AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Omega Speaker Systems => Topic started by: pursuitofnow on 24 Jun 2018, 07:28 pm
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Has anyone replaced stock spikes with the Stillpoints Ultra SS? Was the improvement worth the investment?
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How about ISOACOUSTICS GAIA III?
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Using Gingko ARCH 1's. Low cost option, they sound great under my SAHO floorstanders.
NB
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First question ? Does Louis prefer spikes or decoulping ? Allot depends on floor type. JLM can chime in on his expertise there.
charles
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I'm dealing with suspended wood floors, which has led me to believe need isolation. I'm willing to bet spikes are very good for the majority of use cases as oem equipment. I am curious if isolation will provide sonic benefits on suspended wood floors compared to the oem spikes? Is there a risk of reducing the bass too much with isolation?
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Suspend floor calls for decoulping.
charles
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I'm dealing with suspended wood floors, which has led me to believe need isolation. I'm willing to bet spikes are very good for the majority of use cases as oem equipment. I am curious if isolation will provide sonic benefits on suspended wood floors compared to the oem spikes? Is there a risk of reducing the bass too much with isolation?
There is bass and then there is "good bass". Isolation on suspended wood floors should provide a better quality bass. Meaning tighter, more defined, and sounding more like the instrument that produced the notes. It might appear as "less bass" but you can decide--quantity or quality.
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How about ISOACOUSTICS GAIA III?
+1 on IsoAcoustics. My subs have them. They work and are relatively inexpensive. My Super 3U's are on 24" stands with carpet, large rug and window treatments.
https://www.amazon.com/IsoAcoustics-ISO-L8R155-Medium-Acoustic-Isolation/dp/B008GOP79G?SubscriptionId=AKIAJA54JMESX73IGPXQ&=&ascsubtag=686782938-16-&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B008GOP79G&linkCode=xm2&tag=d_2b_a_p-20
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I use the Herbie's Threaded Stud Glider. Economical, works well, and protect my hardwoods. M6 thread size FYI
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my first preference is to use Isoacoustics. I use them under a number of speakers. My second choice is Herbie's big feet gliders. They both have a place.
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I've been using Herbie's threaded stud gliders on my SAMs with bass modules under them. Fairly heavy, particularly with the slabs on top. Louis is helping me upgrade to SAM HOs that will sit on those bass modules. I figure I am getting to about 100lbs each with the new configuration.
So, another option for isolation, and one that is actually cheaper than all those mentioned thus far (I think), are the SVS Soundpath Subwoofer Isolation Feet (https://www.amazon.com/SVS-SoundPath-Subwoofer-Isolation-System/dp/B00NCSQ5GK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1532447687&sr=8-1&keywords=SVS+Soundpath+Subwoofer+Isolation+Feet).
$100 for a set of eight with posts for several threads included. Can handle the weight.
No shortage of possibilities here!
........Peter
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I use the Herbie's Threaded Stud Glider. Economical, works well, and protect my hardwoods. M6 thread size FYI
I've used the non-threaded ones before and liked them a lot. Worth considering again I guess. Thanks for the thread size, I was about to email Louis.
So, another option for isolation, and one that is actually cheaper than all those mentioned thus far (I think), are the SVS Soundpath Subwoofer Isolation Feet (https://www.amazon.com/SVS-SoundPath-Subwoofer-Isolation-System/dp/B00NCSQ5GK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1532447687&sr=8-1&keywords=SVS+Soundpath+Subwoofer+Isolation+Feet).
I wasn't aware of these and given the price I guess I should try them out. Thanks!
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So, another option for isolation, and one that is actually cheaper than all those mentioned thus far (I think), are the SVS Soundpath Subwoofer Isolation Feet (https://www.amazon.com/SVS-SoundPath-Subwoofer-Isolation-System/dp/B00NCSQ5GK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1532447687&sr=8-1&keywords=SVS+Soundpath+Subwoofer+Isolation+Feet).
$100 for a set of eight with posts for several threads included. Can handle the weight.
No shortage of possibilities here!
........Peter
didn't find it anywhere that these could be used on regular speakers only sub woofers.
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didn't find it anywhere that these could be used on regular speakers only sub woofers.
There is "can" and then there is "can."
People have been using Blue Tack and random foam for speaker isolation forever even though they aren't specifically designed for that purpose.
My guess would be that anything that keeps vibrations out of your floor/stand is going to improve the sound you hear from your speaker.
I use some IsoAcoustics ISO-L8R stands under my pair of 3XRS. Importantly for the 3XRS, those also let you adjust for tilt. As another member mentioned, there was a lowering of outright bass output, but what is there is way cleaner. The improvement in sound stretches up into the midrange.
I bought them to make my relationship with my downstairs neighbours a little more peaceful. I was skeptical that there would be any improvement in sound quality, but I was pleasantly surprised.
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didn't find it anywhere that these could be used on regular speakers only sub woofers.
SVS is primarily a sub manufacturer, so that is how they are marketed. They are twice the diameter of most "feet". If you read reviews and questions on the amazon page, you will find plenty of experiences using for mains. Plus, I figure, if they are effective for subs, which have greater frequency related vibrations, they would be overqualified for main speakers.
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SVS is primarily a sub manufacturer, so that is how they are marketed. They are twice the diameter of most "feet". If you read reviews and questions on the amazon page, you will find plenty of experiences using for mains. Plus, I figure, if they are effective for subs, which have greater frequency related vibrations, they would be overqualified for main speakers.
I haven’t seen or read the reviews mentioned on Amazon or know the level of speakers being used there, but some soft(ish) rubbery materials can kill transients and dynamics, as well as slow down part of the spectrum...
For me when there is any sort of PRaT issue like that I begin to quickly get tired and literally begging to uncontrollably fall asleep. Like being hypnotized. It’s weird.
