Isoacoustics Gaia Speaker Footers


Replacing the spikes in my Soundocity outriggers (Soundocity made me a set of outriggers with threaded holes) with the Isoacoustics Gaia 2 footers has improved the sound of my Merlin VSM speakers.  They now sound more open and articulate than with any combination of Z-feet or other spikes, with or without outriggers, on the floor or on a platform, that I've tried.  Like the Townshend products the Gaia footers completely decouple the speakers from the floor, allowing them to float.  See:

http://www.audiostream.com/content/isoacoustics-gaia-isolation-pucks#IVXH8EtVAjQdwbuj.97     

http://www.isoacoustics.com/products/gaia-series/gaia-i/


cellcbern

Showing 3 responses by avhifidelity

Took them off and sent back to the dealer. They weren’t an improvement in my system... Just sounded diffused, floating, at the expense of center imaging and texture in the vocals...chalking it up to personal taste, unfortunately not mine.
Yes, the logo is facing the front on all footers and nuts tighten.   The speakers are on Berber carpet, which is low profile carpet... not sure if using Gaia carpet spikes would make much of a difference.  
By the way, I did check out some of the comparisons on You Tube.  Check out this one, which is I think what Jim Austin at Stereophile commented, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SiloqE18DQ.  This is very similar to the difference I’m hearing on the Focal1038BE. 
I would be curious to know the experience of others in comparing to this demo, if you are hearing much greater sound difference.

Ok, with all the rave about these ISO Accoustics footers, I bought two sets of the Gaia II for my Focal 1038BE and installed them yesterday.  So far first impression over two days is mixed... not sure if I would say I heard an improvement, as many have expressed from their experience, but probably more so sounding different, and more a matter of taste. 
I echo Jim Austin’s impression on these from his assessment.. at
https://www.stereophile.com/content/focal-naim-isoacoustics-and-damnedest-audio-demo-ive-ever-experienced

“The soundstage flattened—in the sense of becoming less center-filled and curved around to the sides. Now it extended straight out beyond the edges of the speakers. When I say it flattened, I do not mean that soundstage depth collapsed. It didn't. Instead I mean that the sonic canvas, which previously had been a bit loose, suddenly stretched tight.

...The effect on the soundstage, described above, is, I think, a matter of taste. You might prefer the greater concentration of the image toward the center, as presented by the speakers with spikes...“

With the Gaia II, I sacrificed a greater concentration of center imaging (which I prefer) with a diffuser extension of the soundstage that I guess many may call that an improvement.  

I will give it a week or two to see if anything changes to my liking before deciding to keep or return them.  

I’ve already spent thousands on cables and quite happy with my system and these Gaia were supposed to be a game changer, but so far I think it comes down to matter of taste, and I suppose if it is to one’s liking, then they are an improvement but so far not for me.