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Coupling vs. Decoupling for Bass Response

My work system is in the hay loft of a converted 100 year old horse barn. The floor is wide pine planks over wood beams and shakes with just the footsteps of someone walking across it. Needless to say it does not help my bass response. I have my LaScalas in this room, which are not exactly known for low bass in the first place. They have a rather large footprint (I believe around 2X3 feet). Any suggestions of some simple (re: inexpensive) ways to get back some of my bass that the floor is eating up? I'm currently using three cones under each speaker, but I'm thinking coupling may be counter-productive. I'm guessing that I should be looking at a means of decoupling. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Marco
jax2
jax2 OP
3,031 posts
 
Hey X- You forgot the mayo and mustard! Where do you buy PE foam? That sounds like the same stuff Newbee was recommending that they use on hard floors - otherwise known as anti-fatigue mats...is that what you mean?

Albert, I seem to recall seeing some pictures of your studio renovations to accomodate your sound system....believe me, you have nothing to be jealous about!! I tried the tennis ball suggestion but he kept chasing his feet around and making even more noise!

Thanks all - Great suggestions!! I'll let you know what I come up with. As I said, the structural renovations would be most difficult and expensive so I think I'll start with the speakers and see where that leads me.

Marco
xenithon
130 posts
 
Hi There,

I am not sure where you would get it in the US/EU, but from what I read on Audio Asylum you should be able to easily order it on the net. Here things are slightly harder to come by, so I had to go to an industrial manufacturer of numerous types of rubbers and foams and get the PE Foam from them. Wasn't that difficult really - yellow pages, 2 minute phone call and that's it. I even got it for free :) cause they normally come in a huge board of around 5mx10m but I only needed two small pieces so they gave me offcuts they were gonna throw away anyway.
jax2 OP
3,031 posts
 
X- seems like you are using the stiffer variety of PE foam. I would have guessed the more squishy one is the one to go for as it would seem to offer more decoupling effect. Here's an online U.S. retailer with a description of the different types of PE foam available.

Marco
gregm
3,415 posts
 
While you're decoupling them from the floor, why not couple them to the ceiling?? I do mean suspend them -- if you have beams that can take the weight.

Stop laughing, I'm serious. Cheers.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Marco, is this the system you have posted with Diesel in the picture? Nice barn! Just kidding.

I would try the simple approach first. Get big pieces of MDF and place them under the speakers. My idea is to spread out the weight of the speakers the floor joists are trying to support. The reason I suggest this is so that you can see if this cheap idea yields any positive results before investing a lot of time and money attacking it in a similar manner.

If the floors are old and creaky, platforms constructed of heavy materials may compromise the safety of the entire loft. Buy one sheet of 4" x 8" 1" thick MDF and cut it in half so you'll have a 4x8 under each speaker. If that doesn't work you might have to try two 4x8s under each.

Try the cheap simple way first! Or get Diesel to curl up in front the creakier of the two speakers.
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