Footers under my speakers double the perceived value of my speakers!

roxy54, thank you for the polite comment. I attempt to remain open to additional testing/comparing over the years, and this has turned into an opportunity to demonstrate it. Technology, products, etc. change over time, so a conclusion held perhaps 5 years ago may be influenced by a new tech or product. I found Robert’s message here compelling, a beautiful invitation to put my current conclusions to the test. I left a phone message for him today, so we have not made any formal arrangements yet, but does seem to be moving in that direction, however.

I should state for the record here that if I do a review of Star Sound products, I likely will "go dark" here on the topic. I do not discuss publicly to any appreciable degree reviews that are underway. Often no one knows of them until they are published. Recently I mentioned the Pass Labs XA200.8 review prior to publication, but that’s rare. I would not wish to influence the review with side conversations; I would think this to be appropriate and understandable. So, if I were to drop participation here, it would be for that reason.

There have been other surprises before in this hobby, and I’m sure there will be in the future. In fact, one current shocker is the DAC I am now reviewing. It’s using ESS chips, but I have never built a digital-sourced system as erudite coming from a DAC with ESS chips. So, things, and perspectives, change - again, with the march of technological advancement. It is one advantage of my reviewing style, wherein I build many systems for assessment. It gives me more broad exposure to systems and situations of synergy between components, cables and speakers. The resolution of the system in this state is exquisite. In addition, the room has an ambient noise level of about 14-16dB (I remember one dB meter showing that is in the range of a ticking watch, higher than a leaf falling at 10dB) - well below the average quiet room in a house. So, if there is any change to be heard in a system, I will hear it. :)

On my floated floor, I use Vibrapod  under my 80 pound speakers, with great succes, I got more body and full frequencies,and music placement.  Never go back to Spike !

I also tried Gaïa, but the Vibrapod are a winner !

Isolators, cones, or combo?

I live in earthquake country.  Putting ultra-minis under 200 lb speakers does not seem wise for my speakers.  My 185 lb speakers rest on four widely spaces metal cones into a 12" thick 3000 lb PSI steel reinforced slab.  Vibration is not a concern from below the speakers.  I intend to purchase speakers weighing 600 lbs each.  No way am I going to mess with the speaker designers footers.  The thought of putting something like tiny footers in unfathomable in earthquake country.   My other 135 lb speakers also have metal cones but on a 4" thick maple block on a carpeted rug on a standard slab.  It has a downward firing woofer (among 3 total) which does not like hard surfaces (metal, granite, etc). that I tried.  Maple sounded better than carpet by a tad.  

Sure, I put footers under some flat bottomed older two way speakers for my video system that weigh under 40 lbs each and raised them off the floor (which is standard 3 1/2" concrete slab) and that tightened up the soundstage/imaging/bass.