To couple, or not to couple, that is the question


There seems to be a fundamental difference of opinion between those who would couple their speakers to the floor (e.g., with spikes), and those who would decouple them (e.g., with springs). I’ve gone both ways, but have found that I prefer the latter; I’ve currently got Sorbothane feet attached to my tower speakers, so that they wobble or "float"—much like the Townshend Platforms videos show for that similar, but more expensive, approach. My ears are the final arbiters of my listening experience, so they rule my choices. But my mind likes to have a theoretical explanation to account for my subjective preferences.

That’s where the question comes in. A very knowledgable audiophile friend insists that what I prefer is precisely the opposite of what is best: that ideally, the speaker enclosure should be as rigid and immovable as possible so that the moving cones of the drivers can both most efficiently and most accurately create a sound front free of the inevitable colorations that would come from fighting against a moving cabinet. He says that transients will be muddied by the motion of the cabinet set up by the motion of the speaker cones. And this makes perfect sense to me in terms of my physical intuitions. It’s perhaps analogous to the desirability of having a rigid frame in a high-performance vehicle, which allows the engineers to design the suspension without having to worry too much about the complex interactions with a flexing chassis.

Am I just deluded, then, in preferring a non-rigid interface between speaker and floor? Or does it depend on the kind of floor? (I get that most advice seems to favor decoupling from a suspended wood floor, and coupling to a slab; my floor is hardwood, but not exactly "suspended" as the underflooring structure is very rigid.) Or are there trade offs here, as there usually are in such options: do I gain something (but what, and how?) even as I lose something else (i.e., clean transients, especially in bass tones)?

The ears will win this contest, but I like to have my mind on board if possible. So thanks for any input you may have on this question.

128x128snilf

I too use Sorbothane hemispheres as isolators.

The argument that convinced me to isolate speakers says that coupled speakers waste energy by delivering part of their energy into the floor or speaker stands.

Every speaker I have sounds better isolated.

And some speakers never sounded quite right until they were isolated.

Post removed 

Springs and the podiums make me think I’m hearing more details. The bass line sounds distinct and easy to follow. Again, I think this is true, I’m not trying to sell the idea or suggest owning the truth on the matter.

Before trying the podiums, I used the Nobsound springs and ‘thought’ I heard improved clarity. I ordered the podiums with an option to return, but did not.

I moved the springs to another set of standmount speakers, and like the sound. 
 

Bottom line for me is I prefer decoupling in my set up over spikes into my slab. 
 

Your pal,

uncle demp

I for one am certainly all about "becoming one with the understanding of worldly functions" which is why I am deeply shocked to learn that the decoupling solution I am using under my speakers is "based on theorems or storyboarding marketers."  Simply a "baseless opinion rendered by marketers, accessory salespeople, and audio reviewers" that is "taking you aboard the mystical Ripley’s train." 

Robert, believe it or not, you are trying too hard.

Post removed