Boy, Oh Boy! Towshend!

The Podiums are, of course, designed to decouple the speakers from the floor, but when speakers are placed on stands, there will be some vibration between them. So even if the Podiums have their intended effect, they obviously can’t prevent interaction between the speaker and the stand.

Yes, you’re right. It’s a consideration I have contemplated myself actually.
Laminating a softer material to them can dampen the ringing and also move resonant frequencies outside important frequencies.

@arthur1260 whipsaw has brought up an important point, and I’m likely to try something like https://www.secondskinaudio.com/sound-blocking/luxury-liner-pro and wrap it around the uprights, secured with tape as a proof of concept, before trying something more permanent.
I’d prefer https://www.secondskinaudio.com/acoustics/mega-zorbe-pro
however the white isn’t going to look good for me. Maybe both?

Another approach was to use a corner foam bass trap and cut out for the front leg of the stands and sit it in there to help clean up imaging, as back pressure moving around the stand mount’s bass driver will be reflected from the front edge of the stand closest to the speaker.

To mitigate the seeming loss of bass, because it won’t be transferred through the substrate, using a TMD on top of your speaker, will tighten up the bass, the bass will be punchier and have more speed.
It will require tuning the mass, and playing with the absorber material, however even without precision, benefits for modest cost and time will yield good results.
http://www.audiopolitan.com/blog/eti-amg-toppers-review/

@audioguy85 - I'll be checking out atabites, I've only used ilmenite also with good results. Cheers.

@arthur1260

FWIW, I did not have a positive experience with the Podiums and my Harbeth 30.1 on TonTräger stands. I believe that there were two reasons, the first being that the 30.1 have limitations in terms of bass reproduction, and the reduction, slight as it may be, due to the Podiums, was too much, to my ears.

The second relates to the stands themselves, and likely to any stands that are used. The Podiums are, of course, designed to decouple the speakers from the floor, but when speakers are placed on stands, there will be some vibration between them. So even if the Podiums have their intended effect, they obviously can't prevent interaction between the speaker and the stand. I do not know to what degree that latter issue is a problem, as the reduction in bass was enough for me to sell the Podiums on. 

To be clear, they are very well made, and based on the testimonials, they seem to perform well when used with (certain) floor standing speakers. But I do have some doubts about their benefits with stand-mounted speakers for the reasons mentioned, and would suggest proceeding with caution.

@edgyhassle - I suspect (it is a guess, I will admit) that the bars do such a significantly effective job with your heavy speakers, that the small increase in performance the podiums may represent would not represent the bang for buck you have made. I think it was a prudent choice, one for which you are not suffering at all. And being able to secure the bars to the body of your enclosure (did you use screws?) would certainly give peace of mind.

It is curious to move such a heavy object with a small gesture from just the pinky finger, and for those who haven't experienced it.... They do settle down to equilibrium, and when music is playing literally appear totally motionless.

@arthur1260I agree its best to secure the speakers and stand if using them with the Townshend podiums, bars or pods.  It is pretty crazy watching my 125 lb 20"x30" Belles float.  When I touch them they move like a suspended turntable.  It would make me nervous if they were on stands.  Definitely want to secure them.

The reason for going for bars over podiums was due to the size of my speakers they would have necessitated a custom built podium, which they will do, but out of my budget.  Picked up the bars for much less and am very happy.  They told me that the advantage of the podium over bars was that the isolation was spread out over a larger area.

@arthur1260 I use springs on my stand mounts, and it makes a very significant difference.

You could use Blu-Tack to secure the flat bottoms of your stands on the podiums, or drill tap and bolt them once you’re satisfied they are the bump in performance I suggest you will hear. Bolting the stand to the podiums, or clamping them ensures security for your handsome looking speakers.
I just saw the PULSAR2 Graphene - just wow.

You haven’t posted a system page, I went to see if they have a space enough to pass a beam or something to clamp your tri-stands on podiums without modifications. You just never know when you might want to upgrade and sell me your podiums... (did I really just type that out aloud?)

@clearthinker  - you have inspired me, I'm changing my avatar photo.

I can't comment on the speaker podiums but I recently purchased their Isolation Platform for my VPI Prime Signature and it made a significant difference. I mean major! Highly recommended.

