Magico Pods vs Townshend Seismic Platforms

No, but the huge difference here is going to be in low-frequency isolation, and whether your application even benefits from that. Being a "hard" interface, the Magicos won’t touch low frequencies. The killer application of Townshend is for turntables, where this matters a lot - and I’ve used them here; they’re great. I don’t really see a convincing arguments for or against with Townshend applied to speakers, though I know they push hard for this in their marketing. Frankly, I’m not putting tall & heavy speakers on springs no matter what they say. 

Meanwhile, Magico is pushing constrained layer damping’s ability to convert vibration energy into heat. But has there EVER been any study into how effective this actually is? What % gets converted to heat before it passes through the interface ONE TIME (not "many" times, as that’s too late)? I’m skeptical that this is very much at all, and that effective isolation is about redirecting energy much more than it is about conversion into heat (I'm sure their feet achieve redirection too, at least for some frequencies).

I may be an outlier here but I have tried isolation platforms under my speakers, more than one pair, and can't say that I have ever heard a noticeable improvement in sound.  For me, it has always begged the question, if putting your speakers on platforms was the way to go, then why don't all the high end speakers come with isolation platforms from the factory?   You spend $50,000 on a set of speakers but they don't really sound their best until you spend another $5000 on a pair of Townsend Platforms?  How much of our hobby is science and how much is just Kool Aid?  Fair to say in this hobby, you'll never go thirsty. 🤣

@bigtwin 

Great question. I do not understand why a speaker costing many tens of thousands sounds so much better with Townshend Podiums, they just do for the vast majority of people. It is because of the vibration isolation and reduction. But that is as far as I can tell.

Why don't speaker manufacturers incorporate them... another good question. However, if you measure or watch the video on Townshend's site you can see the difference in vibration. 

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. 

I may be an outlier here but I have tried isolation platforms under my speakers, more than one pair, and can't say that I have ever heard a noticeable improvement in sound.  For me, it has always begged the question, if putting your speakers on platforms was the way to go, then why don't all the high end speakers come with isolation platforms from the factory? 

@bigtwin  I share your skepticism. Haven't tried the Townshends to be fair, but have tried ISOAcoustics Gaias - and it was simply a waste of time & money, here. Makes it hard to move speakers around, too. Others rave about them - especially  paired to my Tannoys. I now use Herbie's gliders on some of my sets - not for sound quality improvements (becasue there is none I discern) but for the great convenience of being able to slide speakers easily. 

But to each their own - I engage in many aspects of this hobby that read like pure Kool-aid / Snake Oil to many others.

Magico Pods retail for $1950 per their website. https://store.magicoaudio.com/pod/magico-a-pod

You would think a company like Magico would be testing different footers and the like isolation devices. I'd be sticking with the M pods myself

 Put your $$$ maybe into a new power cord. I'm saving up for the Furutech Project V1, once heard I can't get the sound out of my memory and at my age that's no small feat.

You spend $50,000 on a set of speakers but they don't really sound their best until you spend another $5000 on a pair of Townsend Platforms?  How much of our hobby is science and how much is just Kool Aid?  Fair to say in this hobby, you'll never go thirsty. 🤣

The JBL Project K2-S9500 Introduced in 1989 cost $30000, a pair new and came with concrete platforms. I guess it depends on what speakers you buy and the manufacturer! See here.

Mike

Weird. Posts saying isolation on speakers don't make a difference. It does on mine. Actually isolation under most of my components make a significant difference.  I guess this discussion is no different than the ones about cables and fuses... Everything makes a difference in my house of stereo.

@ghdprentice George, I likewise have my speakers resting on a concrete slab (wood flooring on top). I am being inspired by you to consider installing a seismometer on my floor for vibration monitoring! I should try vibration control here, though the Townsends are pricey for me. I do use Stillpoints underneath my electronics. 

