General Speaker Advice and Recommendations

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by shotgunshane, Mar 7, 2017.

  1. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    My experience with spikes is that they are a great way to piss off your neighbours, decoupling all the way ime.
     
  2. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,276
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Spikes are nice if you have a rug you don't want to ruin. As for de-coupling, I don't see why should you want it, the speaker should remain stationary whilst pushing on the air load. I know that some argue that desktop speakers should be de-coupled to not introduce rattling, but that's a question whether your desk is crap or not.
     
  3. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    You can listen at about 85/86dB @ 1m, so about 80dB with 15dB of headroom for transient peaks on stuff with tons of DR. That's enough for an enjoyable listen if you can only afford one.

    Of course two is better and gives you more headroom.
     
  4. Poleepkwa

    Poleepkwa Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    I have been pretty surprised how much the feet does underneath a speaker. Spikes work well for carpet, but I prefer decoupling. Rubberfeet ala Genelec seems to work the best for my speakers too decouple them from the shelves. I also tried those acoustics foam pads underneath the speakers, but that seems to rob them of some bass impact. Some of those pad they sell to damped car doors (STP products) also seems to work well at decoupling.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Couple via spikes directly to surfaces on top of a concrete slab (first floor). In all other situations, decouple with rubber feet or wood plank.
     
  6. elmoe

    elmoe Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2019
    Likes Received:
    956
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    So first floor with carpet - spikes are the way to go? I've read a lot of posts shitting all over spikes for the most part, and I've been meaning to test it out for myself, but I am not convinced decoupling is a good idea on carpet. The Dynaudios came with 2 sets of spikes, long skinny ones and shorter thicker ones. I tried both but I'm not sure it really made any difference.
     
  7. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,201
    Trophy Points:
    93
    always decouple.

    purrin "coupling" with spikes onto slabs of concrete is effectively decoupling

    spikes on carpet would be coupling= not what id do. coupling a speaker that vibrates unto another thing that can transfer energie (floor) creates, by some law I forgot the name, more vibrations.
     
  8. elmoe

    elmoe Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2019
    Likes Received:
    956
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Thanks, I'll look into cheap options. Some of the decoupling options out there are ridiculously priced.
     
  9. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,153
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Estonia
    I like that. I'll put wheels under the slab, muaahaa!
     
  10. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,750
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    Home Page:
    I'm so confused. I thought the rule was to use spikes only if you have carpet. Now I don't know what to do.

    My speakers are on the basement carpet, and below that is the concrete foundation.
     
  11. allegro

    allegro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    637
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Florida
    When I was using NHT 3.3's each speaker came with four long spikes that were sharp enough to go right through the carpet and pad to the concrete, but those weighed 125 lbs each. If your speakers aren't that heavy maybe just use a nail to pierce the carpet and pad to the concrete to make sure the spikes make contact?
     
  12. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,419
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    .
    What options are you looking at? There are some reasonably priced decoupling options from this site:

    https://herbiesaudiolab.com/collections/loudspeaker-rack-decoupling-and-isolation

    Yep you should be fine.
     
  13. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    I don't know how these would compare to more audiophile solutions, but a few of these under my NAS completely killed the vibrations transferring to my desk from the spinning harddrives.

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/DiversiTech-MP-2E-EVA-Anti-Vibration-Pad-2-x-2-x-7-8

    I plan to use them under my sub and possibly my speaker stands depending on what they come with (just ordered some Pangea stands off of Amazon).
     
  14. elmoe

    elmoe Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2019
    Likes Received:
    956
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Thanks that's very helpful! I was looking at vibrapods + cones, but that's over $150 for everything for 2 speakers.

    I have the same type setup as @msommers, carpet on top of a concrete base, but I doubt the spikes are touching the concrete at all. Maybe I should try and Pierce through the carpet/mat as mentioned above before spending $ on decoupling.
     
  15. Poleepkwa

    Poleepkwa Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Those should work very well.
     
  16. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,750
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    Home Page:
    The spikes are removable but I don't think they're long enough to be physically through the carpet and "resting" on the concrete flooring below, despite their 75+ lbs. The carpet is fairly thick as the basement gets cold, plus the underlay.

    Perhaps something like these would be better to rest on the carpet?
    https://herbiesaudiolab.com/products/cone-spike-decoupling-glider?variant=12645103403063
    https://herbiesaudiolab.com/collect...g-and-isolation/products/threaded-stud-glider
    https://herbiesaudiolab.com/collect...ling-and-isolation/products/little-fat-glider

    EDIT: These might be a cheaper option that is more readily returnable if it doesn't work (for Canucks anyways):
    https://www.amazon.ca/SVS-SoundPath...ocphy=9001318&hvtargid=pla-307041973422&psc=1
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2019
  17. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,201
    Trophy Points:
    93
    sorbothane is the best cheapest material to effectively decouple the speakers down to 30hz

    use the right loading on the sorbothane hemisphere. it will cost you 50$ and be ten time more effective then those concrete base or vibrapods
    those are garbage.
     
  18. elmoe

    elmoe Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2019
    Likes Received:
    956
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Even on carpet? Just sitting on top of the carpet, and speakers on top of a sorbothane base, or would it be better to have a wood base + sorbothane in this case? Or does it not matter at all to have a wood base?
     
  19. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    8,973
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Home Page:
    Someone has had too much to think. :piratemug:

    K.I.S.S.

    I'm with Murphy on this one.
     
  20. zonto

    zonto Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,975
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Wouldn't a sorbothane hemisphere be much more unstable than spikes in tandem with something like the Herbies bases? Especially for heavy floorstanding speakers?
     

Share This Page