I’ve been using Blu-Tack for at least a decade. Yes it’s good, very good.
+1 audioguy85

• However I would absolutely use it in conjunction with isolation methods, such as well engineered Townshend products.

@millercarbon - this is something you aught to try, between your Moabs and the podiums. It is indeed a versatile and useful putty indeed (two indeeds, I really do agree). Also useful as a gasket on drivers (subs).

@edgyhassle - I’ve heard the bars on a pair of (75Kg) 165lb floor standers, and yes it cleans up a lot of energies, which in turn helps to make speakers disappear by removing colouration (good ’ol English spelling right there) :-)
Great investment in your system, mate.

The bars work exceptionally well, bdp24 is correct, there are many ways they can be implemented and assuredly provide gains for systems not employing isolation techniques.

Morning Miller
Boing boing.

@arafiq: The part of the Townshend Audio Seismic products---all of them---that provides the majority of the isolation they afford is the Seismic Pod, which is built into the Platform, Podium, and Bars.

The Pods are available separately in sets of 4, and can be used under loudspeaker stands, or secured to outriggers. I have them bolted onto my Sound Anchor stands, a killer combination. 

Do these work for stand mounted bookshelf speakers? Specifically Joseph Audio Pulsar on Solidsteel 3 legged stands. I already applied blu tac and filled the stands but I can feel vibrations when I touch the stands and I have muddy bass around 60-100hz

I use isoacoustics gaia under my tannoy ardens same result... An amazing jump in quality 

I put Townsend bars under my speakers a few weeks ago.  Money very well spent. Liked them so much I added their stands for the amps.  Also a noticeable difference.  I have tried all the home remedies and tweaks that others have suggested over the years.  Nothing comes close to the difference the Townsend products made.

I'm intrigued! What do you guys recommend for placing under speaker stands? Does Townshend make a product for this purpose?

I'm glad you tried them! Seriously there are a lot of folks on these forums that explain why this or that is equal to or better than what you just actually listened to! They have a free 30 trial! try them! I agree with fuzztone that your mileage will vary. I put Townsend Podiums under my speakers and they made a significant positive change. Townsend will tell you that the Podiums under your speakers are the best bang for the buck, but when I put my streamer/DAC and my preamp on Platforms and PODs they took a ringing/sibilance out of my system that I had been fighting for some time. I will not be without Townsend isolation under my gear, its was a system game changer for me.

I don’t know when people started manufacturing these types of isolation devices for speakers.  Does anyone here know?  But it sure qualifies as a great leap in hifi audio history.  Possibly as big as any other recent speaker technology innovation.  I’ve experience with the isoacoustics oreas and Gaias only, but damn, indispensable.

Haven't tried bars but they are all the same basic technology, the precision-damped spring. It is in a way just like everything else, just another attempt at isolation. But Townshend does it so well when you put a component on there it is not like it gets a little better, it is more like a significant component upgrade. Not a little better, a whole new thing. Really. Which is hard for a lot of people to believe, but true, and I only wish more people knew. So thanks for sharing.

Congrats Dude!  I love those “aha” moments.  First thing I want to do is post here and share with everyone what I found. I appreciate you doing the same. Helps us all achieve better sound.

I’m a believer in isolation for sure.  I will check into Townsend.  Just about everone who tries them is impressed with them.

Happy Listening!

For me, even cheap isolation made a noticeable improvement.

Or you could try some Soundocity outriggers combined with Isoacoustics Gaias.

@edgyhassle

Mine were on cones through carpet & clamped to the ceiling. There was improvement but closer to minor than major. I don’t doubt your wholesale uograde. Just no guarantee it will be for everyone.
Enjoy.

I'm not surprised.  Having experimented with spring-based footers beneath my speakers the difference was substantial and I intend to order Townshend Isolation Bars at some point.

Speakers blu tacked to stands is all you need. Stands spiked through carpet and in contact with concrete. Stands filled with atabites.....works for me.
Atacama custom built stands for Tannoy Eatons, built like a tank.

@fuzztone

Interesting, guessing that you had good isolation already pre-install.  I don't feel I did.  My source is currently my weak link with original Kugel Arm on the TD 150.  I feel that my speakers low end was feeding right back into it.  Wondering if I had replaced the arm and/or table first perhaps I would have noticed a similar change.  We shall see...

I just got 'rm. No big deal.