Floor standing speaker isolation

[CageyH]

I am interested in isolating my speakers from my suspended floor.
The bases measure 500 x 250mm, so Auralex foam seems out of the question.

Are there any decent isolation pods available that won’t hurt my wallet too much?

[Stratmangler]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Anti-vibration-Feet-For-Washing-Machines-Shock-Absorbers-Pack-Of-8/311697232362?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.S EED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3Df157f 13d64574ee7a02b758345ddab14%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D 7%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D162982992888%26 itm%3D311697232362%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380 057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A6bc93f70-3971-11ea-824c-74dbd1807f65%7Cparentrq%3Ab56f9f3c16f0ad31c404f7e5 ff68cf28%7Ciid%3A1

[CageyH]

Thanks. Worth looking into.

Does anybody have experience of the Audio Serenity ISO-9H-35 Isolation Feet?
Another more expensive option seems to be the Isopucks, but they are relatively expensive (But nowhere near the cost of the Townshend products), as they are sold in sets of 2.

[CageyH]

http://ethanwiner.com/speaker_isolation.htm

This article would suggest I would be wasting my time and money. Any thoughts on the above?

[ianlenco]

That's a very interesting and illuminating article! I've been through a variety of "isolators" over the years from spikes to foam pads and have never been convinced any did much on a suspended wooden floor although spikes seemed to be of use on a carpeted one just to stop the speaker wobbling. Nowadays I just use those little felt pads you can buy from DIY stores to protect floors from furniture.

[Macca]

http://ethanwiner.com/speaker_isolation.htm

This article would suggest I would be wasting my time and money. Any thoughts on the above?

He doesn't say whether the floor of the room he used was solid or suspended. The speaker sits on the rickety table but what is the rickety table sitting on? he doesn't try the products underneath the table, just betwixt table and speaker.

I've used paving slabs under floorstanding speakers when I had a fairly bouncy suspended floor (never again!) and I thought it made a significant change in the sound character.

[Mikeandvan]

http://ethanwiner.com/speaker_isolation.htm

This article would suggest I would be wasting my time and money. Any thoughts on the above?

He attributes any differences in sound to moving the speaker position rather than the supposed isolating properties of each product, so play around with speaker position, if they need raising then use something that looks good but doesn't cost too much. I'd say no harm in trying different products as long you only spend what these products are worth - about a few quid. I think a lot of what people think they hear with different products is a trick of the mind. With users attributing sonic qualities to the physical qualities of the product - i.e. thick speaker cables resulting in more bass, a 'bigger' sound, blind testing is the way to go, if that were possible, get a friend to help may'be!

[ABCaudio]

I'll read that article later, thank you for the link.

I'm still trying to come to an opinion on the subject, as every large loudspeaker I've had sounds very good on my floor. It's concrete, with carpet, and I've always used spikes. The bass is very well behaved indeed, so I won't go searching for problems to solve that don't really exist (My current loudspeakers are -3dB @ 29Hz).

I have idly considered removing the spikes altogether and allowing the carpet to spread the weight under the footprint of the speakers. They weigh 42kg but the footprint is fairly big.

On wooden flooring, I'd think the first step would be to cut some offcut of carpet (maybe new, deep-ish pile from a shop) to match the footprint of the loudspeaker. Perhaps do two, one inverted and have both pieces of 'audiopile' on top of each other, with the underside sandwiched. So the pile is in contact with the speakers and the floor. Some measure of isolation and suspension will be present and if you do one speaker at a time (allowing you to compare to the other one) you should get a measure of what improvement (if any) you'll get.

Cheap and easy, plus the loudspeakers will be easier to move around for positioning!

[AJSki2fly]

I am interested in isolating my speakers from my suspended floor.
The bases measure 500 x 250mm, so Auralex foam seems out of the question.

Are there any decent isolation pods available that won’t hurt my wallet too much?

Hi Kevin, I would try 2 sets of these, if you order from this link then there is no import duty and it is cost effective https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BVEMLR4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, these type of vibration damping pads are used on all sorts of applications, to store vibrations going from devices and to them. They is quite a bit on the net about them. I have used them to isolate my turntable.

For my speakers even though they were sitting on a concrete floor and spiked through carpet I experimented on a friends advise and now they sit on 40mm Oak worktop, cut down to the speaker foot print, the speakers are spiked onto these. I was quite surprised to find an improvement in soundstage separation and clarity, I would have thought direct contact into the concrete would have been perfect.

My friend who lives in an old house converted to flats on the 1st floor which has suspended floors did the same with his Tannoy Kensington's and there was a definite improvement, similar to the above but more so.

