Footers under new speakers

@pindac I hear ya.  It was meant in jest.  The Townshend are beautiful and aesthetically designed to justify their asking price.

@trecool99 Its 30+ Celsius in the UK, the Control Centre is Struggling in the Furnace.

@westcoastaudiophile , Hi not sure I understand your question/comment. Why bother with the podiums ? FWIT I previously had JBL near fields on Sound Anchor spiked stands. They stood 4 1/2 ‘ and a combined weight of 100 lbs, they were spiked. I then had Zu Omens Spiked with great results. I thought there might be more with the ZU’s so I used 4” walnut slabs spiked to floor with the ZU’s on top various ways and it was a total flop. After some talk with Sean Casey at Zu he concluded that the back pressure sitting just above the carpet played well with the speaker / tube amp interaction . So this thread is with Tekton DI’s and carpet for now. I’ve read for considerable time about improvements with uncoupling and wanted to try. I tried the Tektons unspiked on the carpet , then spiked, then spiked with 10lb dumbbells on top to get rid of the cabinet resonance that occurred when I added the spikes. Now I have the Townsends and they took 1 day to settle. The SQ improvement is absolutely astounding. And I don’t have bias confirmation with my play things. I recently let go of my Harley’s and my snow skis and my road bike due to age. I reached my peak with my firearms hobby and cut the herd to about 30, with my class III stuff having to reside in a friendly state. I’m a definite Mid Fi guy and way out of my league here. As soon as I get my wife her new kitchen I can play stereo and dedicate some time and money to learn and enjoy. I won’t be able to try my recently acquired and upgraded 180 wpc tube amps until after this damn kitchen remodel. The flooring guy was here today and I asked about wool Berber to replace my existing shag rug , I had sticker shock. I might be on wood here too ! Please excuse me if I come across too blunt , I’m smiling. Regards, Mike B. 
 

The following is extracted from the recent Magico - Townsend Thread.

 " I actually started my most recent investigation into vibration by installing and seismograph in my home (on the same slab of concrete as are my speakers) and the vibrations are very surprising and consistent with changes in sound quality at night and on weekends. Also, I can see the effects vibrations transmitted to the speakers and the dampening of the Townshend podiums. I can hear the very obvious improvement. So, at least for me not Kool Aid. "

Since investigating Seismic Activity, when the World Stopped during COVID Lock Down, this was the period when Seismic Recording were at their all time low, Mother Earth and the Flora / Fauna was the main influence, not Human Activities.

A once in a life time optimisation for those concerned about Ambient Energies and Amplitude being Transferred through structures and then into Supporting Equipment used for propping Audio Systems.

I am currently using ViaBlue footers under my 140lb Legacy Focus XD's. I left the shallow spikes on them and those settle into the footers. You can push the speakers and they wiggle similar as to how the Townsend podiums do. I have not seen anywhere in this thread anyone using these. I don't know how they compare to the others, but my speakers have outstanding bass definition. Image well and seem to have a well defined soundstage. FWIW.

@fthompson251 , Wow ! Your system is amazing and way above my level. I was not aware of the Viablue products so thank you. The “ Wiggle Factor “ is totally out of my comfort zone too. My speakers are 54” tall and 115 lbs , and Un spiked on my carpet had about the same wiggle factor. However with the Townsends I’ve leveled them with a bubble level and now settled, they come back to zero when I manually wiggle them. I’m still not clear on the Townsends if they hang or push within the pods. Out of the comments I’ve received from people that have actually used them the vast majority are very pleased. I have cheap speakers compared to most and I had a huge improvement. There’s a thread that just started by a Magico owner and I would imagine that with a speaker that well engendered and at that price point would experience a lesser improvement. All I can say is , I was skeptical until I took the plunge and tried them. FWIW the price is received  from Townsend was comparable to Gaia and Auva with almost all that tried those against Townsend preferring Townsend. I’m not going to turn into a Fan Boy and preach the You Must Have mantra. By the same respect I dislike blanket statements like “ Power cords do not make an improvement “. I do believe that everything is system dependent and we can generalize but never be absolute. So thank you for sharing and if I had your gear my neighbors would certainly hear it. Cheers , Mike B. 

