Hi, Vernon. These decoupling products all work equally well. Each has distinct functional advantages over the others in certain circumstances. DbNeutralizer material is the common decoupling/isolation basis for all these different products. Fat Dots are made of dBNeutralizer. From there, adding a gliding function, grounding for spikes, or studs basically just provides speciality of function to the Fat Dots.
If your speakers have spikes, why not just place Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders between them and the floor? This provides great decoupling and isolation of the speakers and reduces floorborne vibrations generated by the loudspeakers. If the speakers are on a platform though, Big Fat Dots between speaker and platform do very well. Between platform and floor, Fat Gliders would provide isolation and mobility.
Decoupling Cone/Spike Glider and Threaded Stud Glider provide equivalent isolation and sonic results. Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders would be used if you want to use your present spikes and don’t foresee any difficulty sliding the speakers. If the floor is very rough or the carpet knotty or something to where lateral movement might catch and tilt the gliders, then replacing the spikes altogether with Threaded Stud Gliders would provide a more secure coupling of the speakers to the dBNeutralizer bases. Lateral mobility is exceptionally solid and stable with Threaded Stud Gliders.
Likewise, Cone/Spike Grounding Bases and Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders provide equivalent results. Gliders can be used on carpet or bare floor, whereas Grounding Bases can be used only on a bare floor (or very thin carpet). Gliders also provide mobility; Grounding Bases are like having the brakes on.
Fat Dots or Thin Fat Dots are recommended under platforms supporting floor-standing loudspeakers, not the more compliant
grungebuster Dots. Consider Fat Gliders to be simply an alternative form of Fat Dots.
In some circumstances, several different loudspeaker and rack decoupling products would work well. You might choose the least expensive alternative or the one that would look best with your setup. If your speakers are really big and heavy or if the vibrational environment is severe, you might opt for one of the beefier alternatives. Or, with an intimate knowledge of your system, just go with your gut feeling. You just about can’t go wrong.
Steve
Herbie's Audio Lab