In you case I would try the Oak onto the four isolation pads and then the speakers spiked into the Oak.

Also it's not too expensive to do, by the way I spray lacquered the Oak black once I was happy with the result so they loo quite good.

[CageyH]

Thanks for the link. A lot of reviews say that they smell pretty bad. Was this the case?

[Mikeandvan]

Thanks for the link. A lot of reviews say that they smell pretty bad. Was this the case?

Yes, but only up close! They are seriously heavy duty.

[AJSki2fly]

Thanks for the link. A lot of reviews say that they smell pretty bad. Was this the case?

No, the ones I have I left out on the kitchen for a day, and they were not that bad taking them out of the bag. Even stood by the turntable they are under I don’t notice them.

[CageyH]

Thanks.
I am half tempted to try some solidair audio feet on the bottom of my speakers.

The pads look much cheaper though, but are they much different to rubber feet I can buy in a hadware store?

[realysm42]

I’ve always had good results with RDC under speakers where they are rated for the weight.

[karma67]

Hi Kevin, I would try 2 sets of these, if you order from this link then there is no import duty and it is cost effective https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BVEMLR4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, these type of vibration damping pads are used on all sorts of applications, to store vibrations going from devices and to them. They is quite a bit on the net about them. I have used them to isolate my turntable.

For my speakers even though they were sitting on a concrete floor and spiked through carpet I experimented on a friends advise and now they sit on 40mm Oak worktop, cut down to the speaker foot print, the speakers are spiked onto these. I was quite surprised to find an improvement in soundstage separation and clarity, I would have thought direct contact into the concrete would have been perfect.

My friend who lives in an old house converted to flats on the 1st floor which has suspended floors did the same with his Tannoy Kensington's and there was a definite improvement, similar to the above but more so.

In you case I would try the Oak onto the four isolation pads and then the speakers spiked into the Oak.

Also it's not too expensive to do, by the way I spray lacquered the Oak black once I was happy with the result so they loo quite good.

i can confirm they work really well under speakers :)

[CageyH]

As I am impatient, I have ordered some EVA pads to try.
If they work, I may try some ViaBlue UFOs, as they look nicer. :mental:

[CageyH]

They have arrived. I may be imagining it, but I think that the soundstage has opened up a touch.

[Mike Reed]

When I had suspended floors (up to 2002) I simply used spikes, either onto the speakers as fitted or via stands, or both (Briks, big Leaks, big ProAcs, and one or two other passing speakers). If damaging the floor is an issue, put a tile or furniture cup under the spike.

[CageyH]

My speakers don't have provision for spikes.
I wanted to decouple the speakers from the floor to see what would happen.

[Yomanze]

Here you go:

https://www.qtasystems.co.uk/loudspeaker-components/sorbothane-isolation.htm

[Bencat]

I have just finished making a stacked pair of KEF 103 Speakers with a pair one on top of the other . I have used the bottom pair as Bass only and the upeer pair as normal Bass and Treble two way . This has been done with MiniDSP DDRC 24 unit acting as the digital crossover , DAC and a DSP unit using Dirac Live 2.0 . Thye are now working but I have two quite large speakers one on top of each other on each side.

Between the two speakers top and bottom I will use blu tac to keep them stable and connected. The issue is what to put between the stack and floor ? In the end I have gone for a mixture of what I can get cheap and what I think will help . I recently had the granite tops in my kitchen replaced at a quite high price , they look great and i was really happy with the cutting and fitting. Chatting to the Stone Yards owner I mentioned that I has considered using a pair of breadboards under the speakers and he has kindly offered to make two matching pieces 40 x 30 CM for me in some off cut granite he has .

They are now ready and I need to go and collect them and then I need to put some nice large spikes with metal pucks to increase the height a little . I am going for a three feet option with two at the back and a single centre spike in the middle of the front edge . These will have the metal pucks glued to the stone and then the nice large spikes glued to the pucks . I am hoping that this will give a really solid base for the stacks to sit on and I will again use blue tac under the speakers and the stone base .

Not sure if all this will work well on my suspended floors but it the best I could come up with . These should all be on show at the Wam Show in Kegworth 14/15th march as I will have room 217 to try and get some music worth listening to . If any one is going feel free to call in and see if I have managed to get the system installed and the stand under the speakers.

[chrisph]

Not sure if all this will work well on my suspended floors but it the best I could come up with . These should all be on show at the Wam Show in Kegworth 14/15th march as I will have room 217 to try and get some music worth listening to . If any one is going feel free to call in and see if I have managed to get the system installed and the stand under the speakers.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing these at the show.