AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Daedalus Audio => Topic started by: david12 on 18 Aug 2011, 08:03 pm
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I don't think this topic has come up before. I thought it might be worth sharing some results of my trials of different isolation and hearing other peoples experience. I use the DA-RMa's so that includes two areas for adding isolation, between the stand and the floor and tha maple/walnut isolation slab and the stand below.
I had to change the spikes under the stand out of necessity. My wife wanted to reduce the height of the stand by over 2 inches to reduce the speakers profile. Unfortunately that dropped the soundstage a bit and I needed to cant the front of the speaker up a few degrees to compensate. I found Eden sound in New England who make very substantial beautifully turned brass spikes at a reasonable price, much cheaper than say Cardas or Mapleshade. They can be made of different heights to your personal order. 2 lower threaded spikes at the back with a taller unthreaded at the front allows for various angles by moving the front spike backwards and forwards and clearly improved the soundstage.
As for isolation between the stand and maple slab. I noticed Lou used Equaracks I believe, at the 09 RMAF. Well they were simply too expensive for me. I had some Symposium Rollerblock juniors which I have been using to good effect, over the last year. In fact we used them at the Heathrow show in April and Lou I believe felt they were of benefit. They make the speakers wobble like a jelly if you push them, but that's OK.
I plan to get rid of my rollerblocks and svelte shelf and recently grabbed some finite element ceraballs when they came up second hand. I like the companies products and use 4 of the large Cerabases under my rack. Well the Ceraballs are a clear winner over the Rollerballs. The sound is crisper better defined with cleaner imaging.
It seems to be worth trying to improve isolation on the speakers, which the Maple and Walnut wafer does of course anyway. Excellent though the speakers are, perhaps you can squeeze a bit more performance out of them.
Does anyone else have any experience in trying out different feet and spikes?
David
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Herbies studded gliders IMO are awesome. Easy to move speak position, improvment in SQ, won't hurt the floors , come in diff sizes.
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Herbies studded gliders IMO are awesome. Easy to move speak position, improvment in SQ, won't hurt the floors , come in diff sizes.
+1 :thumb:
Laura
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My DA-1.1s have felt between the speaker and the maple/walnut bases. I have adjustable brass spikes sitting on Herbies Gliders. I just order adjustable outriggers from Lou and when they arrive I will replace the adjustable spikes and use the outriggers under the bases. I no longer use the walnut slabs under the maple/walnut bases and prefer the sound without the slabs.
Laura
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+1 on sound w/just the maple/walnut bases but then 1.1s and Us are taller so Darmas might need a lil more height boost.
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thanks for starting this thread David.
I'm now offering the Soundocity outriggers as an option. I'm very pleased with the improvements in sound as well as visually and stability. Paul @ Soundocity is making a special version for me, they are 3/8" thick steel. I'll have pics up soon.
I feel the preferred arraignment is the what Laura described, the outriggers bolted to the maple slabs and the speakers setting on the slabs. the Athena does not require maple slabs as I have built a large mass of maple into the bottom of the cabinet.
thanks,
lou
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I should have said, I use Herbies gliders too, under the spikes. I thought of them as improving mobilty rather than improving isolation, maybe I'm wrong.
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I have Soundcity Outriggers w/ the pretty 1.50" cones sitting in Herbies Gliders for my Ulysses... I had a friend/professional drill my maple/walnut slab for the outriggers. Very nice look and perfect hight for my needs.
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I had to share this guys. Just had the chance of picking up some Track Audio isolation spikes and have tried them out. Well I never really anticipated such a difference. Dynamics, base, imaging particularly and even the soundstage has widened appreciably. A genuine, immediate and easily heard upgrade on the spikes I have been using.
I know Lou believes in the SoundCity riggers and I am sure they are very good, but this Track Audio kit, is quite remarkable. I think they are available through Music Direct and they are avaiable with thread adaptors for Daedalus Speakers. If you can get hold of some, I urge you to try, particularly if you can get them on sale or return. If anyone uses Sound City I would love to hear what the comparison is.
http://www.trackaudio.co.uk/spike/spike.html
David
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I became aware of the Track Audio products several months ago and they are indeed available thru MD. I had yet to read a user's review of the spikes before and I thank you. In fact the only review of their products I had come across was this of their Isolation Feet. http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/track_audio_spike_kits.htm A nice explanation of how they're made and function.
