Spikes on tower speakers


This is my first post here, just getting involved in the earlier stages of serious stuff. I recently bought a pair of Piega p4L MKll speakers. They sound great, at least according to my perhaps unsophisticated ears.

My question/problem: The speakers have spikes on them that cannot be removed because the previous owner glued them to the base. Becaue of the spikes, the speakers are very unstable on the carpet in my listening room. I need something that the spikes will go into so that the speaker towers will be more stable. So far, neither plywood nor small metal speaker spike pads have worked. Am now considering carbon speaker spike pads and hockey pucks to get the spikes into and then a bigger base, such as wood or even granite/marble.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that would solve this problem.

phil59

If you have a concrete floor it's best to get the spikes through to that.  But if the floor is wood or you can't or won't get the spikes through to concrete, stay with granite marble or other stone.  Specific gravity is much higher than butcher blocks so they are less big and ugly for the same stability offered.  I have a huge marble base raised on spikes for all my source and pre-amp gear and it looks great with its white and grey swirly colouring.

Don't use any flexible support under the spikes, they just allow the speakers another layer of movement that will blur your soundstage.

 

@phil59, turn the speaker upside down get a piece of heavy duty tin foil and press it down over the spikes to protect the bottom of your speakers. Find out if the spikes have a stud that is screwed into the speaker. My guess is they do. 

Take a smallish hammer and lay the head flat on the tin foil and tap each spike from all directions to loosen it the get a Channel lock wrench and use it to unscrew each spike. Now replace then with longer spikes. Use three spikes not four!!  If he used four fill in the rear holes with plastic wood the right color and put the third foot in the middle.

When placing the loudspeaker you have to get the spikes all the way through the carpet and padding to the wood underneath. Hold the speaker steady and using a step stool have your wife press down on the speaker right in the middle with a stocking foot while you hold the speaker and spot. She could stand on it if she has to. That should set the speaker in place and you should be good to go. 

Heavy and stable base is needed for speakers placement. Go to granite cutting shop near you and custom order a couple granite plates. Avoid fancy expensive city stores cause it will cost you a lot, find some granite wear house outside the city line. I ordered my 20 x 20 x 1,5 inch plates $40 each, but it was years ago. Totally satisfied with the results. If you don’t want to go complicated way with custom order, Home Depot has pre cut granite tiles 18x18 inch, those tiles are not so thick and heavy, but also could do the job, I use them with great results for my components placement.

 

How much do these Piega p4L MKll weigh that they don't go through the carpet!

Anyway you stated you're not worried about the rug or the floor.  GOOD!

Get the speakers placed exactly where you want them.

Get some cardboard (two pizza box tops would be perfect) cut the box tops in half.

First speaker...lean it back and put the a piece of cardboard under the front, stand the speaker back upright.  Repeat with rear of speaker.  Tape the  cardboard to the carpet.  Lean the speaker back again and using the holes in the cardboard as guides get a sturdy awl and hammer and pound the awl through holes. Do the back of the speaker.  Repeat leaning procedure to get the cardboard out.

Rinse, repeat on second speaker with the new cardboard.

A two person job.  You're welcome.

Regards,

barts

 

I have spikes on my floorstanders. I pierced them through thick berber carpet and pad by rocking them in place until they made contact with the concrete floor.

Next step is levelling.

I suspect the OP’s issue is that the spikes are glued in and not adjustable.

Spikes have to be adjusted so that the speaker is level and that all 4 make proper contact with the floor. Otherwise the speaker will be unstable regardless of carpet or no carpet.

OP- if you have access to an industrial heat gun you can heat the glue and when it softens use a set of vice grip to loosen the threads and remove them. Once they become adjustable again try to pierce through the carpet and then adjust for level and stability.