hardwood floors and spikes

I always thought the point of spikes WAS to "drive" them into the flooring, in order to anchor the speakers securely. If that's the case, what's the point of putting the spikes on something hard, that the spikes can't penetrate? What am I missing here?

Bomarc, I'll give you my two cents (pun intended) but regardless of the theory, the spikes on top of discs have worked for me. The sound is much more three dimensional and the midrange is tighter.

Here's my theory. First, the weight of the speaker is concentrated on four very small points so the speaker is more stable. Second, the indentations on the discs further help stabalize the speaker. Third, your spouse doesn't kill you for leaving holes in the floor and everything sounds better live ;-)

Lak is on target. AudioPoints coupling discs have been a very worthwhile investment for me.

Bomarc, I believe the reason for having spikes, cones, or points is to provide a focused and expedient exit path for any and all air-borne vibrations and resonance captured by the coponent above them. This would adhere to the mechanical transfer to ground of air-borne vibrations and resonance principles (as opposed to isolation and dampening).

In addition if the spike, cone, or point is designed properly it also prevents any vibration from entering into the component, rack, and/or speaker. In other words, it provides a one-way street to ground(sub-flooring) for exit but not entry.

As for driving the spike hard into the floor, I've never heard that. I do believe that one should desire the points to descend into the flooring system but only as much as the weight above it forces it into the floor.

I know with Star Sound's Audio Points(TM), one simply rests the spiked rack or speaker onto the floor, wait about 7 days while a mechanical break-in occurs, and behold, there is music.

-IMO