DIY speaker isolation base for a wood floor


A definite sonic improvement in tightening up the bass. 
1. Start with 4 aluminum cones. I used some old Mod Squad Tip Toes.
2. 16x16 slab of granite.
3. 1/8 cork.
4. 1/2 inch neoprene rubber.
5. 1/8 cork.
6. Top with another 16x16 slab of granite.
7. Enclosed with a wood cradle to hide the mechanism.
  The granite is from scraps from a shop and was cheap. The added 1/4 inch of neoprene to 1/2 inch thickness did help. Let me hear your thoughts.
128x128blueranger
I have had great results with Granite as a singular material.
I have improved on these results by adding additional materials and isolation implements.

Chipboard, is not a usual go to material, but it has merit for what it can do.
It has many densities available and is a great at eating external energies, as it is produced in various compressed states , it can be swapped out for other types and can be almost attenuated to suit a individual taste.

To produce the base,
I couple the Chipboard to the floor on spikes.
I put my Granite flat onto the Chipboard, I start out with no isolation separation devices.
I then put the Speakers onto the Granite and have a listen, I will use a variety of devices to isolate the Speakers from the Granite, from Cork, to Foam and Rubber, and then Spikes direct or spikes into a receptor base.
When this is as good as it can be on the ear, live with it for a period of time, and then see if there is a further benefit to be got, by using isolation devices of the same used materials between the Granite and Chipboard.

The above was the old way using available materials collected over many years.

Today, I would say, get a Slab of Granite or Chipboard on Spikes or both together if they are available as referred to in the above to be used as the base.
Here is the next requirement that has been developed from trialling different isolation devices on a range of speaker types.
Use dedicated Isolation Suspension Devices.
My experience started with the Solid Tech 'Feet of Silence' being re-purposed to a position under a lightish weight speaker, as well as Audio Technica AT-616 Pneumatic Footers.
They were set up under a individuals speakers who was close to purchasing Townsend Isolation for their speakers.
What was already a high quality presentation from a three way cabinet speaker with a dedicated base, was much improved with the addition of the suspension/isolation devices, and on the isolation devices removal,
it was very evident of the much improved SQ that was just being heard.
The individual bought the Townsend Products as the result.

At a later date a similar set up was placed under a Stand Mount Coaxial Horn Speaker, the owner of these is anal about detail retrieval, and had spent much time with his bases, where a sand box and African Black Wood was in use.
The Suspension/Isolation footers were sat directly onto a timber flooring, and to say the outcome was night and day, would be the best.
The Speakers owner has now built their own Suspension Bases using a platform that is suspended on O Rings, so there is a DIY option if a little thought goes into it.

Another option but not trialled by me but that is getting great feed back, is a method being carried out by a local group of HiFi enthusiasts, after hearing my 'Feet of Silence' under equipment there was a search put on to source a device that was much more affordable and comparitive in performance.
The group now believe this has been discovered, in the form of IsoAcoustics Pucks.
On hearing about the results that were being had under speakers with my devices, they Pucks were used under Quad ESL Speakers, the reports I have received are on par with my above reports on the improvements being detected.
IsoAcoustics have a range of devices, and there is a good used market as well,  to allow for a cheaper entry into any trialling if so wished.
The used market might also allow for the purchase to be comparative to the outlay required to produce a DIY version of a Suspension Device.

I hope this helps with your enquiry.               
 
  

twoleftears
1. Do Isoacoustics Gaias + cups isolate?

>>>>Yes

2. I didn’t say that. I said that via youtube and computer speakers that that was what the difference sounded like to me. I wasn’t in the room, nor, I suppose, were you.

>>>>>I don’t have to be in the room to appreciate how isolation affects the sound.
I concur granite is an excellent material, no doubt due to its inherent stiffness and mass (inertia). I have been using granite with my springs for isolation for more years than I care to remember, assuming I could remember. Ha ha Another excellent material is a slab of Bluestone, I.e., paving stone, a similar but less expensive choice. Available at many but not all Home Depot. The mass and stiffness of these slabs are just what the doctor ordered to push back against the bending forces 🔄 of seismic waves. The springs are rather good at dealing with vertical forces. 🔝
Ok Geoff I'm trying your idea of springs and a granite slab or 2. I would assume 2 stacked would be better. I'm going with nothing in between. I'm picking up the springs Monday. I will tinker with that. I will then see if the sorbethane between the slabs is a bust with the springs. Maybe skip that and go with the spikes. Thanks for your expertise here and thank everyone else for there sometimes passionate opinions.
The granite slabs should be fairly large in dimension, maybe 18x18. 24x24 would be even better, more stable. If you can find one slab two inches thick, use that but only one slab. You want to reduce Center of Gravity height, not increase it. How heavy and tall are the speakers?

Use as many springs as you need to get the whole thing stable. Minimum 4. Might need more than 4. Did you calculate the spring rate of the springs based on total mass of speaker + Granite?