@buellrider97  To be clear the wiggle I have with the speakers mounted on the ViaBlue’s is not a bad or "rickety" wiggle, it’s just very clear they are decoupled from my concrete floor is all. They are still very secure. I was lucky and got my set before they doubled the price. I’ve had them a few years now. All my equipment has some sort of decoupling under them.  Oh and thank you for the system complement. 

I use 

https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/isolation_feet.html

on a hardwood floor. Under both the main towers as well as the sub. 

@fthompson251 , So I went over and rocked my speaker by hand and made a reference point above the front corner with my finger. The speaker can swing side to side almost an inch each way. Then it settles right back to level. I have two 60 lb Standard poodles and one likes to lay by the left speaker. The other day she bumped it lying down and had her rear haunch on the pod itself. The speaker moved and settled right back. I went over without disturbing the dog and put my level on the speaker and it was plumb. I think what’s most amazing is how strong the bass is without being planted to the floor. Regards , Mike B. 

@unreceivedogma , Hi thanks for you’re recommendation. I had a single sub that I removed from my system. However when I change room location and do my new setup I’m planning on running duel subs that are fairly large. I like the footers you have and am also considering Herbies. As much as I like the Townsend’s I can’t afford to buy more of them. I might try one under my TT. What to you prefer for your turntable ? My stuff is pretty modest by comparison so I’m really cost driven. Respectfully, Mike B. 

@buellrider97 

I have the turntable sitting on a cabinet that is bolted to the wall. So, no floor vibes  

The table plinth or chassis or whatever-you-call-it sits on some sort of gelled pucks that sit on the base. 

@unreceivedogma aren't your walls attached to the floor?  Structure borne vibration can also be a thing don't you think?

Get a couple of "Subdude" platforms and then spike or use whatever between the speaker and the Subdude. Cheap and effective.

I visualise a Cabinet Bolted to a Wall, being either a Cabinet functioning like a Shelf or a Cabinet is seated on the Floor and fastened to the wall the improve rigidity of the support structure.

Both Methods offer a means to act as a Rigid Support for a TT, and as a result of being fastened in place, will be less reactive to Migrating Amplitude from Ambient Energies within the listening space.

Rigidity and also being a Decoupled Support Structure from the local building structure is the next consideration.

Reducing through Decoupling the Migrating Amplitude to enter the support structure, does show as a beneficial methodology where the End Sound being assessed is evaluated. 

The additional steps are not costly, and are worthwhile, even if undoing a set up for a short period is inconvenience.  

@trecool99 

duh. I wouldn’t be doing it if it didn’t work. 🙄

While it does help that the wall is made of brick, it works with 2x4 studs as well. 

I used to live in a 2,000 sq ft loft. We threw dance parties twice a year. Up to 120 people jumping up and down on - and falling onto, depending on the degree of inebriation - a floor supported with wood joists. The turntable did. Not. Move. 

”Get a couple of "Subdude" platforms and then spike or use whatever between the speaker and the Subdude. Cheap and effective.”

I tried the subdude platforms as well, under my Thiel

Speakers.  They barely did nothing at all for the sound in my case, And if anything made it worse.  So I’m sure it’s quite Case dependent. 

A nice feature Townshend Podiums is their low profile. IMO, Adding subdudes then footers really throws off how your speakers integrate with the listening position.

I think I saw used Townsend seismic podium at TMRaudio.com $799 if I am correct. Check them out.

If only heavy footfall was the detriment of the stylus, there are a range of Frequencies that have been worked on to find solutions to cancel them in their transit.   

Here is another to add to the list.  Comprised of 35 individual parts.  

https://www.arya-audio.com/revopod