Plinths, spikes etc. the best way to support your speakers ?

[Chris]

Hi,
I am just finishing my DIY World Audio WD25TEx speakers and need to decide on the best way to finish them off, feet-wise.
My floor is hard wood on solid and although not overkeen on spikes (my parquet floor looks like a dartboard ) I was wondering whether to use spiked plinths or maybe incorporate my Mana speaker bases in to the design (the dimensions are perfect) which I could bolt onto the bottom of the box or any other suggestions ..........?

[SquireC]

I would suggest you get hold of a set of Blue Horizon spike shoes ....our colleague Mark grant can supply them. They work great for me.:)

[The Grand Wazoo]

The trouble with spikes & cups on a nice wood floor is that even if you're really careful, it's still easy to accidentally damage the floor especially if you have no-one to help you place the cups under the spikes while you struggle to hold the speaker off the floor, then lower it into the exact position without spiking them too!

Try some Soundcare Superspikes - they have the spike and cup incorporated into a single unit. I've been using them for years, they're excellent especially with really heavy speakers.

http://audio-hi.fi/images/soundcare/SoundCare_SuperSpikes_standard.jpg

http://www.worldaudiodistribution.com/pics/goods/big/soundcare_superspike_4_m8_komplekt_4-4.jpg

[Tarzan]

The trouble with spikes & cups on a nice wood floor is that even if you're really careful, it's still easy to accidentally damage the floor especially if you have no-one to help you place the cups under the spikes while you struggle to hold the speaker off the floor, then lower it into the exact position without spiking them too!

Try some Soundcare Superspikes - they have the spike and cup incorporated into a single unit. I've been using them for years, they're excellent especially with really heavy speakers.

http://audio-hi.fi/images/soundcare/SoundCare_SuperSpikes_standard.jpg

http://www.worldaudiodistribution.com/pics/goods/big/soundcare_superspike_4_m8_komplekt_4-4.jpg



x2- a brilliant product that actually work, are good value for money and make moving speeks a piece of p--s.:)

[AlfaGTV]

Agree on the Soundcare Supespikes, but in my current setup with really massive speakers i prefer cushions. Audio is cleared up and imaging is much more visual.
You may lose some perceived bass, but im my situation there was no quality, just quantity and the floor was 'singing along'...

You really should try that also, wont cost you more than a few quid.
Options are some SD feet, a sorbothane 'puck' or what i use which is called NoVibra. The latter is a ribbed rubberplate whis is mostly used to decouple industrial machines from the floor, but is also used for domestic appliances, like washing machines etc.

Regards /Mike

[awkwardbydesign]

Townshend Stella stands. http://www.mackenziehifi.com/townshend-audio-stella-speaker-stands-1254-p.asp
They are far too expensive for me, so I make my own with inner tubes in an MDF box. Max used inner tubes in his original Seismic Sinks. They work well, and cut out transmission to the rest of the house. And my floor is new solid oak, so I didn't want to spike it.

[realysm42]

RDC do a great job as isolation prodcuts, are modular. I swear by them.

Check them out:

http://www.clearlight-audio.de/

[Reffc]

Problem I find with most spike designed is that the coupling is done via the spike's thread and the speaker's threaded bushing. This provides IMHO a poor coupling unless substantial washers are used or better still, spiked cones with a wide base are used to more effectively couple resonance from the cabinets through to the spike. Heavy platforms which the speakers sit upon which incorporate captive cones (3 is better for stability) seem to work well. I've also had some success on hard floors using sorbothane feet to isolate. Theory is that they help dissipate resonance to heat energy but some argue that any micro movement of the cabinet doesn't help clarity. Suck it and see what works for you.

[RobbieGong]

Brilliant product Chris - Pursauded the wife to get me some for Christmas. They look the business under my Mission 752 Freedoms, very classy indeed and make moving speaker a peice of P - I'm well pleased :)

The trouble with spikes & cups on a nice wood floor is that even if you're really careful, it's still easy to accidentally damage the floor especially if you have no-one to help you place the cups under the spikes while you struggle to hold the speaker off the floor, then lower it into the exact position without spiking them too!

Try some Soundcare Superspikes - they have the spike and cup incorporated into a single unit. I've been using them for years, they're excellent especially with really heavy speakers.

http://audio-hi.fi/images/soundcare/SoundCare_SuperSpikes_standard.jpg

http://www.worldaudiodistribution.com/pics/goods/big/soundcare_superspike_4_m8_komplekt_4-4.jpg

[The Grand Wazoo]

Ah good, I'm glad you managed to sort your problem and save the floor!
They are rather nifty aren't they?

[johnB]

Do you have to screw them into the bottom of the speaker cabinets?

[The Grand Wazoo]

Yes the ones in the photo screw directly into the threaded bushes that spikes usually go into - they come in 4 different thread sizes to suit. Alternatively you can use the stick on type (the middle ones in the diagram) if you don't have bushes or if you don't want to drill your cabinets or stands to take bushes.

[RobbieGong]

They are brill and look amazing - classy under your speaker cabinets. One of my Missions always had a slight wobble when I touched it due to the plinth under that particular one being attached with one screw at a slightly scewith angle. You have the option to level the feet and tighten each one at any point you choose so wobble completely erradicated, they stand as firm as a firm thing now - bloody great !!! :)

[RobbieGong]

Right !! - My previous posts were with regard to aesthetics and praticallity where these things are simply excellent. Great build, look classy and smart under the speakers and make the combo of normal spikes and spike shoes a past consideration - Your lovely wooden floor will no longer be in danger of deep gauges etc :steam: :eek: (Been there !) not to mention the danger of having one of the spikes catch you during repositioning of the speaker - ouch !!

Ok, At long last I managed to put my system together (It's been down for various reasons since August. At first I was unsure as to whether these Stillpoints would be as imppressive to my ears as they are to my eyes etc. I wondered if raising the speakers from my raised wooden floor would kill the weight in the bass. No Fear, the bass is more tuneful and just sounds tighter and more right, the rest sounds natural too and I'm hearing more inner detail :) - man I'm very pleased this Christmas - Full Endorsement :thumbsup: