Best Isolation Device for Speakers?

My theory. There are at least two issues to deal with. Draining vibration out of the speaker or isolating the speaker from the floor.

Each is helpful in it's own way. But which is better depends on everything in the system.

If a speaker is inert enough on it's own, then isolating the speaker is better. This is because there is a feedback loop that exists between the speaker and the rest of the system. Draining vibration into the floor will send more vibration into the equipment via the floor.

On the other hand eliminating cabinet vibration by draining it out may work better on a speaker that isn't very inert.

Both methods can and will make an improvement, but I've found that isolation nets a more musical presentation to the music.

Spikes drain away mostly low frequencies, so spikes on a suspended wooden floors may cause you to lose bass to the floor.

Cones and granite, especially BDR cones tend to reflect vibration back into the speaker. (I'm not saying the overall sound didn't improve with their use).

But the use of Aurios, Stillpoints, Darumas, Vibrapods, HAL Tenderfoots not only eliminated some cabinet vibration, but isolated the speaker from the floor.
The result was not only much more low level resolution, but the presentation and spacial cues sound more believable. BDR cones and other cones flatten the soundstage by comparison.

Putting Vibrapods on BDR "those things" or granite made the use of BDR and granite more musical.

(Caveat: I'm a Stillpoints & Daruma dealer, but utilize all the above mentioned products when appropriate)

I like the Symposium Roller something under my speaker. But, I got the BDR cones under them now since I only have one set of the Roller something.

First thing is, you can't "isolate" the speakers. The speakers are a strongly vibrating component, and they cannot be isolated from themselves, ever. If you think the cabinets are "dead", the driver baskets and cones are vibrating like mad anyway.

The ONLY way to deal with a situation like this is by a well engineered vibration drain system such as the Sistrum speaker platforms, or the Audiopoints. I have tried both, and the Sistrum platforms exceed the Audiopoints, in terms of performance. They should, because they are the next step up, and they cost more than the Audiopoints. But they are significantly better.

ANY soft type of material like rubber blocks or the like, will allow slight movement of the speaker in a fore/aft axis, thereby smearing attack and dynamics and coherence by doppler. They will also eliminate the path for vibrations to exit, and they are doomed to circulate and re-circulate in the speaker.

I have a suspended floor, and the Sistrum Platforms and Audiopoints have made a remarkable improvment in sound, especially in the speakers.

Another interesting benefit, is that you get another db or two efficiency out of your speakers, because they are operating in a more efficient mode, when the vibrations are properly removed from the motor. This is not a joke, or exaggeration. This is a real increase in speaker efficiency, and I have experienced it for myself.

I recently left the confines of working for a retailer that sold Thiel speakers..I know from experience the Thiel's will improve as much as any speaker I have ever tried either the Audiopoints or the Sistrum platforms on. It is because of the Thiel cabinet mass and density that the improvement will be so large..It is imperative to match the proper size Audiopoint to the respective Thiel product..Again because of their mass and the great amount of excess energy that these very dense cabinets do store..Sistrum Sp101 platforms are what I personally use under my still almost Dunlavy SCIV's..Tom

Twl is correct. I too have measured an increase in spl when using the Sistrum of about 1.5 to 2db.. This was measured in the retail showroom with an Audiocontrol RTA..Oh and these are not isolation devices and if you were to try to dampen or isolate the Thiels they would only gain in bloat and blurr.Tom