I've read where you say you're using the spikes. But just to be clear you are using the speaker spikes and not the Isolation Feet? The speaker spikes are $120 at MD for a set of eight. Enough for a pair of speakers. The Isolation feet are $650 for a set of four at MD enough for one speaker and two would be needed for a pair of speakers at $1300. Here's the MD listing for Track Audio if anyone's interested. http://www.musicdirect.com/c-626-accessories.aspx?sortfield=Popularity&sortdirection=DESC&perpage=24&BrandFilterID=915&
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No, sorry, I did mean the isolation feet, not the spikes. I agree about the price, they are'nt cheap, but they are beautifully made and engineered. I don't know if Music Direct will lend them out at all.
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I see. Were they the decoupled or the solid/coupled style?
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Coupled, with adaptors suitable for Lou's speakers, 1/4 inch, 20 thread. They can be used with or without the cups, I have only tried with the cups so far. I have seen a report saying speakers were better without.
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Thanks for the info! I appreciate it. :thumb: Here in the US I believe they charge extra for the cups even though it looks like from the pics of the box the isolators come in that there are cutouts for the cups. :? If you ever try them without the cups please report back on your findings. :D
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In the UK, they come wth the cups. I tried without them today and the difference is marginal. I would say different rather than one being better than the other. If they are costly, I don't know why they could'nt be used with any cups, the technology is in the feet, not the cup. Best wishes
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Thanks for the info!!! I appreciate it.
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I've got the DA-1.1AP's and am using some custom made Soundocity outriggers bolted directly to the bottom of the cabinet with a layer of Acoustech Vibration Damping Material sandwiched between the outriggers and the speaker bottom. The outriggers are 3/8" thick steel with slightly rounded ends. The dampening material comes in sheets which when cut in half are the exact dimension of the width and space between the outrigger bolts. These absorb vibration from the speaker bottom and thereby lessen the amount transmitted to the outriggers and thus the floor itself. I'm very happy with this arrangement.
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I know that Lou thinks highly of Soundcity and I would love to hear if anyone does a comparison with Track Audio. I can't see it happening though, unless someone gets Music Direct to let out a demo set. They are too expensive to buy without an audition.
Come to think of it, I think Lou used some Track Audio feet when he came over to do the London Show 2 years ago, but under the amplifiers, not the speakers. The manufacturer was lending them out for use in the demo rooms.
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I know that Lou thinks highly of Soundcity and I would love to hear if anyone does a comparison with Track Audio. I can't see it happening though, unless someone gets Music Direct to let out a demo set. They are too expensive to buy without an audition.
David,
I agree with you that the Track Audio at over $1,300 for a pair of speakers is way too expensive for anyone to buy without a demo. As indicated above, I have the Soundocity outriggers on the maple/walnut sandwich block with the outrigger spikes sitting on Herbies decoupling gliders and I am very satisfied. I cannot imagine I could get anywhere close to a $1,300 improvement in sound over what I have now with my DA-1.1s (with All Poly XO), the maple/walnut sandwich, the outriggers and Herbies gliders.
Laura
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Laura,
I did'nt realise the feet were so costly in the US. Mine cost a little over half the US cost, although I did get a deal. At $1300, I would question their practicality too.
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That's quite a difference. Obviously the extra cost isn't simply from the price of shipping.
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I've got the DA-1.1AP's and am using some custom made Soundocity outriggers bolted directly to the bottom of the cabinet with a layer of Acoustech Vibration Damping Material sandwiched between the outriggers and the speaker bottom. The outriggers are 3/8" thick steel with slightly rounded ends. The dampening material comes in sheets which when cut in half are the exact dimension of the width and space between the outrigger bolts. These absorb vibration from the speaker bottom and thereby lessen the amount transmitted to the outriggers and thus the floor itself. I'm very happy with this arrangement.
Did you get the damping material from Acoustic Sounds?
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Yes, I ordered the Acustech Dampening Material directly from Acoustic Sounds. I think it was under $20 for two sheets which was exactly what I needed for all four outriggers.
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Great! Thanks.