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Reviewer: Glen Wagenknecht
Financial Interests: click here
Sources: Audio Space CDP 8A CD player, Wyred4Sound Music Server & DAC-2
Preamplifier: Audio Space Reference 2S, Tortuga Audio LDR6 Passive
Amplifier:Bel Canto 200.4, Tapping TP22
AV Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-25
Main Speakers: Apogee Duetta Signature, Paradigm Servo 15 subwoofer, Audio Space AS-3/5A
Stands: Charisma Audio Function stands, Target stands
AV Speakers: JohnBlue M3s
AV Subwoofer: Paradigm PW-2200
Desktop Audio Speakers: Swans M200 MkIII
Desktop DAC/Pre headphone amp: DA&T U-2
Cables: Audio Art SE and Classic cable looms, JPS Labs Ultraconductor 2 speaker cables, Madison Audio Lab E3 Extreme 1 Interconnects/Extreme 2 speaker cables, Signal Cable Silver Reference interconnects and speaker cables, digital optical and coax cable.
Resonance Control: Solid Tech, EquaRack Footers, Weizhi Precision Gold Glory footers, Boston Audio TuneBlock2 footers, Audio Exklusiv Silent Plugs, Audio Exklusiv d.C.d. Base and d.C.d. Footers, Superspikes, CA Electronics Standard Cones, Feet, Cable Clamps, and Black Diamond
Powerline conditioning: Exact Power EP15A, Noise Destroyer power filtration
Accessories: TrueHarmonix Black Magic CD mat, Herbie’s Super Black Hole CD mat
Main room size: 12' x 17'
Home theatre: 10.5’ x 16.5’
Review component retail (Canadian): $1’320 for 3-shelf as reviewed (single-shelf version $560, twin-shelf version $940, quad-shelf version $1’700). All include heavy-duty spikes and spike protectors.

Can a high-quality audio stand make a major difference in your system? Or is it just furniture with snob appeal? When Bernard Li of Charisma Audio asked if I’d be interested in reviewing the Codia Acoustic Design Stage 1000, it was the perfect opportunity to jump into the world of prestigious fundamental supports. It’s no secret that I’m an ardent fan of good vibration management devices. For many a quality stand is the first and only line of defense.


Higher-end systems demand effective resonance control management for optimum performance. Top-tier racks from the likes of Artesania Audio, Basso Continuo Aeon, Finite Elemente, Grand Prix Audio, HRS, Silent Running and StillPoints are nothing short of self-contained extraordinarily sophisticated vibration control tweaks.

In the hands of a brilliant designer, rudimentary storage is elevated to engineering works of art which combine various approaches to achieve near perfect isolation whilst also dealing with internal component resonance. No snobbery, just proper engineering. The drawback? A quality stand generally costs proportional to its performance.

Where does the Codia Acoustic Design Stage 1000 fit into the hierarchy? The cost is still daunting to the neophyte yet well short of ultimate prestige-tier efforts which can approach automobile pricing. That puts the Codia into the serious but still relatively sane category. The stand looks deceptively simple but its execution is quite clever and borrows from Codia’s expertise in wave-trap room treatments. It doesn’t carry the overwhelming mass of a heavyweight contender but promises the snap of a muscular middleweight.


First off, many may not be familiar with Codia Acoustic Design. A brief introduction is in order then. Codia Acoustic Design set up shop in early 2000 with the goal of designing and manufacturing premium-grade audio furniture and accessories. Whilst they're a fairly fresh face to North American shores, they claim more than 30% market share in their homeland of South Korea. The company’s extensive catalogue ranges from basic hardware tweaks to several speakers.


According to Codia, "our products employ intensive designs, high-grade materials, first class workmanship and attractive styles. Other than standard sizes, custom sizes can be special ordered. We have full capability to handle the wood manufacturing process from start to finish in our own factory. We also have an experienced listening panel to evaluate the products to make sure that they meet the demanding audiophile level."