Isoacoustics Gaia Speaker Isolation

D

Dizzie

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Does anyone use these or similar devices? I have padded carpet over concrete and have always found spikes that penetrate the carpet and padding are definitely better than flat feet. But I have never tried any product like this. My speakers are Quad ESL-2805s.

http://www.isoacoustics.com/products/gaia-series/
 
I just re-shoe my sopra with them in about a month or so

Another good stuff for your bucks i would say, image more focus , mid bass lush and tighter compare to the original spike.

I don't have carpet underneath, just a ceramic concrete tiles. Yet have a chance to try other brands too though

Hope it helps
 
Milk_vanilla said:
I just re-shoe my sopra with them in about a month or so

Another good stuff for your bucks i would say, image more focus , mid bass lush and tighter compare to the original spike.

I don't have carpet underneath, just a ceramic concrete tiles. Yet have a chance to try other brands too though

Hope it helps
Click to expand...

Thanks Jesse. Were the spikes resting on cups before?
 
I tried a set of Isoacoustics for my 4367's. The spikes are a bit short and I have thick carpet over concrete, and, at the time I thought raising the speakers up a bit could be good.

People raved about these things. I absolutely could not stand the effect, I found no good from them. To me the music became gutless and I can only describe the sound as similar to speakers being very apparently out of phase. I honestly didn't want to listen to my system when the stands were used.

In case it could make a difference the bottom of my speaker where you screw in the spikes is not flush with the cabinet, so a square piece of wood was custom made with a hole, once the wood fit over the part not flush, it became a flush area for the Iso's rubber cup to meet the speaker cabinet. Without the piece to make a flush area the stands couldn't be used. I really can't see how this would make any difference, but, who knows.
 
Hello
I have a pair of Gaias 3 Under my audiophysics virgo 25
When I had them , I was surprised that it was some sorbothane like material Under the metal enclosure
However , I can only vouch for them
My speakers do not sound the same , better may be , but it's a question of taste
4 weeks have gone , since installation , and I am keeping them
Have a demo at home .. may be it can suit
Cheers
 
Mr Peabody said:
I tried a set of Isoacoustics for my 4367's. The spikes are a bit short and I have thick carpet over concrete, and, at the time I thought raising the speakers up a bit could be good.

People raved about these things. I absolutely could not stand the effect, I found no good from them. To me the music became gutless and I can only describe the sound as similar to speakers being very apparently out of phase. I honestly didn't want to listen to my system when the stands were used.

In case it could make a difference the bottom of my speaker where you screw in the spikes is not flush with the cabinet, so a square piece of wood was custom made with a hole, once the wood fit over the part not flush, it became a flush area for the Iso's rubber cup to meet the speaker cabinet. Without the piece to make a flush area the stands couldn't be used. I really can't see how this would make any difference, but, who knows.
Click to expand...

Were you using one of the GAIA products with carpet spike bases or another IsoAcoustics product? The GAIA speaker isolators by themselves don't have spikes.
 
isoacoustics-gaia-image-05.jpg
 
If memory serves the stands I tried had like rubber that went against the speaker and the same on the side that went against the floor. I say stands but they only raised the speaker about 5 to 6 inches.

The experience baffles me, only because I see so much positive comment on these things. I'd say it was the size of my speakers but they make them for B&W and other large models as well.

Just as a side note, the floating of a speaker goes against the norm, sort of the opposite of spikes. And, what's with the need of all that internal bracing if the speaker will just float?

I keep open mind though, at one time I couldn't imagine how an upgraded power cord could make any difference, amongst other ear opening events.

GSOphile said:
Were you using one of the GAIA products with carpet spike bases or another IsoAcoustics product? The GAIA speaker isolators by themselves don't have spikes.
Click to expand...
 
I believe the basic physics behind the GAIAs and similar offerings, some quite pricey (e.g., Magico MPODs & SPODs), is based on "constraint-layer damping."
www.sciencebuddies.org











Constrained-layer damping is a mechanical engineering technique for suppression of vibration. Typically a viscoelastic or other damping material, is sandwiched between two sheets of stiff materials that lack sufficient damping by themselves.