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Great info. Thank you.
I do have hardwood floor, which is glued to the concrete slab. My HO Alnico XRS speakers use the spikes, which were provided. In general each speaker rest partially on three spike, because it is not so easy to balance all four. So I was always thinking, that here is room for improvements.
Based on the discussion here, I bought last week the iso acoustic aparta 300 stands (note: the Gingko arches maybe better for carpet floors, but I am not so sure). They raise the speakers by 3inches. The soundstage seems to be more "free" and less "constraint". Impression is more life like with certain recordings. (note: The system is already excellent and it is fun to spend hours with it). We listen to Jennifer Warnes "Way Down Dow" (remastered 44.1Khz; here we did A/B comparison; with and without spikes.....heavy lifting each time ;-) )and some bass heavy songs: stardust (RR; Yerba Buena Bounce), and Let's Go Get Stoned (Carmen Gomes). For soundstage and life like: Melody Gardot (Life in Europe; 48/24)) and John Hassell; Fascinoma (88.2/24)
It is certainly another small step of improvement and I am happy to have done it (note: The amount of improvement seems to be similar to the addition of the JS-2 power supply for my chord 2quote DAC)
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Hi Ben,
Could it only be the change in position what makes a difference and not really a better sound? brain has short sound memory and every single change appear as an improvement when in fact it is only a perception but the quality itself of the sound does not change, only the brain that received the input.
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Suspend floor calls for decoulping.
charles
I couldn't agree more. My experience spiking directly to a suspended wood created somewhat of a sonic disaster. As already mentioned, experiment with various decoupling options.
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According to Yamamoto and 6moons, ebony footers under spikes make a positive difference.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/yamamoto3/footers.html
Can the density of the wood under the spikes actually produce an audible difference? I am using Cain & Cain Abbys (the same speakers under which the PB-10s were placed for this review) so I may have to try these out.
Review excerpt:
PB-10s as Speaker Footers
I've been using the PB-10s on my Cain & Cain Abbys for nearly 2 years. Initially I was looking for a cost-effective solution to protect my wood floors from the Abbys spikes. The least expensive solution which oddly enough turned out to be currency -- eight shiny pennies -- served this purpose but actually didn't work out for a number of reasons. With Lincoln's flattened profile providing the resting place for the Abby's spikes, any minor adjustment meant one or more of the pennies slipped from their spots and re-positioning became a real drag. I came across the Yamamoto footers on the Venus HiFi website and for $35 for four ebony footers, I thought it was worth a try. I've heard a number of positive reports on the effects of ebony including its use in Herbies tube dampers and Mpingo devices so I ordered two pair from Brian Bowdle, the US importer of the Yamamoto line.
When the PB-10s arrived, I placed them under the Abbys and there they've remained for these past 2 years. Why? Beyond the fact that they make positioning a breeze, protect my floors and stay put, I prefer the sound of the Abbys with the ebony footers. Compared to the pennies (nickels, dimes and quarters too) the PB-10 ebony imparts a tighter, fuller bottom end, improved resolution and I'd even go as far as saying the African ebony gives the Abbys a richer tonal flavor. I also prefer the PB-10s to the Abbys spikes going directly into my wood floors. So does my wife.
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Hi Jorge,
I can only say that the soundstage seems to be more "free" and less "constraint". If this is achieved by raising the speakers by 3 inch and/or the de-coupling of the iso acoustic stand I don't know. Maybe 20% height and 80% the stands? I enjoy this hobby since 10 years and have done some major and many small changes. My wife and I can hear differences of the power supply for the DAC or how the music is directed to the streamer (Auralic Aries femto: best is wifi; than SSD with Regen, worse is SSD direct). Since I noticed similar changes by changing the power supply of the DAC, I would think the difference are mainly due to the stands.
But you are right the brain can trick us. It is an interesting and very complex hobby to get good sound.
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if you think it's just the raising of the speaker's height then get a thick book and place it under the speakers to see if you get the same effect.
if it does i'm sure isoacoustics would refund your money to keep you quiet. :D I think if this was the case it would have been out long ago.
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Fair test from Marvda. I know there are hundreds of magic little tricks that can help to enjoy the sound. But talking about this particular, a book o something similar to rise the speaker might have similar effect. If not, well, then you have something really good to improve your sound.
When it comes to these tricks I ask always myself the same question: don´t you think if a speakers manufacturer knows that by using such isolators their speakers sound better, he would use them or recommend them out from the box???? and those devices will be common and extended to everybody? Just thinking loudly.
I believe spikes supplied by Louis do the job, but if I hear from the manufacturer that his speakers sound much better in every room with those isolators, I will thing about them obviously.
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I know there is an amp or turntable manufacturer that ship his with the gaia's. i'll have to find out who it is.
this is from stereophile:
"I first became aware of IsoAcoustics at the 2015 Montreal Salon Son et Image, where they had a demo comparing the sounds of two pairs of Focal 906 loudspeakers on Focal floor stands: one set rested on IsoAcoustics Aperta speaker stands; the other speakers were raised on laminated wood blocks, to match the height. All speakers were at the same height, with the same distance between the speakers of each pair. The results were impressive; the speakers on the Aperta stands evinced, to quote my show report, "a general tightening of the bass and less smearing in the midrange, and even the treble." I made a mental note to keep an eye on IsoAcoustics, and to review their products when the opportunity presented itself. "
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/isoacoustics-gaia-loudspeaker-isolation-feet#CDDvV753Hl3vHZ9d.99
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:green: I would shocked if you didn’t notice a difference..
Dwight
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=183820)
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Anyone would test placing the enclosure direct on the floor and inform me how much the bass will increase?
Thanks