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.

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In my mind at least, I do believe that the isolation platforms not only help eliminate the floor form adding to the sound but also vibration getting back to the speaker, especially with concrete floors. The vibrations have no where to go but back into the speaker. That’s how I think the iso platforms would benefit your situation. 
Kind regards. 

@nonoise 

On the contrary.

If the T Podiums have such profound effect on something as delicate as a stick with a motor attached, imagine what they can do with vibrating box!

@whiznant 

 isolation platforms not only help eliminate the floor form adding to the sound but also vibration getting back to the speaker, especially with concrete floors. The vibrations have no where to go but back into the speaker.

That comment, especially the bold part, has really helped me see why the "concrete floor" factor is not the end of the story. Thank you! I suppose I figured that the floor was so inert, it wouldn't resonate in sympathy with the speakers -- and indeed it would not. But the vibrations coming from the speaker is the key, and thank you for pointing that out in a way that made sense to me.

@sokogear Thank you for your recommendation. It's hard to believe a platform that inexpensive is out there as a solution. I appreciate it.

@lemonhaze I deeply respect your opinion and experience. I will read the link you provided and seriously consider the platforms. It defies my economic common sense to spend that much but you're making a salient pitch, here.

Ginko Audio has some budget friendly speaker vibration control. They cost less than $400 for my speakers….the Isoacoustics for my speakers would cost me over $1500

@lemonhaze Some very helpful conclusions from your article. I quote:

 

Spikes came about in the early days of wall to wall carpeting to prevent the cabinets from dancing around by anchoring it to the underlying wood. Beyond that, the audiophile world has been misled as to their purpose. Rigid coupling feet will operate and perform the same function as the bridge does in coupling the strings to the soundboard of any string instrument.

In summary

  • Rigid feet couple vibrations
  • Vibration is a two-way street
  • Spikes cannot drain energy to a heavier mass
  • A small contact point actually amplifies vibrations
  • Spikes cannot reduce internally generated cabinet vibrations
  • Question one-size-fits-all and no lab report devices
  • Isolation means the mechanical path is either broken, or the form of energy is converted to another form
  • Properly designed isolation is predictable, repeatable, and neutral in performance
  • Isolation will offer clarity that cannot be experienced with coupling, because with coupling comes additional, unwanted vibrations
  • Isolation is easy to perceive
  • Vibration transmissibility is easily measured