Alternative to Speaker Spikes for Wood Floors

[Alex_UK]

Thanks chaps for the responses. I do move the speakers around regularly, so the SuperSpikes are still favourite. Also, I am already dreading the sound changes as Paul has mentioned, but part of the "deal" is that we get a bigger (and additional) rug, and will also be bolstering up the cushion count (sorry!) as well as getting heavier curtains, and a bean-bag or three to help absorb the reflections.

Pretty much decided that "engineered wood" is the way to go (if we must) as it is not as reflective, slippy or as resonant as laminate, as well as looking and feeling nicer, but without the alleged drawbacks of solid wood.

[Alex_UK]

Another double post due to forum problems...

[The Grand Wazoo]

If you're going for engineered wood Alex, try to make sure it's got a decent thickness of wood on top so you can re-finish it if it gets damaged.

[Alex_UK]

If you're going for engineered wood Alex, try to make sure it's got a decent thickness of wood on top so you can re-finish it if it gets damaged.

I knew I could rely on you! What would you regard as being "decent thickness" - the one I'm favouring at the mo looks to be about 3mm - is that enough?

[The Grand Wazoo]

3mm is about the minimum I'd be happy with. 6mm is plenty. Some of the stuff I see is only 0.5 mm thick - you can remove that just by sanding!

[Alex_UK]

3mm is about the minimum I'd be happy with. 6mm is plenty. Some of the stuff I see is only 0.5 mm thick - you can remove that just by sanding!

Ta muchly!

[zanash]

An off the wall suggestion ....

I used spikes ..but when changing to a laminate floor ..these were obviously going to cause issues !

I'd seen auralex foam for speaker isolation in the past and spotted they had a product called mopads ...I bought a set for about £30 and sat them under my martin logan aerius i's ....

stunning ...they eliminated all the speaker floor issues that I'd been experiencing [though I did not know that was the problem !]

if your speakers are too heavy for these then try the auralex foam and thin mdf sheet cut to the foot print of your speakers ....

I've been down the granite slab route ,but for me it made the problem worse ...

my laminate is underlayed by extra thic sound absorbing foam on concrete.

[Alex_UK]

Thanks zanash, worth looking into, especially as a much cheaper option.

[Cliff]

Curious as to why you think a change to real wood floors will ruin the sound of your system?
If an area rug is used between the speakers,first reflections can be absorbed to give a pleasant acoustic.

Wanted to suggest a cheap alternative for protection of the floors from spike damage which also might improve the sound of your speakers: 3/8 inch birch plywood "slabs" or platforms under each speaker. Spike your speakers directly into the birch, and then you should be able to slide the speakers around on your wood floor rather easily without damage.
I can and do.

Plus, you might find a certain musical warmth, slight, is imparted to the speakers compared to spiking directly to the wood floor with some sort of metal spike disc or protector of synthetic material.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Another thing you could do Alex (& I once did this) is to use some of your flooring offcuts to make some little plinths similar to what Cliff describes above. Use plenty of glue in the tongues & grooves & put a simple picture frame surround made from some timber moulding of your choice to finish the edges. You'll have to plane off the tongue from one side. Very minimal DIY skills required but something that looks good & blend in with the floor.