Speaker spikes-worse sound-what gives?

Thanks Lrsky.

Wow, I am glad I found this thread today. After moving my Tekton 6.5t monitors from the top of my low and wide wooden stereo cabinet to older sound organisation 25" metal speaker stands (usually sold to pair with Linn Tukans), I was getting a much bigger sound stage and imaging but also a level of harshness and edgyness. The sound organisation stands have some very aggressive floor spikes and after removing them, I am very happy. The edgyness and harshness is gone but the great imaging and soundstage remained. I also think I got a little more bass out of the removal. I have the stand bases weighted down and hope to fill the hollow columns very soon. The Tektons are both on spikes and also screwed into the top platform of the stands since I do not want my cat to tip them off. I was thinking of adding some blue tack / fun tack between the stand platforms and the bottom of the Tektons, but I am very very pleases with the results I have now. Who knew that the floor spikes could have such an impact?

Also, interesting is that the sound is different depending on the spikes you use.

My speakers are on a carpeted concrete basement floor.
The original spikes were replaced with updated ones from the manufacturer, and they did make for an improvement.

But I felt like experimenting some more, so I used some BDR cones in place of the spikes, and things improved again.

Then I tilted the speaker foward slightly by placing some thin ceramic tiles under the rear two cones of each speaker.

Now for the first time in over two years of trial, error and frustration,am I getting the snapped into focus I have read about with my speakers.

It may sound a bit extreme, but if you have the ability to place supports under the floor (like steel jack posts directly under the joists), you may hear significant improvements. I've done this in a couple of installations, and the improvement was substantial... helped with turntable vibration as well. On older houses especially, the floors really tend to bounce!

Cliff

I just moved my turntable to a wall bracket mount and has no skips / bounce when the kids scamper by.

Scott