Can foam padding isolate better than spikes?

Stanwal has a very intriguing point about the perceptions of "blacker" silences. I wonder if this blackness is enhanced by the fast dissipation of unwanted resonances being emitted from within and around the speaker cabinets or from the floor. Not knowing the kind of floor or anything else about the listening environment, I would suspect its the result of both which is creating an absence of unnecessary resonances. And its this absence that most purists strive for (do I sound like the professor on Gilligan's island here or what?). And then there are a few who can accept and enjoy a little added "earthiness" as their floor chimes in and the fleas in the carpet begin to sing along . . .

I am currently decoupling my speakers from the stands using FIM isolators, which are two cups with a ball bearing between them. I subistuted better bearings from Small Parts for the stainless steel ones that came with it. Disclaimer, I am a dealer for these although I have never actually sold any. On my present system I like this the best but very likely others might prefer other methods, you have to try them for yourself. All I will say is that when 2 of my friends came over yesterday they immediately noticed a difference between this and Blutaking the speakers to the MDF stands as I had them previously. One of them said that the silences were now "blacker" than they had been and the definition of the music was better.

i,ve tried everything over the years within reason financially like black diamond cones, vibracones and pods, foam from swimming floats cut into discs, huge concrete slabs on tennis balls and can never make a descision. i just have fun experimenting. i wonder what my system would sound like if i went back to 1970s with my luxman integrated and allison ones without any tweaks or high dollar treatments and cables.

It seems alot these days,cheers,B

Thanks for your responses. Yes, it is fun trying all these unusual tweaks and decoupling materials but the bottom line is what sounds better.

So spikes get rid of resonances quickly whereas decoupling materials allow the resonances to remain until they dissipate on their own, it seems.

Enjoy,

Sonicray

Check out Herbies Big Fat Dots and their other options.

Home Depot is a treasure trove for all these "McGuyver" tweaks.

I've used tubular polyethylene foam pipe insulation with temporarily great results. I would cut about 2 inches off the end of the tube and turn it on its side and place it under each corner of the speaker (20 pound monitor). Unfortunately, the weight of the speaker crushed some of the air out of the thin-walled closed cell foam within a few days, ruining its effectiveness. I also tried using it under each corner of a CD player with somewhat better results. Before the foam was crushed flat and lifeless, it seemed to drastically reduce noise floor and improve low-level detail. It seems to provide a fantastic suspension... for a few days. picture
I'm curious about how well that swimming pool toy foam tubing stuff would work. It seems like it would stay springy for much longer.

Has anyone tried using small sandbags as feet with any results?

Another vote for Auralex. I'm using them in a studio system under Dyn Audience 42's to isolate and tilt forward. Great product.

They are doing 2 different things; the foam is isolating the speakers from the floor, the spikes are coupling the speakers to the floor. The first act to keep vibrations from reaching the floor, the spikes to transfer the vibrations out of the speaker as quickly as possible. Either can work and which is best is case by case depending on room, speakers, taste, etc. As always use what you think sounds best.

Too bad you told everybody about it. This is how you could have made your fortune.

If you tried it and thought it sounded good with your speakers,that's all that matters.Are you not going to try it on your other equipment if someone on this forum tells you it won't work?Just curious.