Footers under new speakers

When using Cabinet Speakers there is a lot that can be achieved by setting them up to be at a particular Dimension Spacing Between Speakers,  Speaker Toe In and the Vertical Plumb selected for the Front Baffle albeit, set perfect plumb or with a lean towards the Listener or to lean away from the Listener, a 1/2" inch to 1" inch lean can really nail the presentation from the Speaker when the other ideal dimensions for Spacing and the Toe In are discovered for the Room and Listening Position.

The speediest Way to learn about changes without exerting too much energy is to place the Speakers on 4 wheel bogies/skids, this method will create an ’on the fly’ change option where Speaker manoeuvring is speedily executed.

Once it is felt the placement is quite accurate the Speaker Position can be marked on the Floor using a Tape of about 3" Inches thick, the tape is also best if one that can have a demarcation drawn onto it, as small incremental changes to the orientation can be tweaked using the demarcations.

When the Speakers are presenting in a way that is seemingly unable to improved upon, a cheap way to experience a suspended Speaker is to use Inflation Devices similar to those shown in the Link.

For approx’ £20 outlay, each Speaker whilst on the Skid can be gently lifted to take the weight of the Floor. This will supply most of what a purpose made suspension footer will produce.

Additionally it will introduce the Speaker Owner to how lively and precarious a Speaker is when set up as a suspended speaker.

When one is confident all that can be created as a betterment for the Speakers set up in the listening space is achieved, the selection of a Permanent Footer is then the next stage.

I am familiar with AT 616, Gaia and Townshend used under Speakers on Concrete Floors and they are all very very similar in what is the end sound produced.

I have also created a very very similar impression as the suspended method using a Five Tier Support under Speakers, being Cork Pads as the Base Footer(Isolator), a Sub Sub Plinth, Cork Pads as the next Isolator, a Sub Plinth, and then suspension or pad isolation between Sub Plinth and Speaker. The Choice of Suspension Isolation or Pad Isolation for the Top Tier serves more as a tuning method, than a solution. 

Sub Plinths can be a variety of materials and need not be expensive, alternating the materials to be the Sub Sub Plinth or Sub Plinth does at times create a change worth producing. A not too compressed Chip Board is one material I always keep available and ready to be used as a Tier.  

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=inflatable+lifters&adgrpid=1174279341628466&hvadid=73392707061692&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=41557&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-73392619677444%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=22610_2286972&mcid=b0ac2dff81c0317aa436c43098617e79&msclkid=e7f83436e928144258d35c731d0ba858&tag=mh0a9-21&ref=pd_sl_8exbaujyv6_p  

After seeing the following which shares similarity to my suggestion, I visited Amazon to see is a Castor might be recommendable, and then discovered the Castor Design in the Link.

These do look like they cover both requirements, easy manoeuvring and a 'on the fly' Rigid Contact option as well. A little pricey for a Temporary usage but not too much to instantly dismiss them. 

Where the footers also win is that a little thought for an added base plate 'if required' will allow for the Speaker Baffle to be taken out of being Vertically Plumb, and be tilted toward the Listener or tilted away from the listener. I have found the best sweet spot when a Cabinet Speaker has a forward lean between 1/2" to 1'.   

 "I was having to move my speakers around into the room find the best positioning.  Started using the felt furniture pads to slide  them out on hardwood floors.  Worked but to make it easier thought I would try 2” black vinyl castor wheels $30 on Amazon.  They are great for pulling the towers into position and I was shocked how well they sounded. Sitting on the small tips of the vinyl wheels with brackets sure worked for me." 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HOLKIE-Leveling-Workbench-Industrial-Adjustable/dp/B0C612VH9R/ref=sr_1_42?asc_source=01H8HFYCRM99TJ9FED7FSB1ZXC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uvmXF9j0gz9IcDtft8j9DfIpCxkRzQYx4erdWw7QdySodhbL7CrS4s9h6mfhVeAKe4q76WfndZYQCXCfrvFYXtljupJJz05qRP1n8a1uRcVjIrC3KxqFNlNs_ofac1U4wR7XfI8SBiaaqyTL6rBicFSWujmU_IDRL9vWIMufHf_cgi3oaK1ie9AgVpgt3qoxQGlo_R7g6FpAeyex9gYj3Rx5RNElJIrr5483TFBR6zErFlNnPQzcuexeXhhIrzn-_gKGY-Em4ctujDVq2iFPoVw2QJHePcVpxg8Bpm4nS5A.zHWE1-mzYEU_onlo0eOlLcfoYV7Hr06atGO085GGUF4&dib_tag=se&keywords=castors%2Bwheels&qid=1749493467&sr=8-42&tag=snxgb19-21&th=1

