Novel approach to tackle Speaker Vibrations?
This is why spikes were invented in the first place. I think it started in England. Forget all that voodoo about mechanical diodes funneling unwanted energy into the ether. What they do is poke through the carpet so the speakers are sitting on the hard subfloor below. Problem solved. Get the cheapest spikes you can find. |
Adding weight to the tops of speakers can be quite effective. I’ve done this for years. If you check out my listening room, you’ll see heavy granite slabs the exact dimensions of the speaker tops placed on top of the speakers. I also added some heavy lead fishing weights. The fishing weights aren’t attractive, but without the weights, the granite slabs look as though they are part of the speakers. This tweak really helps in the clarity department. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5490#&gid=1&pid=2 Frank |
Spikes on their own are not always the full answer especially when dealing with relatively light weight monitors perched on top of 26 to 30 inch tall stands. Of course the quality and rigidity of the stands can make a world of difference too. I had exact same issue with rear surrounds in my ht rig monitors sitting on 28 inch stands of fairly cheap origin. Even though spiked they were still less than perfect. A slab of milled steel painted black on top of each ( maybe 10lb each) cured all ills and really is not very noticeable at all. |
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Thanks for the info everyone... - The lead shot would be relatively easy to make and would stop people placing glasses on top of the speakers - but that would be a lot of lead shot - The granite, although probably looks the best, would have to be quite thick to get to the desired weight because the speakers have a foot print of around 9" x 10.5" - I like the steel plate idea because it would probably be the most effective due to it's density - and it would be reasonably inexpensive - just got to find a place that can cut it. I think before proceeding I have to get my friend to fist get the speakers as stable as possible, because this approach would make them top heavy and more apt to easily fall if accidentally knocked Hmmm - food for thought :-) Cheers . |
@uberwaltz - Believe it, or not, there is a website called - sandbagstore.com. They have double seamed cordura bags, in multiple colors, filled with 25, 30 or 35 lbs of steel shot. Reasonable prices and free shipping. This would probably be the easiest solution. Just order 2 of them. No work, no effort. A 25 lb. bag of lead shot would be smaller, more compact, but more expensive, toxic and would require some effort to seal it and cover it for aesthetics. |
Yes, I've recommended this before, and your assessment is the same as mine: The back and forth motion of the drivers can in some cases actually move the speaker baffle causing noticeable doppler like distortion. See Newton's Third Law. It does not ALWAYS have to happen. It is overall a function of the weight of the speaker, the location of the woofer, tilt and footprint, etc. Fortunately the fix is cheap and easy. :) Best, E |
I guess I’m the only one who thinks lead sounds like crap. Makes the bass all weird and funky. I dunno, maybe sound quality isn’t an issue any more. Lead seems like it should be such a great material, too. Not to hard, not too soft. What happens is it gets packed in there and forgotten about. It’s not nice to try and fool Mother Nature. |
@uberwaltz - Believe it, or not, there is a website called - sandbagstore.com. They have double seamed cordura bags, in multiple colors, filled with 25, 30 or 35 lbs of steel shot. Reasonable prices and free shipping. This would probably be the easiest solution. Just order 2 of them. No work, no effort.I believe you for sure. However I had plenty of steel plate in my workshop so was no big deal to make a couple of weights for free, just a bit of cutting and some paint. Good info for others interested for sure. |
These would be the ones you were referring to I assume Quite an interesting site! Thank you https://www.sandbagstore.com/shot-filled-sandbags.html |
In my experience, there is no, one great fix for every speaker/subwoofer. The damping material/amount used, will vary greatly in it's effectiveness from any speaker. Remember, Harbeth, designs their speaker cabinets to flex, yet they are consistently written up as some of the most natural sounding speakers available. |
You would accomplish much more by isolating the speakers than by mass loading them. Remove cabinet vibration, eliminate mechanical feedback, reduce energy stored in the system. Bingo, bango, bongo! 🤗 No matter how much you have in the end you would have had even more if you had started out with more. |
