far more vibrations than a heavy rack on a concrete slab. It is in the first case that the platform has the most work to do.
SSC offers this platform in two versions with identical dimensions, 440 × 360 × 24 mm. The Solidbase has six SSC elements for a maximum load of 70 kg. The Solobase has eleven and supports up to 80 kg; the brand positions it for heavier or higher-end electronics. Both are installed in the same way, and the choice depends on the weight and level of the device to be isolated.
SSC stands for String Suspension Concept, literally “a concept of suspension by strings.” The name refers to the tensioned mesh used in all the brand’s products, from individual feet to shelves such as the Solidbase.
No. The unit remains on its own feet, resting on the platform. It is best to center it so that its weight is distributed across the six SSC elements rather than loading just one side.
SSC feet (Netpoint, Matchpoint, Bigpoint) replace or supplement the device’s support points, which requires being able to position them under the chassis or screw in removable feet. The platform requires none of this: it sits between the furniture and the device, regardless of the shape and position of its feet. It is well suited to turntables and devices with fixed feet.
Most turntables fit within a 440 × 360 mm footprint, but some wider models extend beyond it. Simply measure the distance between the turntable’s feet and check that they stay on the platform. You also need to account for the shelf’s 24 mm thickness in the available height to open the dust cover beneath a shelf.
For a turntable, yes. A perfectly level platter is essential for proper groove tracking by the stylus and tonearm balance. Checking the turntable platter with a spirit level once everything is in place allows you to adjust the level using the turntable’s adjustable feet, if it has them.
It works on any flat, stable surface: rack shelf, top of a TV stand, sideboard. On a TV stand that also supports a soundbar or sits next to a subwoofer, it isolates the source from vibrations transmitted through the stand’s top.
Akopian
A great isolator.
Very musical, meaning it really reveals the quality of the device placed on top!
Comment from 14 June 2025 — Experience from 11 September 2023
Patrick
Given my setup (listening room < 18m2, slightly "oversized" speakers with generous low-end), this very well-designed anti-vibration plate provides greater clarity in the low frequencies and gives the impression of better soundstage openness...
Comment from 28 March 2025 — Experience from 17 March 2025
Laurent
Tested with my ***** CD player/DAC, my ***** turntable, my ** streamer/DAC, and my *** amplifier.
I kept it under my CD player and ordered a flatbase plate for my turntable.
Provides more definition without adding any coloration.
Comment from 23 November 2023 — Experience from 12 November 2023
