[toobluvr]

As you have it, spikes directly to concret is the best solution. When it comes to hard wood floor it's little bit tricky. Can't hear any difference if I am using rubber feet or the spikes on my hard wood floor.

Neither can most folks.   They just won't admit it.

And even if observed sonic differences are minutely subtle, they tend to hugely exaggerate them....like they are night and day differences.  Even the itsy bitsy teenie weenie barely audible ones.

For an enhanced listening experience, you're better off drinking a double of your favorite adult beverage, rather than spending inflated bucks on snake oil and empty promises.

Cheap tweak!


 

[es347]

Not if your favorite adult beverage happens to be 14 yr. single malt.

[solentgreen]

Its interesting that some of us either find there is little difference when trying different supports, or prefer not to deviate from the status quo.  Which is fine; but in my experience, most of the better tweaking products, supports & others, do make a difference & sometimes significant improvements which are  easily audible on first hearing.  I guess it all depends on your system, and how it is set-up.

One things for sure, I have learned that you can never tell, until one makes the effort to obtain the products to try.  The good thing is that the majority of suppliers accept returns if you are not satisfied with them.

[andy747]

Hi,

With the Tuneplate/Tuneblock sandwich, the bass tightened-up.  The midrange and treble also improved - more detailed.  Soundstage
remained about the same.

See:  www.enjoythemusic.com/.../0108/von_schweikert_vr_4sr_mk2.htm

My VR-4 Jrs are sitting on 24" x 18" x 4" (W x L x H) maple speaker stands.  The speaker stands sit on top of carpet and are spiked
to a concrete floor under the carpet.

I spoke to Austin Jackson of Boston Audio Design and he said the Tuneblock S would work better than the Tuneplates.

Regards.

[solentgreen]

Many thanks for the information, Andy.

I presume your Tuneplate/Tuneblock sandwich is used between the treble/mid-range module & the bass cabinet?  I am using Herbie's Big Fat Dots here and from your description, it sounds as if the improvements are similar to what I got.

Your use of speaker stands is also interesting.  I have been interested in these from when Mana Acoustics started the trend many years ago.  And more recently, users of Sistrum platforms from Star Sound Technologies have all reported major improvements.   What do you use between the bottom of your bass cabinet and your maple speaker stand?         

[andy747]

Hi,

Your presumption is correct.

I use the stock spikes between the bass modules and the speaker stands.  I bought the speaker stands from Timbernation.

After the holidays I will try the Tuneblock S (Boston Audio Design) between the bass module spikes and the speaker stands.
The Tuneblock S is designed to be used under equipment with spikes such as amplifiers and speakers.

Regards.

[solentgreen]

In my experience, I got a lot more improvements when I changed the supports of the bass cabinet spikes rather than between the Treble/Mid module & the top of the bass cabinet.  For the latter, its the type of improvement that is audible, but which you would switch back just to verify.  But the improvements I got when I put in Herbie's Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders in between the bass cabinet spikes & my hard wood floor was so obvious that it just hits you the minute the music starts; similar in magnitude to the type of improvement on a major component change, like when I changed my previous SS pre-amp to the tube Calypso I am using now.   

You might find the same thing when you put in Tuneblocks at that interface.  Good luck.

[andy747]

Hi,

Thanks for the info.

Regards

[andy747]

Solentgreen,

Do you use the Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders or the Giant Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders under your VR-4 Jrs?

I  also failed to mention that I put 25 lbs of lead shot in each bass module.

Regards.

[solentgreen]

Hi Andy,

I use the Herbies Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders - these offer ease when adjusting speaker positions.  In fact, I was quite happy with the way my system sounded before and the only thing I was trying to improve was a tendency for the bass to sound boomy on some CDs.  I have tried different speaker positions but could not eliminate this entirely.  And my bass cabinets are loaded, in my case with 22 pounds of metallic beads (I wanted to avoid lead).  My VR4jrs had the later cone shaped spikes which I have heard is better than the original spikes.  So I tried the Cone/spike Decoupling Gliders hoping it will improve the bass; which it did but I was amazed that the rest of the sound spectrum improved even more.  As I said, it was the type of change that is so obvious that it hits you the minute the music starts.  The soundstage widened; there was a lot more air and a lot less background noise (noise that you did not know was there before) which meant so much more low level detail came through.   Going through my music, you hear so much details that you never knew was there.  It was one of the best changes I have made to my system. 

Do you recall the changes when you switched to using the Timbernation speaker stands?  Only thing to note is that your stands are spiked into concrete which probably offers a better anchor than my hard wood floor.

[andy747]

Hi Solentgreen,

I already had the Timbernation speaker stands before I bought my VR-4 Jrs.

I think I might try Herbies Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders.

Regards.

[solentgreen]

Hi Andy,

Herbies products are available on a money back trial basis, giving the option to give them a try.  Are you planning to use them on your speaker stands or to use them in place of them? 

It will be good if you can let us know your findings.

Thanks.

[andy747]

Hi Solentgreen,

I sent an email to Steve Herbelin and he suggested two options.  One is to use the Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders under  the maple
speaker stands if I want to move the speakers and stands.  The second is to use the Cone/Spike Grounding Base under the speakers
if I don't want to move them.

I have no plans to move them so I am going to try the Cone/Spike Grounding Base after the holidays.

Regards.

[solentgreen]

Hi Andy,

As your speaker stands are anchored with spikes on solid concrete, I suspect placing the Herbies Cone/Spike Decouplers under the speaker spikes but on top of the speaker stands will be preferable.  As such, you definitely want the Cone/Spike Decoupling Bases as you do not want the possibility of the speakers shifting on top of the speaker stands & possibly fall off, which it might do with the Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders as these are designed to slide easily on their Teflon bases.

Good luck and it will be good if you let us know of your findings.  Thanks.     

[andy747]

Hi Solentgreen,

Will do.

I'm also going to try the Boston Audio Tuneblock S's.

Regards.

[andy747]

Hi Solentgreen,

What specific improvements did you notice when you put the Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders under the bass modules of your VR-4 Jrs?

Thanks.

[solentgreen]

Hi Andy,

Sorry for the delay in responding; I was away on a vacation where internet facilities was very poor.   

Ref specific improvements when I fitted the Cone/spike Decoupling Gliders between the bass cabinet spikes & my hard wooden floor, I described these in my reply # 29 above.  Apart from the enlarged soundstage, the biggest improvement was the increase in air & background silence, which enabled so much more low level detail to be easily heard.  The improvement was so marked that it hits you the minute the music starts.   

[NB_Dude]

I thought I would post on this topic again as it covers what I have been debating with my self for sometime now.  I have my VR4jr's (first version) on a wooden hardwood floor that has a 3 ft. crawl space under it (room is 12 x 17). I therefore, based on advise in the manual since i felt I was lacking bass,  placed a 2.25 inch granite base under each speaker and currently have the speakers resting directly on the base with no spikes.  Now, the bass is great (without the spikes) but the soundstage is not as present as before.  I have been debating between whether having (factory) spikes under the base units on top of the granite slab or having no spikes is better overall.  I see some one above mentioned they have a granite/stone base under the speakers, are you using anything between the bass units and the granite/stone slabs ?  I am open to try things, I already have the Herbies special between the top unit an the bass unit and really like what it did. thank you any and all for your insight...Paul

[JackD201]

Spikes on granite, felt between granite and floor to protect your finish