Townshend Pods - How many do I actually need per component for max effectiveness?

3 is generally considered the most stable and best sounding.

The 6 pound DAC might be too light as some compression is needed. You might try them under a heavier support. Have you tried Nobsound springs? They're a lot cheaper and work well.

Do you have any experience with this or is 3 something you’ve read about? 
 

Thanks for the response.

Yes. Check my Virtual System. I have 3 Nobsounds on everything. The Townshends are reportedly somewhat better as they are more damped. I tried damping the Nobs but preferred them loaded to 30% with no damping. There are a few threads on the subject including mine. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/springs-under-turntable

Haven’t tried Nobsounds, only Isoacoustics Orea, which have made a positive impact. I have someone interested in buying my Orea’s and figured I’d try Townshends.

As for the lightweight DAC (6lbs), they make an AA size which is for 1.5lbs - 2.8lbs.

I like to try the less expensive route! Many of the expensive solutions use the same fundamental physics.

Discuss your equipment and needs with John H at townshend

one

Well, they sell the pods in boxes of 4, so that is the quantity I use.

And, if you require more weight, why not add it to the top of the component.

HRS makes plates to dampen chassis/cabinets. So, I don't see why you couldn't put a barbell weight instead.

B

Actually Townshend recommends 4 per component. I asked the same question. With the spring system better balance is achieved with four especially with components where the weight isn’t distributed evenly.  They do have a twist adjustment for getting them level.

@goose, did you buy any pods? If so, did it impact your sound for the better/worse or undetermined?

@gdnrbob, adding more weight on top makes sense if the springs don’t move quite enough, thanks for that. What’s your experience with the pods been like?

@tuberist, good advice, I am waiting to hear back as I contacted them earlier today. I’m not expecting to hear anything until sometime next week.

I’m in info gathering mode right now so feedback is appreciated.

I've got Pods under just about everything now. Before that was all springs. Before that was all BDR. Before that was a lot of different things. Each transition involved trying the different things under different components. All kinds of combinations too. Like one time had 2 BDR Cones, one Nobsound. Another time two Pods one Nobsound. Three and four. You name it I tried it. Massive actual hands on experience.

Bottom line, don't sweat it. Vast majority of improvement is simply going to Pods. Pods are so much better, one time we had a DAC, this thing was so small and light I had nothing that 3 would work. So we fussed around until we got it balanced on just one Pod. Rickety as all get out and even had to put a weight on top because it was still too light but even so the improvement was there. 

Tried stuff like this a bunch of times. Mostly out of necessity. Once you get used to how much better these are you just want more. So what if I take one from here, move it over there, put something else in here? 

That is why I say don't sweat it. Instead, focus on each component because they are all different. A tube integrated might have 80% of the weight across the back while the front has almost none. You could order 2 for the back end weight and 1 for the front end weight if you are really trying to save that extra little bit. But in the long run you will probably find yourself better off with 4 all the same, because they will be easier to mix and match when you change components over time. Hard to know these things in advance but that is why I say don't sweat it, there are other factors besides sound quality to consider. If the difference in SQ was big that would be one thing but in this case it just isn't that big a deal.

Another factor is practicality. Some component you never touch or move or connect stuff too you might be fine with 3. But each time you do it will be a little less stable and prone to tipping. So all these little things factor in and again, are more a concern than 3 vs 4.

Finally, if you are down to splitting hairs let's really split hairs. The difference between 3 and 4 is less to do with 3 vs 4 than which combination is more perfectly matched to your component mass. Because Pods are made to different weight ranges, but not ounce by ounce they could never stock em all and it would only drive everyone crazy. So they are in a range with some overlap. Very clever, very convenient. It does mean however there could be times when 4 of one size is slightly better than 3 of another size. Or vice versa. 

So there is a difference, 4 is generally better, but not by much. I would get whichever you think will look or work better from a practical point of view- and when in doubt go with John's advice, he has been doing this a very long time and never steered me wrong yet.

@millercarbon, thanks for the detailed response, it’s nice to hear user experiences.

