Coupling or Decoupling speakers?

 I have Sistrum stands under my speakers and mono blocks which are between the speakers to excellent effect. 
My DIY rack is 3 3/4" Butcher Block with brass threaded rod through to the floor using acorn nuts top and bottom.  At some point, about a year ago I decided to use some Herbie's Giant Cone Decoupling Gliders under the acorns on the floor, hardwood. They make the equipment much easier to move as well as preserve the floor. A definite clearing up of the musical resolution. 
Roxy54, I have yet to completely understand if the Sistrum stands couple or decouple, but like you they are in my system to stay.
In What's Best Forum, garylkoh has an extensive paper on the coupling/decoupling subject, quite extensive and informative .I read the whole thread and the splitting hairs and opinions abound throughout. 
And Eric, yes the decoupling does leave the situation of back and fro movement or rather the stability of the speaker in doubt, according to Mr Koh.
Bottom line, if it sounds better go with it. I mean, it's a hobby so fiddle away, right?

Herbie's are good products. I use Iso cups and balls for my amps, Baby booties under the Step-up and Tender feet under the Computer Audio Design transport (CAT).
I also use Shun Mook Ultra Diamond (bought used) under the preamp and it's another story, another way to couple with music.
But responding to the initial question I believev in decoupling the speakers.

I have BMC Arcadia speakers, but I have experience with Tidals also. Initially with both I tried the provided feet which were non-brass points. In both cases Audio Points (the 2 inchers) from Star Sound sounded much better.  Later I got Stillpoints Ultra SSs that were clearly superior which are decoupling I guess as all vertical vibration is turned into horizontal and then into heat. Up to this point I had experience with both the BMC Arcadias and the Tidals.

The Ultra Fives later displaced the Ultra SSs clearly. Somewhat later I tried the original Star Sound Audio Points that are 1.5"used both on top the Apprentice platform and bottom. I found this had better leading edge and bass. Later yet I got the new Star Sound Rhythm rack and the new 2.5 Audio Points. This is the best I've heard in terms of realism.

Obviously, I ultimately believe in coupling everything, not just speakers, but with the Stillpoints Ultra Fives I think the sound stage is more resolved unless you have all the High Fidelity cables that I have. With the BMC M2 amps especially if used with the Koda K-10 preamp and in balanced you can get very loud and realistic sound with the Star Sound platforms.

Coupling or Decoupling speakers?

hifiman5

Aways couple speakers to a slab or cement floor, never couple to a suspended wood or sheet ply that has joists, always de-couple from these.

If you couple to a suspended wooden or ply sheet floor you are sending energy into it and making it an additional sound board for the speaker, and you can actually feel it through your feet, you want to only hear what the bass driver is giving you, not the floor as well.

Cheers George

See my thread Symposium and Magico.