[h=3]Constrained-layer damping - Wikipedia[/h]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrained-layer_damping



 
GSOphile said:
I believe the basic physics behind the GAIAs and similar offerings, some quite pricey (e.g., Magico MPODs & SPODs), is based on "constraint-layer damping."
www.sciencebuddies.org











Constrained-layer damping is a mechanical engineering technique for suppression of vibration. Typically a viscoelastic or other damping material, is sandwiched between two sheets of stiff materials that lack sufficient damping by themselves.

[h=3]Constrained-layer damping - Wikipedia[/h]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrained-layer_damping
Click to expand...

Actually the GAIAs are designed to move back and forth front to back. Therefore the instructions to always place the logo facing the front. I do not know or understand all the details but I think it has to do with countering the force of the drivers. I got that information from a representative of the distributor.

From the website:
"GAIA provides a high degree of isolation while resisting lateral movement and oscillations to maintain alignment with the listening position. Internal reflections from the hard-supporting surface are attenuated resulting in greater sound clarity and openness."

Effective or not? Every isolation device I have ever tried had some "magic" formula. Most are sitting in my junk drawer. But some worked very well but not in every application. What I learned is the only way to know for sure is to try.
 
Mr Peabody said:
If memory serves the stands I tried had like rubber that went against the speaker and the same on the side that went against the floor. I say stands but they only raised the speaker about 5 to 6 inches.

The experience baffles me, only because I see so much positive comment on these things. I'd say it was the size of my speakers but they make them for B&W and other large models as well.

Just as a side note, the floating of a speaker goes against the norm, sort of the opposite of spikes. And, what's with the need of all that internal bracing if the speaker will just float?

I keep open mind though, at one time I couldn't imagine how an upgraded power cord could make any difference, amongst other ear opening events.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you had something like the ISO-L8R series stands and not the GAIA threaded footer, which is an entirely different product. For me the effect of the GAIAs was very positive on my JBLs.
 
the iso pucks i put under the standmounts clearly improved imaging quite a bit and gave them more `body` and most certainly made a difference . a very flexible option . they hold 9kg each so i guess you might be able put them under a modest floorstander as well . but standmounts or monitor is what they are designed for
 
Rantz, you are correct, I had a stand type thing, not threaded feet.

This description is exactly what the stand I had was supposed to do. As I mentioned the theory defies logic to me knowing how a driver in a cabinet works. Allowing the cabinet to float would seem to allow enursha, keeping the driver from stopping and starting accurately smearing sound. The amp is supposed to control the driver, on the stands is like steadying jello.

My speakers are currently using their own spikes and sit on fairly plush carpet over concrete. I wonder if the feet would do anything?

Dizzie said:
Actually the GAIAs are designed to move back and forth front to back. Therefore the instructions to always place the logo facing the front. I do not know or understand all the details but I think it has to do with countering the force of the drivers. I got that information from a representative of the distributor.

From the website:
"GAIA provides a high degree of isolation while resisting lateral movement and oscillations to maintain alignment with the listening position. Internal reflections from the hard-supporting surface are attenuated resulting in greater sound clarity and openness."

Effective or not? Every isolation device I have ever tried had some "magic" formula. Most are sitting in my junk drawer. But some worked very well but not in every application. What I learned is the only way to know for sure is to try.
Click to expand...
 
I think different type of speakers require different kinds of footers. Have not tried the Gaias but tried Stillpoints at some point and felt they muddled up the sound (made it more lush, but less precise).

Back on good ‘ol spikes.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Kuoppis said:
I think different type of speakers require different kinds of footers. Have not tried the Gaias but tried Stillpoints at some point and felt they muddled up the sound (made it more lush, but less precise).

Back on good ‘ol spikes.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I tried Stillpoints under my speakers as well and didn't like the results.
 
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