After some correspondence with John at Townshend Audio, I placed a Pod order for my components in the op. I’ll post my thoughts once I’ve listened with them for a little bit.

It ended up being 3 x AA for the DAC, 4 x A for the linestage, 4 x B for the phono preamp, and 5 x C for the amp. Excited to see what this can do to the presentation.

@drack1 I have them on my tube pre amp.  For me they didn't make as much of an improvement as the speaker podiums.  That being said, I was using HRS nimbus footers on my pre amp prior to the pods so the move wasn't from nothing to the pods.

@goose 

HRS is a company I have been thinking of using. Good to know that their products might be equivalent to Townshend.

Did you ever try removing Pods and Footers to hear the difference?

B

@gdnrbob 

No I didn't play the system without the pods or footers.

Randy

Well, I haven’t received the pods yet (hopefully next week) but I did get a Townshend platform that I put my turntable on, previous footers were Isoacoustics Orea. 

Vocals are bass are clearer, those two things stuck out immediately after playing only one album. After a couple of days listening, it’s quite easy to hear the improvements. I can sum it up by saying there’s more space for everything in the soundstage, making it easier to hear and follow the different sounds.  
 

Easy recommendation, I can’t wait to get the pods for my components!

The pods arrived recently and I have them under my amp, phono preamp, linestage, and DAC. Not much to say that’s different from my thoughts above with the TT platform. These things are amazing and well worth an audition if you’ve ever been curious about vibration control.

The price for the platform and pods was much lower than replacing any of my gear, and since I already enjoyed the sound of my system, this step made sense. Townshend has simply upped the engagement factor, it’s not subtle!

Good to hear @drack1  Maybe my order will arrive soon.

@slaw, what did you order?

One pair of Podiums and two sets of Pods.

Very cool, have you tried other isolation products before or is this your first?

Yep. Check out my virtual system.

Nice looking pics, this should be a nice test for the Townshends. Please report back on your experience.

Podiums are game changers. You will hear distinct layering in the music.  Drummer will be in the rear. Piano maybe 3 ft in front. Vocals may be a couple more feet forward. No more everything pushed back on a deep plane.  You will be shaking your head at first till you get used to it. 

I'm looking forward to similar listening experiences.

Update after close to 2 months:

Along with the pods/platform for my tt and components, I also got a set of speaker bars for my 155lbs sub, that’s what John recommended for that size/weight. Previous to the bars, I had my sub on a guitar amp platform for a number of years. In my setup I run XLR out of my linestage and into my sub (my sub doesn’t have speaker terminals), the low passed signal then runs into my amp via XLR. A bit unorthodox I know, but it’s the only way to incorporate a sub in my system. 
 

On to the speaker bars, I ordered the larger of the 2 sizes but received the smaller set by mistake. John immediately shipped the larger size when I contacted him so no harm. While I waited for the larger set (1 week), I installed the smaller ones the only way they could fit, by angling them as opposed to going straight across (width). Wow, the sound layering was unlike anything I’ve heard in my room. Width feels similar but top to bottom and front to back is better defined. I couldn’t wait for the larger set to arrive so I could “properly” install them by width.

Well, when the larger bars were installed it was across the entire width, not angled.  The soundstage pinpointed in on itself and it was like seeing into the music with x-ray specs. Too detailed, too intense sounding, it lost a good part of the space/layering the smaller bars allowed for. Some people may prefer that but I quickly figured out that’s not for me. Back to the smaller bars and the layering returned, I’ve kept it this way ever since.

I was very surprised at how much difference the bars made on which way they were installed, angled vs. width. I never would have experienced this if the smaller bars weren’t accidentally shipped first, consider me lucky! 

I just ordered 16 today

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@willgolf, what components will your order be for?

@slaw, I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on your order, thanks.

Will do @drack1  when I get the chance.

@drack1 

4 for Lucas Audio LDMS music server

4 Lampizator Pacific DAC

8 for my Canary Audio Grand Reference 300B mono amps

I sold my Preamp and do not need one.