Under my tower speakers -- Isoacoustics Gaia, other options?
I have Ascend towers (45lbs each) on a concrete floor covered in thin wall to wall with an area rug on top of that. I am looking into different footers for my speakers and am curious what people with towers on concrete have tried and liked.
To my mind, something as expensive as Townshend platforms do not seem worth it, as they'd cost about a third of the price of the speakers themselves.
If you've tried Gaia III isolators or other kinds of feet for your speakers, especially on concrete floors, I'm curious to hear your observations. Thanks.
This is what makes these forums so much fun to read! Is this from the product literature or something you came up with as a conclusion of your listening tests? |
Only my experience and my understanding. Doubt any manufacturer would make such sweeping, absolute statements. There is a YouTube of Max T demonstrating the effect of the Podiums. There are 2 platforms. One with his tech and one with spikes. Attached to each is a wooden stick standing up from the middle of each platform. At the end of each stick is a small motor. When the motor is turned up on the spiked platform, it wiggles wildly. When the Townshend treated platform motor is turned up, its stick stands almost perfectly still. The most clear example. |
It's a good thing most (if not all) speakers weigh considerably more than a stick and are constructed much more robustly, obviating the need for a Podium to keep them still enough to be listened to and enjoyed with less costly devices. There's a point to where such isolation is unnecessary (and even overkill), allowing one to spend much less and still get great results. This kind of reminds me of all the isolation and LIGO discussions one member used to bring up, ad nauseam. All the best, |
Yes, isolating the speakers from the floor prevents the floor from being a passive radiator. But my floor is concrete with a carpet on top of that. I cannot imagine it's radiating that much. Then again, I just may be limited in imagination! Thanks for your report about your Gaia II's on your wood floor diaphragm bobbing up and down. You might not have seen in my OP that I have a concrete floor. @whiznant -- you have a wood floor, too. I have concrete but appreciate hearing the name Aurlex. @rvpiano -- thanks for your report about the concrete floor effect. Be nice to know if it's the height. @robert_1 I suspect you're right, but a friend and expert audiophile went from those cork deals to Gaia and had his skepticism overcome. Different speakers than mine but concrete floor. Hmmm. @mglik I believe it's a good product but I have to admit this claim is hard for me to fully accept. The videos are impressive but your phrasing, well, it made me giggle. Do you have another handle, MC ? @nonoise Agreed. There's a way in which scientific claims can be accurate but misapplied. We can measure things to the microgram, but that doesn't really help us bake. |
If I see my 100lb speakers wiggle wildly it will be due to a problem far beyond what Max T is capable of resolving. As far as components are concerned, I pulled all isolation devices out. Concrete floor and solid component rack is all that is needed. |
