Sonus Faber Guarneri - will any aiddtional isolation be beneficial?

I cannot say specifically about the SF Guarneri, but, with a lot of speakers, the use of an energy absorbing (vibration dissipated as friction/heat) platform does make a big difference.  Whether or not that difference is a positive, depends on the particular situation.  In my case, putting the bottom of my speaker in contact with a svelt shelf, instead of using footers, had a positive effect on the sound (tighter bass, greater clarity).  I have heard several other setups where svelte shelves or other energy dissipating platforms were used in lieu of cones or other types of footers, and in most cases, the results were positive.  I suspect that they work best when suspended wooden floors are involve because sharp cones would have the effect of coupling the floor to the speaker and making the floor act like a giant sounding board.

The only way to know if this is the right way to go is to actually experiment.  Perhaps, if you can find cheap sorbothane pucks, you can at least make a rough comparison of coupling to the floor, vs. decoupling and dissipating energy.

One option you may wish to explore is using the Townshend Seismic Isolation Platforms. I recently installed a pair of these underneath my Magico Q3 floor standers and they really transform the performance of the speakers by fully decoupling them from the floor, removing all transmission of micro vibrations to, and as importantly from, the surroundings. They are not cheap but given your investment may make sense, they are also relevant in any room setting/floor type. Some more details can be found in the thread I created on this topic and in my room description

Hi Folkfreak,

I am looking at upping my isolation game by using something like the Townsend Podium or Corners in place of the Svelte Shelf I currently use.  I would need the largest Podium (24" wide), and even that would not have the full depth of my speakers so they would have to overhang the bottom plate.

Do the Podiums you use allow for tilting the speaker at an angle (raising the front two corners)?  For my setup, a mild rake angle would be desirable.  Townsend's website says the feet are adjustable for leveling the speakers, but, I am concerned that deliberately tilting the bottom platform might interfere with the movement of the springs that provide the isolation.  

Which speakers do you have? As long as they fit between the raised pods on each corner it should work, overhang should not be an issue (as long as it’s not excessive). As far as tilt is concerned I would avoid using the podium to do that so as to provide as stable a platform as possible and avoid stress on the springs by having them at an angle. A very small tilt may be possible. You would be better off using the speaker feet to address the tilt.

The other option is to use the seismic bars or corners which are a) a little bit cheaper and b) would obviate the overhang problem. My instinct would be to go with the bars which I imagine you could level independently hence getting the tilt you want. Strikes me this may be tricky with the corners (with four seperate ones to level) but not having used them recommend you call a knowledgeable dealer for advice -- I used Analogue Seduction who were easy to work with

Hi Folkfreak,

Thanks for your response.

I have a pair of SAP J2001 speakers, although I have switched out its midrange horn in favor of very old Western Electric 731 b driver and a Western Electric KS 12025 horn.  The bass cabinet should barely fit between the feet of the largest Podium.  

As for the tilt issue, I would prefer not using any kind of feet on the speaker so that the platform of the Podium is in full contact with the bottom of the speaker.  That would allow for the best transmission of vibration generated by the speaker into the platform device for dissipation (this is what Symposium said about use of their platforms under speakers).  I could put the Svelte Shelf under the speaker and use either the Townsend Podium (with some sort of riser) or the Townsend Corners to support the shelves.  

Larryi -- not sure I'm confident that the Townshend stuff would match with the Symposium at all well. If I understand it correctly the intent of the Townshend podiums is to isolate the speaker from the floor and not to dissipate vibration in any way -- using multiple add on footers/platforms/springs may lead to them fighting one another which is why Townshend recommend you remove all feet when using their kit. Maybe if the Symposium platform is more an extension of the cabinet, then the podium/pods are the feet it makes sense? 

Denon 1, I think the G’s benefit from a couple of things. Like most speakers they are best when away from the back and side walls. As to isolating the marble bases, well i think that this may be desirable on a suspended floor, but not so much on a harder/non-suspended floor...or carpet. I have thought about adding an isolation base-- not under the stands, but between the stands and the speakers. This might prove to be beneficial....but it could also introduce problems. The biggest issue I would see would be that the speaker is now raised too high off the ground and the seating position therefore would typically be too low. Is there a reason why you are not happy with your current set-up?

I’m using some Soundocity SEV9 with my ProAc Studio 148s. Spikes to metal floor protectors on top of hockey pucks. Works very well with the bottom porting. Might put some thin granite slabs between the pucks and carpet

As your speakers are new, I would listen for a few months without changing anything. After that, IMO, there is absolutely no way to predict what effect  changing the footers will have without trying it. There are too many variables to be able to say which footer will sound best to you. BTW, those are absolutely gorgeous speakers. Just a note about Symposium, I tried the slim platforms under my Opera monitors and found it made them sound too thin in my room. This might have been good if they had boomy bass, but it didn’t work for me. Just try to enjoy. Really.

Chayro,

I completely agree.  As with any sort of "tuning" whether the result is positive or negative is dependent on a whole lot of factors that make it impossible to predict the outcome.  That is why I recommended some kind of cheap and rough experiment first before paying for very expensive isolation options.  By damping resonance, isolation devices will tighten up the sound which will most often mean a leaner sound; it is hard to say whether this will be "better" in any particular application.