FutureShop reviewed two TCI (True Colours Audio) Podium isolation platforms as part of our ongoing assessment of hi-fi accessories. True Colours Audio is a British manufacturer better known for its cables, whose Podium range represents their entry into mechanical isolation. This review draws on in-house listening with a Clearaudio Concept turntable and the FutureShop reference system.
Our Verdict
TCI Podiums deliver a genuine and immediately audible improvement to turntable performance, with the Podium 3 providing noticeably better bass control and transient definition than the Podium 1. At just 23.5mm high, the Vibratium sandwich construction achieves effective isolation without adding meaningful height to the component stack, making these among the most unobtrusive isolation solutions currently available.
Quick Take
- TCI Podiums use a Vibratium core sandwiched between magnesium alloy top and base plates. Vibratium is a compound material designed to handle differing vibration frequencies simultaneously, addressing ambient vibrations, speaker-generated vibrations, and component-generated vibrations in a single platform.
- At 23.5mm high, the Podiums are significantly lower-profile than most competing isolation platforms, allowing them to be slipped under components without changing the ergonomics of the rack or equipment placement.
- Each Podium supports up to 70kg, making them suitable for the heaviest turntables, amplifiers, and power conditioners.
- The range spans six models. The Podium 1 and Podium 3 were reviewed here. The improvement from Podium 1 to Podium 3 was consistent in character but greater in degree: both delivered the same focus and control benefits; the Podium 3 delivered them more completely.
- The effect was confirmed on a budget Pro-Ject 1 Xpression as well as the reference Clearaudio Concept, suggesting the Podium's benefits are not limited to high-end turntables.
A deuce of TCI (True Colours Audio) Podiums arrived for us to assess before deciding to make them our own. First impression: these isolation platforms looked refreshingly uncomplicated, albeit rather sleek-looking objects; one black (Podium 1), the other a juicy metallic red (Podium 3). There are six in the range.
Isolation solutions are something we can always vibe with (probably a bad turn of phrase in this case). Still, isolation has proven a crucial area to address in audio systems and hi-fi setups. TCI are better known for its cables, so stepping into an alternate hi-fi realm of isolation with these striking objects is bold.
What Makes TCI Podiums Unique? Design, Materials, and Build Quality Explained
Sandwiched between the magnesium alloy base and top plate is a Vibratium core. Vibratium... are you kidding me? Not the same substance mined from the asteroid orbiting Altair IV; Vibratium is another surreptitious hi-fi material about which we know little, except that the aerospace industry probably forged it, then gave it its (let's assume) whimsical name. So, if it's used in spaceships, it must be out of this world, right?
Vibratium is a compound material which handles differing vibration frequencies. So, this Vibratium sandwich dissipates a wider spectrum of mechanical vibrations, including ambient vibrations, speaker-generated vibrations, and vibrations produced by the component sitting on it. Using a combination of materials for isolation solutions is nothing new, but few have the elegant design of the TCI Podiums. The magnesium alloy casing looks sleek, and one could be forgiven for trying to prise the layers apart, believing the Podium to be a slick new laptop, only more robust – these isolation platforms can support up to 70kg components.
The two units we were comparing appeared to have identical form-factor, yet there's a £300 price differential between them. In fact, if the name sticker were peeled off, the only way to identify each model would be to listen to its performance. That's exactly what we did.
Testing TCI Podium 1 vs Podium 3: Turntable Isolation Performance Review
So, people, what's the most obvious test for an isolation platform? Correct. It's with a turntable. We assessed the TCI Podium models top down and slipped the Podium 3 under our Clearaudio Concept. The rest of our system comprised a Chord Huei phono stage connected to the Ayre pre/power combo with an AudioQuest Thunderbird XLR cable; the B&W 803s were connected with Chord Epic XL speaker cable and, importantly, already isolated with HIFISTAY Stella Double Swing isolation feet. The Concept turntable was fitted with an Ortofon Quintet Red, the rack it perched on was a Bassocontinuo Essenza. A decent enough setup for the Podiums to work with.
The music came from a 180g, Sunday Best Recordings copy of Norman Jay MBE's Skank & Boogie compilation – the first three tracks from side A: St Germain's skankin' take on the Pink Panther Theme, Slim Smith's rocksteady Everybody Needs Love and Michael McDonald's faithful, tasteful and powerful cover of Living for the City. As said, after hearing the music without the Podium, we went straight in with the Podium 3.
The improvement was remarkable.
The Fender Rhodes – a difficult instrument to reproduce – on St Germain's track had its clean, bell-like tones and deep bass tightly under control. The bass line and beats had punch and slam. The saxophone break was smooth and much sharper.
Slim Smith's gritty late-60s recording of rocksteady reggae tidied up very nicely; the podium gave its bouncing rhythm the space to groove. Again, the keyboard riff – this time a Hammond organ – smoothed out without losing its slightly overdriven tone.
Living for the City has a pulsing sub-bass guiding us into the track. With the TCI Podium 3, that bass was tight, round and punchy. The drum fill that drops us into the second verse was strikingly defined and snappy; the famous guitar motif was soaring. Overall, the recording was richer with a satisfying slam. It's all about focus, with isolation. When your components are kept from mechanical interference, all aspects of the music are elevated.
But we needed to hear the Podium 1 – almost half the price. The improvements were along the same lines, just not with the completeness of the Podium 3. The recordings were all fuller and deeper, the saxophone was clearer and the keys cleaner. But we missed the Podium 3.
As always, the podiums were removed altogether, and we reverted to nothing. The sound degenerated to a thin, harsh mush (in comparison). Turntables need isolation. We even tried them on a humble Pro-ject 1 Xpression and found the improvement just as beneficial.
For further context on how different isolation approaches compare, our guide to how IsoAcoustics brings studio-grade isolation to the listening room covers the Orea feet and ZaZen platforms, which work on comparable principles to the TCI Podium and suit listeners who want component-level isolation without a dedicated platform.
Are TCI Podiums Worth It? Final Thoughts on Hi-Fi Isolation Benefits
'Energy reservoirs' – an impressively fancy phrase – will always be a blessing to your hi-fi components. How blessed they are will depend on whether you live in a block of flats, a cottage in the forest or at the foot of Mount Etna. Wherever your hi-fi is placed, good isolation is invaluable.
True Colours Audio has produced a range of isolation solutions, suiting all budgets, that are both effective and, at just 23.5mm high, rather elegant. Most other isolation platforms add considerable height to your components, but the springy material, affectionately known as Vibratium, allows for an auspiciously unobtrusive solution, indeed.
Interested in isolation for your turntable or hi-fi components? Browse the full TCI Podium range at FutureShop. Our team has heard the Podiums across multiple system types and can advise which model best suits your setup. Get in touch with our team for a recommendation tailored to your system and budget.
