Isolation Platform to Raise & Isolate Loudspeakers


Hello All!

Today I purchased a couple of Auralex Subdude isolation platforms for my Klipsch Forte IIIs.  I own a smaller one for my REL T9i and it works wonderfully.  

The designer of the Forte IIIs has stated in an interview (I think) that the Fortes could benefit from being raised off the floor, but I also read (somewhere) that using spikes or something that does not cover the entire base of the speaker can create coupling/decoupling issues.  Who knows? 

At any rate, these will raise the speakers a mere 1.75".  I do, however, know that the Subdude is wonderful with a subwoofer as I have used it to great results. 

Does anyone have any experience with this issue/situation?  I'll certainly report back on whether there is an improvement.  Currently my Fortes are sitting on a suspended oak hardwood floor.  
128x128jbhiller
From what I understand (which is limited!), the operative function in loudspeaker vibration control is not isolation, but rather energy dissipation from the speaker's cabinet or frame.  I'm picking up some Forte III's later this week myself and I'm considering a platform.
Thank you MillerCarbon!  I think you outlined this nicely. 

three-easy, what type of platform are you considering? DIY? I'm super curious. 


millercarbon
Several things going on here. For starters its vibration control. Can’t be isolation because, well imagine perfect isolation: speaker levitating, just floating in space. But the speaker, in order to make any sound at all the drivers have to move. F=ma, every force needs an opposing force, the isolated speaker has only its own mass. Total flop, drain all the energy, a fact proven as easily as putting the speaker on an inner tube or even a couple sheets of sorbothane. So forget isolation.

>>>>Isolation devices act as mechanical low pass filters. Nobody ever claimed it was perfect. Give me a break! The isolation effectiveness of an iso device depends on several factors, including the resonant frequency of the device - the lower the Fr the lower the percent transmission of vibration as you go up in frequency of vibration. AND as we’ve seen in the YouTube video from Max Townshend, speaker isolation has two primary functions - it prevents mechanical feedback to the front end electronics via the floor and reduces speaker cabinet resonance. Since speakers generally don’t have much energy below say 30 Hz isolating them is VERY effective since the percent of isolation for mass on spring devices is higher than 99.9% above 30 Hz. Problem solved! 🤗
@jbhiller 

I'm considering a Symposium Acoustics Svelte speaker set.  I'm using their Foundation Rack and a couple of other platforms with good results under other gear.

https://i.postimg.cc/cHTTzrtT/sveltespeakerset.jpg