SPEAKERS ON CEMENT. SPIKES OR ISOLATION? Personal experiences wanted

J

jadedavid

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In my listening room I have carpet over pad over cement.
I would be interested in hearing what other sharks have used under their speakers. And the results of any of their trials.
Spikes, wood platforms, isolation material ETC ETC.
 
It depends on what your objectives are. Raising the speaker for proper ear height? Minimizing a bass resonance? Decoupling the speaker completely from the floor?

When I had my Raidho's, although nothing ultimately worked, the granite slabs helped. With my Focal Scala V2's, the bass really tightened up with Stillpoints (because spiking into my wood floors was not an option!)


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Thanks Mike for the insight.
I am a snow bird and have recently purchased these speakers and had them shipped to my northern home. I have not heard them in my room yet and am just getting ideas from others to be prepared.
My room has been very problematic so while gone I had some bulkheads and other built-ins removed that I believe were affecting the acoustics of the space.
I am very anxious to hear both the room corrections and the new speakers.
 
It appears to me that those have spikes. You may want to ensure you have the stuffed animal however. There might be some magic there. :)

2011AXPONA-VI-3.jpg


I would think that would be best.
 
I have carpet over pad over cement too. When I had Dyn C1's the spikes were thin enough to go all the way to the cement. That was a lot better than no spikes on the carpet. Later I got the Raidho D1's (which decouple) and they sounded a lot better on granite slabs. Tighter bass more detailed mids and highs. A bit more forward sounding in a very good way. But then I upgraded to D2's and I'm not sure I want to try granite again. I tried granite when the D2's were new and didn't care for it. Now they are broken in the granite might be worth a try.

So the short version - I found if you use slabs or spikes you'll get get a slightly more forward and tighter sound than just resting on the carpet.
 
I read through Steve Hoffman's year long loaner review and they appear to be pretty impressive speakers for a fair price. Attractive too.
 
I am hopeful that they will make the cut. Their efficiency was one of the major factors in selecting them. However they are kind of old school in appearance. But while aesthetics are nice it is really all about the sound.
 
Earth, Yellow tongue floor on stumps, Tasmanian Oak floating floor, single industrial carpet tile, Spike into Quadraspire QX7 isolator
 
This is a great topic that I have found to be particularly important. Both of my systems are on carpet over concrete and I've been experimenting for years with different ways to improve the performance of my speakers. In every case, Maggies, Quads, Utopias, AZ Crescendos, the sound has improved with spiked feet directly on concrete. Then I started playing around with Mapleshade plinths. I tried 2" thick then 4" with heavy brass footers. Another terrific improvement in every case. Then I put Herbies gliders under the brass footers so I could move them around (per Jim Smith) and it seemed to improve the sound so I've left them on permanently. Next, I tried spikes from the bottom of the speaker to the top of the plinths, sort of a double spiking scenario and bingo...... That's where I felt the speakers were really able to come alive and disappear at the same time. Of course now the speakers are about 6" higher off the floor than normal so I've built a platform under the listening couch to raise it up. Its sort of like a stadium seating experience and the platform actually isolates the couch and creates an effect where it feels like swimming in the music. I love it.
 
Thanks Ted for sharing your trials. I see that you have mentioned Jim Smith. He had recommended using bamboo cutting boards from Ikea under audio equipment. Did you ever try that? Under the speakers?
I have a height issue whereas my ceiling is only 7'3" so I need to keep everything as low as possible.
Your solutions are both interesting and ingenious.
 
Tedtag said:
This is a great topic that I have found to be particularly important. Both of my systems are on carpet over concrete and I've been experimenting for years with different ways to improve the performance of my speakers. In every case, Maggies, Quads, Utopias, AZ Crescendos, the sound has improved with spiked feet directly on concrete. Then I started playing around with Mapleshade plinths. I tried 2" thick then 4" with heavy brass footers. Another terrific improvement in every case. Then I put Herbies gliders under the brass footers so I could move them around (per Jim Smith) and it seemed to improve the sound so I've left them on permanently. Next, I tried spikes from the bottom of the speaker to the top of the plinths, sort of a double spiking scenario and bingo...... That's where I felt the speakers were really able to come alive and disappear at the same time. Of course now the speakers are about 6" higher off the floor than normal so I've built a platform under the listening couch to raise it up. Its sort of like a stadium seating experience and the platform actually isolates the couch and creates an effect where it feels like swimming in the music. I love it.
Click to expand...

Man..... you've got it bad!! :thumbsup:
 
good to hear, and they look nice also. I only got two when I went to Ikea, Looks like I need to pick up several more. Paul, have you tried them under your speakers?
 
jadedavid said:
good to hear, and they look nice also. I only got two when I went to Ikea, Looks like I need to pick up several more. Paul, have you tried them under your speakers?
Click to expand...

Sorry. No, I haven't used them under the speakers. However some one liked it so much turned that in to turntable LOL

815df1e0d83e25de594803dc26da707d.jpg



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