Survey on Cost of Loudspeakers Supported On Townshend Seismic Isolation Podiums

Gaias do work and that was my starting point in the cycle.

Hans was happy cuz his wife let him keep the Gaia’s. Folks that have moved up to the Podiums from the Gaia’s have stated a nice improvement. 

ProAc D40Rs (original retail = $12,500 / Rosewood) on the Townshend Podiums in my 2nd-floor, wood-framed home. My impression is that they improve the bass resolution greatly and the overall image presents well at lower volume levels now.

That said, I think I’d consider the structure of the listening room before I’d worry about the price of the speakers. Not sure I’d use these in a basement listening room with concrete floors. Direct-coupling via spikes might work better in that situation. Or at least, be no worse (for less money).

I have tall thin speakers and also was nervous about the instability created with the Townshend bars/springs (I do use their platform under my turntable with excellent results). I put flat multilayer Symposium Segue Stealth platforms (custom sized) under my speakers which added a little stability (or at least didn't decrease it from the spikes/discs that came with the speakers) but more importantly improved the sound by removing the internal speaker vibration to the floor. It clarified the sound and the result was more noticeable than I expected, and kept the tweeter height the same. Supposedly these work really well with a suspended wood floor which I have. Way less expensive than the Townshend options (bars or pods or platforms).

The improvement of anything you do depends heavily on your floor, environment, and speakers. 

Way less expensive than the Townshend options (bars or pods or platforms).

Spring support doesn't need to cost a lot of money, but you have to get the sizing right.  You could also try EVPs, which can also be DIY'ed with Owens Corning 703-705.