This 2022 study by a professional audio engineer specifically regards the efficacy of spikes as a loudspeaker isolation device, however, the study includes tests, measurements, and graphs illustrating a number of findings that are broadly relevant to this discussion:

Ten Misconceptions about Loudspeaker Spikes

@jallan 

Join the network!

https://raspberryshake.org

Not only do you get to monitor your own environment. But you join thousands of other siesmographs and can track events from seismograph to seismograph. Great tools are included. 

A Manufacturer usually had a Sales Spiel and Makes Claims for a Product being quite suitable for a Particular Role.

I have a Analogue Source > Range of Phonostages Options and furthest Downstream I have ESL Speakers and a Selection of Cabinet Speakers to use in a variety of configurations.

For the Analogue Source currently used, I moved on from AT 616 Pneumatic Separators to SolidTech 'Feet of Silence' as the Top Tier of Separators in contact with the TT Plinth.

 AT 616 Pneumatic Separators are also used under Cabinet Speakers as the Top Tier on Sub Support Assembly.

I am a user of a Product that is being made known can be easily identified and sourced as a purchase if wanted, I had no complication buying both types and one type I have purchased on a few occasions to increase the qty owned.

I have no vested interest in any product mentioned, and no communication with any commercial entity that makes these products available. 

My attraction to a Product is made known as a result of an experience had and an impression made, I have nothing for sale or nothing to be offered to me as a gratuity for encouraging a sale.

My reports are not related in any way to Puffery and are certainly not Shilling.

When an individual is making inroads to finding ways to manage Migrating Amplitude and is buying into products where an outcome is that a discovery is  something that has a impact on the End Sound experienced that is perceived as a Betterment in their unique environment and formed space for Kinetic Energy to move in. When taking the time to be helpful and make a report to others with inquiries, where does the misinforming come into it.  

When others do similar, and are with sound experiences in assessing sound, in a report made, where does the misinforming come into it.        

My experiences, as a result of loaning Separation Devices into a range of systems has led me to the place, where I am convinced there is not a ubiquitous methodology to Tame Amplitude in a Particular Environment and Space.

I am friends with quite a few who use Townsend - Gaia - Stack Audio 50 > 70.

Through association I know even more who use Townsend - Gaia.

I would not suggest to any, they may have an ancillary used as a Separator that is not a benefit to the End Sound produced in their Environment and Space for listening to replayed recorded music.   

As usual don't know what the F pindic is saying! Oh well.

@ghdprentice Thanks for the link! I checked it out, I have a few seismologist friends in the area I will ping on (fellow Geological Society of Washington members). 

Furutech Project V1 this as a suggestion as a Purchase is is the purest of 'Puffery'.

For myself it takes months of being able to regularly experience a device before a assessment of an item for its real Value, and gives confidence it is worthwhile mentioning as a consideration. I doubt very much this has occurred in relation to the V1, with the limited info made available, it is very easy to assume the item has been in earshot for a short period of time in a unfamiliar system, hence the Puffery associated with the suggestion being very relevant. 

I myself have been making it known I am an advocate of using D.U.C.C Wire - PC Triple C - PC Triple C / EX for certain roles in the home audio system for many years. 

The Wire used within the Cable is a substantial Influence. How the Cable is structured is a way for a Manufacturer to add substantial cost to a Wire that can be costed as a base material very cheaply. The Wire being used to produce a very affordable Cable and then compared to a very expensive Cable using the same Wire, does not create a comparison that results in a outcome where differences are easily discerned. The most discernible differences begin to manifest when the Cables being compared Terminations / Connector Types are undergoing exchanges to introduce various types, this is where the separation in impression made really reveals itself.

To evaluate Cables, requires a system to be used that is very familiar to the individual doing an assessment, it requires comparison and revisits to a comparison, and revisits to different preferred product over a course of months to finalise the assessment. 

The outcome of a Cable assessment means one thing, the findings are only discovered on a particular system, will the results of such investigation be an outcome that is ubiquitous - No!!!       

@rsf507 

Most confounding is the seemingly random use of Capitalization.

(I think it may be a secret code of some sort.)