bFly-audio - Pure - Absober

Hi-fi accessories · Equipment feet & absorbers

Every hi-fi component operates in a world full of vibrations: impact noise from the floor, airborne noise from the speakers, and the natural mechanical resonances of transformers, drive mechanisms and enclosures. All of this is transmitted back into the electronics via the equipment feet – and leaves its mark on the sound. Contours become blurred, the soundstage appears flatter, and subtle details are lost in the background noise. The bFly-audio PURE absorbers address precisely this point of contact and are among the most uncompromising solutions the manufacturer offers for equipment decoupling.

The PURE builds on the tried-and-tested MASTER series and extends its layered design with two further elements: an additional gel cushion on the underside and an air chamber between the two aluminium discs, which works in parallel with the highly effective Sorbothane. bFly-audio’s MLA technology is thus pneumatically assisted for the first time – with audibly greater resolution and three-dimensionality while retaining the familiar natural, uncoloured sound.

At the heart of all bFly-audio absorbers lies MLA technology – a multi-layered construction in which different materials each damp their own specific part of the frequency spectrum. A single layer of rubber or felt is effective only within a narrow range; it is only the combination of different layers that produces a filtering effect extending from low-frequency impact noise right up to the higher frequencies.

The key damping element is Sorbothane, a viscoelastic polymer used in measurement and medical technology for vibration isolation. It combines the properties of a spring with those of a fluid and converts mechanical vibration energy into minimal heat rather than reflecting it back. Encased between two precision-machined aluminium discs, it forms a stable absorber that keeps its shape and supports the component securely.

This is precisely where the PURE goes one step further than the MASTER series. Running parallel to the Sorbothane, an air chamber sits between the aluminium discs: the enclosed air cushion acts as an additional pneumatic spring and complements the material damping with a further, physically entirely different filter stage. On the underside, a gel cushion completes the construction – it decouples the absorber from the surface it stands on and absorbs vibrations travelling via the rack, sideboard or floor before they even reach the other layers.

The sonic effect of the PURE is best described with two terms: resolution and three-dimensionality. When mechanical interference no longer reaches components and circuit boards unfiltered, the background level of smearing is reduced. Voices detach more clearly from the speakers, instruments appear more tangible and with greater body in the room, while reverberation and decay remain audible for longer. The bass gains definition without losing any of its richness.

The decisive factor is character: the PURE absorbers do not impose their own signature on the sound. Rather than artificial brightness or superficial sparkle, the reproduction remains natural and balanced – the system simply sounds more like itself. This is particularly evident with components that are mechanically sensitive or generate vibrations themselves: turntables and phono preamplifiers, valve amplifiers, CD transports, power supplies and power amplifiers with large transformers.

The PURE adapts to the design of the component, not the other way round. In the standard version, the absorbers are simply placed under the existing equipment feet – without tools and without any modification to the component. For components with low or awkwardly positioned feet, there is a tall version that sits directly beneath the base plate and bypasses the original feet. This allows the absorber to be positioned where it works most effectively.

If you wish to replace the original feet entirely, opt for the screw-in version with a metric thread in M4, M5, M6 or M8. This connects the absorber firmly to the chassis – ideal for speaker stands, racks or components whose feet can be unscrewed anyway. Available in aluminium or black, the PURE blends visually into any system.

To ensure that the Sorbothane, air chamber and gel cushion remain within their optimum operating range, the PURE is available in four weight classes: PURE-0 up to 5 kg, PURE-1 up to 25 kg, PURE-2 up to 45 kg and PURE-3 up to 70 kg. An absorber that is too soft gives way too much under load, while one that is too hard remains ineffective – choosing the right class is therefore the most important step towards the full sonic benefit.

The range extends from lightweight streamers, DACs or phono preamplifiers (PURE-0) through integrated amplifiers, CD players and most turntables (PURE-1) to heavy power amplifiers, high-mass turntables and loudspeakers (PURE-2 and PURE-3). If the weight is unevenly distributed – for example due to a transformer on one side of the chassis – it is worth not placing the absorbers rigidly in the corners but following the component’s centre of gravity instead.