@buellrider97 An inquiry to attempt to get the full picture about the requirement for setting up the Speakers:

Are the setting up of the Speakers only with a concern for the risk of entrapping moisture under them or any other support used to mount them on?

Does the above concerns for moisture have to be resolved in conjunction with using a mounting device that must be used for the Speakers that offers a Suspension Function, with the Townsend looking the better option as your assessment? 

My Inquiry has been to see if my Five Tier Plinth Could once more be suggested as it need not be expensive and has proved to be very attractive as a Base for a Speaker, with almost parity effect as a Suspension Footer.

The Base Tier Isolator could be Footers made from a 3mm (1/8") Wall Thickness Metal Perforated Pipe / Tube of approx' 50mm Diameter and 50mm High, this would allow air to flow freely at the interface with the floor and Support the Sub Sub Plinth off the floor.

The next Isolators and Sub Plinth used, will then be the ones with the Purpose to assist with Leveling the Speakers and add further improved measures for Isolation of the Speaker   

To give a little substantiation to the things I am saying, I own AT 616 Pneumatic Footers in quite a large number of the footers.

The AT 616 Feet have been loaned out for a broad selection of individuals to receive demo’s of the footers in use at a few locations in the UK.

As a result of demo’s given, there are now Townsend Sleds, Plinths and Gaia Footers in use by individuals who have received AT 616 Footers.

As a result of being demo’s speakers with Townsend of Gaia Footers used others have adopted the footers.

Being fortunate to know how close the Townsend and Gaia is a influence on a Speaker Sound as a result of follow up visits and hearing the comparison, I can say in he homes visited either with a Speaker on a Townsend Support or a Gaia Support, the AT 616 when added is as good as identical.

A multitier Plinth as described produced an end sound that is very very close as a mimic to a AT 616. Either tidies up the lower frequencies and gives the upper frequencies new space to make this range of frequencies presence known. 

@buellrider97 I am trying to show there are ways to get much of what can be attained for much monies for a lot less.

Is aesthetic the trade off, not necessome of the arily if a little extra thought went into the end design.

I recently put a Link up to Barry Diament who is the Godfather of releasing the designs for some very common items seen today with large price tickets, but Barry's designs can be produced for very low Dollars.

Barry's Footers would be great for Tier 3 and Tier 5 used in conjunction with a perforated wall material as the Tier 1, on the Speaker Base Support I am suggesting and regularly use.

As I have a large range of Isolators I can play with the Sub Sub Plinth and Sub Plinth Separators and attenuate the end sound incrementally, but not substantially, as the Five Tiers does the Substantial Change when used as the whole structure.

In your own case Tier 1 Separators are with lesser choices as other controls are needed in conjunction with being a support.   

@buellrider97 has stated " I think the Tektons have quite a bit of cabinet resonance based on what I’ve experienced this past week as a new owner."

Based on your early experiences and shortness of a deliberation of the sound being produced, I suspect at present it is a condition met when in front of the Speakers that the source of the sound is able to be located by the ears.

The Box is adding a Sound that is not able to be unnoticed, or the Box is adding weight to a frequency that stands out for the locating of the source where the particular range of frequency is being produced.

To assist with taming a Cabinet Resonance, if resonance is noticeably present is able to done in certain cases with a Weight Placed on the Top of Speakers Cabinet. A 5Kg Dumb Bell, is a good start to lay on the Speakers Top Face. This can be moved around in 10mm to 20mm increments.

When the area is discovered for the weight that had the most effect at tidying up the sound produced, add to the weight, to see if a further improvement to tidy up the sound is able to be produced. If added weight improves things, tweak the positioning of the weight as well.

When all is as good as can be, live with it for a period and then try out simple isolators to see what is being added or taken away.