Vibration isolation or absorption?

I have spikes under all of my floor mounted speakers into a concrete slab subfloor. Under my center channel speaker, I use springs which sit on my central equipment rack. You can find them on Amazon for around $30/set. These bettered other anti-vibration products I’ve tried for more money. I also tried spikes into the bases which did little to nothing for me. Things I listened for when experimenting were: less bloat/chestiness, clearer vocals (especially sibilants) and better localization of sounds.

It seems counterintuitive to have wobbly speakers on springs. However, I converted from spikes to springs a while back. Between speaker and stand. Stand remains spiked to concrete. Really cleaned the sound and opened up the imaging.

@audiom3 Im very interested in the springs you mentioned.  Can you provide the link so I can find them?  Thanks!

I would say, though, that the most universally-praised tweak I’ve ever heard of are the Townshend Seismic isolation products that are based on springs, hence my interest in the cheaper springs above as the Seismic products are not cheap.  But, without exception, the reviews and customer feedback I’ve read on all Seismic products have been exuberantly positive in every application (speakers, components, equipment stands, etc.) — something I’ve very rarely found with tweaks.

https://www.townshendaudio.com/hi-fi-home-cinema-equipment-vibration-isolation/

Spikes do not isolate, they couple.

Back in the 1970s and earlier, loudspeakers were often fitted with rubber feet that sensibly decoupled them to a degree from the surface they were placed upon.

Then, some time in the 1980s some reviewers began to try out spikes under their speakers. Before too long a whole sub industry had appeared, all on the words of a few reviews.

Such was the esteem the printed press had back then.

A decade or so later, enthusiasts such as the late Max Townshend began to experiment with decoupling loudspeakers from their surface, the same as the rubber feet had done previously, only to a far greater extent.

Only this time they had irefutable accelerometer data to back up their opinions. Lots and lots of it.

And so, here we are again in the present day, with decoupling now rapidly becoming the accepted norm once more. There are now literally dozens and dozens of manufacturers offering various form of decoupling products.

As they say, 'what goes around comes around'.

@soix https://www.amazon.com/Tertullus-Isolation-43mm%C3%9738-5mm-Aluminum-Turntable/dp/B09QC1DJXT/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3O9WPNIK3HIXK&keywords=speaker+isolation+pad+spring&qid=1680557813&s=electronics&sprefix=speaker+isolation+pad+spring%2Celectronics%2C143&sr=1-6

That isn't the brand I bought but those look the same.  Mine were from Audiocrast or something like that.  My Legacy center channel weighs 65lbs or there abouts, so I used all of the supplied springs.  If you have lighter speakers, just take some springs out.  There are 6 on the outside and 1 on the inside.  So you could run with as little as 3 for lighter weights.  As I understand it, you want them to sink down around ~50% in an effort to load them.