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Avalon Speakers... To Spike or Not To Spike

I’m looking for advice on what others use under their Avalon speakers. Looking at the Member Systems pictured on Audiogon, I found that 4 systems used something other than Avalon’s OEM spikes, that 10 systems used nothing at all, and only 5 systems used Avalon’s OEM spikes.

Due to stupidly thick carpeting, I don’t have the option of using Avalon’s OEM spikes, or nothing at all. Presently my Avalon Ascendant speakers sit on 3/8th inch thick steel plates with treaded floor spikes. The bottoms of the plates are covered with Loctite rope caulk to stop any ringing. Prior to putting the speakers on the platforms, I level them by beating the spikes into the floor with a dead-blow hammer.

One option I’m considering are platforms made by Sound Anchors. The Sound Anchor platforms would raise the height of the tweeter about 2 inches which would bring the tweeter height just about even with my sitting position ear height.

Another option I’m considering is to continue to use the plate steel platforms, but to add Finite Elemente Ceraballs between the speakers and the platforms.

Any suggestions and advice would be most appreciated.
raks
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
With Avalon Eidolons here, I replaced the stock spikes with Walker Audio Valid Points and got a significant improvement in clarity and resolution. Have used the Valid Points spiked through the carpet and pad, and tapped and screwed into the Eidolon wood frame for security.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
You can also screw-in the MDF pannels above the carpet(you can paint-match the color to carpet) only of course if you found the best speaker position. Than you can use stock spikes.
wig's avatar
wig
1,270 posts
 
I'm using Sound O City outriggers, it makes a big difference... See my pics
rtn1
535 posts
 
I'd also like to hear from people who have replaced the OEM spikes. I am using them on brass couplers on a wooden floor. There are so many varieties of spikes to choose among. Today, I purchased some of Herbie's titanium sliders to see the effect of decoupling the spike. The OP might take a look at the Herbie's page, because there is a product supposedly designed for rugs there.
raks OP
468 posts
 
Thanks guys. I’ve looked at the Herbies website and frankly can’t imagine how the products designed for carpeting would work for me. My carpeting and pad has to be a little over 1.25” thick. It’s literally like walking on a cloud. When we got that carpeting, I had monitor speakers on four post Sound Anchor stands. Looking back on it now, I wish we had gone with something like a Berber carpet. Not that anyone has ever bumped into my speakers, but with 5 granddaughters and a big dog that wants to play catch all the time, I sleep better when my speakers are solidly locked in.

Wig… I had the Sound O City outriggers on Acoustic Zen Adagio’s and they worked really well. That was before installing the stupidly thick carpeting. They’re also on my short list. One thing I really liked about the outriggers is that the longer very pointy spikes easily get through carpeting. However, because I have an OCD complex with having to have my speakers at the exact some angle, speaker placement with the outriggers is a little difficult.

What I like about the platforms is that after I determine the speaker placement, I can accurately position the platforms before placing the speakers on them. I’m going to E-mail Herbies asking if something between the platform and the speakers would be to my advantage.
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