Adding a Base to Floorstanding Speakers

Tpsonic, what do these "audio platforms" do?

Regards,

I have slender floorstanders (Ruark Prologue Ones) that are prone to knockovers (with two big dogs and a toddler running around the house). I had Sound Anchors make me some custom spiked platforms that replaced the largely ineffective plinths that came with the speakers. They are mass-loaded, and triple the footprint size of the speakers. Knocking them over would now require a very deliberate effort on someone's part. The best part is the way they have decoupled the speakers from the sprung hardwood floors in my pier-and-beam house. They are very nice-looking (they look like the bases you see on the Aerial floorstanders on the soundanchors.com website) and cost me about $250, with a 6-week turnaround.

There are several methodologies at issue here; coupling and decoupling.

Based on my experience, I would think that the goal is to expiditously transfer the vibrations and resonance away from the speakers into the sub-flooring system.

To insert a small concrete slab, may or may not be of benefit. As rather than allowing the vibrations to evacuate into the sub-flooring system, you may end up trapping the the vibrations in the small platform to which the speakers are resting.

Unless your bass is so ill-defined and boomy or your house is so old that there is simply way too much bounce in the sub-flooring, I would suspect that your present method of spike/points under the speakers going hopefully through the carpet and resting on wood flooring should be sufficient.

One thing you might try before going down another path is check out StarSound.biz's Audio Points which some consider to be the best sounding in the business and the geometry is such that the points act as carpet spreaders to ensure complete contact with the sub-flooring.

-IMO

Thanks Stehno for your advice.

Metralla,sorry that I didn't respond.I have lost my previous dog and have introduced a "new" puppy into my home.A real joy/terror.
I believe that Stehno has answered your question.These different technologies/approaches deal with removing or draining vibrations away by transferring or changing them into heat,via different materials.Whether to couple or de-couple a component will depend on the solidity of the rack or flooring.IMHO,only a trial and error process will determine which will yield the greater results.
I might suggest coupling to a 4" platform ,which in turn will be decoupled from the floor.I like the effects of wood,but there are other materials that may be used.
As far as spikes go,I prefer brass {Walker,Star Sound or Mapleshade,ETC}.Your results may vary,depending on room ,gear and musical preference.
Don't start with the most expensive approach first.If you find a solution,it can always be improved upon down the line.Too much of a good thing can also ruin the listening experience.
Let the experiments begin! Regards,Tom