Monitor Stands - Made of Stone

@erik_squires  

Agreed, (3) points are better than (4). Not to trumpet the brand but Live Vibe espouses (3) points of contact. (3) points will always equalize whereas (4) points are prone to wobble. 

I've not tried placing weights on the top of the monitors but I love the suggestion. Easy enough to try it out. Thanks. 

I was worried about rear mounted woofers until I heard a couple models. Both the Kii Threes and the Dutch & Dutch 8c's have very clean bass and great imaging (a tell tale test for any box suffering from vibration issues). 

To be clear, I'm not experiencing any imaging or excessive vibration issues. This project is more aesthetic than anything else. I just don't want to introduce something that would be a step backwards. I would assume most objects with a decent amount of weight/mass well anchored to the floor would suffice. 

I had originally thought 1/2" or 1" steel plate would be a good material but apparently any surface that you might rightly call "plate", even a very heavy one, is prone to ringing. Take note those of you with large DACs or Amplifiers. Easy enough to test, just rap the top/side of your box with your knuckles. Thus something monolithic like a good size chunk of stone would appear to be a better option. Not perfect but better than most speaker stands I've come across. 

Thanks for chiming in folks, I really appreciate the input. Always learning something new from you all.  

I’ve settled on Live Vibe Audio. Yes more expensive but superior to Townsend based on every review I’ve come across.

I’m glad that you are happy with them, but this strikes me as quite an overstatement. In any case, it’s important to note that the two companies are using very different technologies, as LVA is intentionally coupling components to the ground, while TA is decoupling. So the results are certain to be different, and will be subject to the preferences of individual listeners.

Maybe as a cheap experiment, try these for $54 that might give you a good sense of what springs bring to the table since Townshend is unresponsive, and very expensive.  
https://www.ebay.com/itm/134128587790

@whipsaw

If you understood what I said to be an "overstatement" please know I was only sharing what others have reported after comparing the two. Unfortunately I’ve not had the opportunity, so I can’t definitely say (yet). Once the LVA gear arrives I’ll get to A/B them with a friend who own’s a pair of Townshend’s.

It’s true these two brands are marketing their products using different terminology. From what I understand there is no such thing as "decoupling". Decoupling suggests we are breaking the rules of gravity, which I find a little disingenuous. "Decoupling" was probably derived by someone in the marketing department, certainly not a scientist. Due to gravity everything is coupled to the earth. The difference between the two is a matter of speed. Townshend use the "slow" option and LVA uses the "fast" option. That is to say Townshend podiums hold on to energy longer than LVA’s cones. Springs are meant to absorb energy, dissipating it as heat, but some will always be transferred to ground. LVA’s philosophy employs brass cones which transfer energy to ground much much faster. And in audio speed is everything. Speed is resolution, imaging, realism. Ground has much greater surface area for absorption and dissipation than springs. Not to mention longevity, I’d put up a concrete floor, even a wood floor, against springs any day.

I believe Townshend’s offer a product that is efficacious and has some great engineering behind it. But after putting in many hours reading papers on thermodynamics, cymatics, and seismology, talking to representatives at both companies, reading/listening to reviews, and employing a little common sense I’ve landed in LVA’s camp.

Now I just need to find the right kind of stone for the pedestals ; ) 

I had originally thought 1/2" or 1" steel plate would be a good material but apparently any surface that you might rightly call "plate", even a very heavy one, is prone to ringing.

A plate, on a towel, on your speaker won’t ring, but it MIGHT show you very quickly if you could use that approach or not.

The effect, when it’s needed, is not subtle.

If you try it and it helps, you won't want to go back. :)  On the  other hand, if it does nothing... take it off. :) This isn't like buying exotic fuses. 😂