Isolation Cones vs Cheap Cables

Cones, footers, platforms--they are all tuning devices.  As such, none are universally beneficial.  For example, if a cone does its job of transferring vibrational energy from the speaker/stand to the floor, that may or may not be helpful--if the floor is a suspended wood floor, and the system is suffering from booming bass, coupling the  speaker to the floor might turn the floor into a sounding board that makes matters worse. 

 In my own system, I use a Symposium shelf that sits against the entire bottom of the speaker.  The shelf itself has a compliant core (like rubber) that turns vibration into heat which damps the vibration.  This is the opposite of devices intended to couple the speaker to the floor.  This works for me, but, I've heard systems where such damping is the opposite of what is really helpful.  

I have no issue with people trying all sorts of accessories and tuning devices.  I am, however, a bit skeptical of those who report that ALL such devices improve the sound.

Most often it is the case that more damping and killing of vibration is a good thing, but, it is not always the case.  I heard a demonstration using progressively more extensive (and expensive) damping of vibration for a CD player.  This involved various Symposium platforms and couplers.  At the highest level of damping/'isolation, the sound became too dry and analytical.  This was the opinion of everyone listening to the changes, including the Symposium representative with an obvious financial interest in selling their top of the line product.