Speaker spikes

I've got new dynaudio 72 floorstanders and an uneven wooden floor.

how should i use the speaker spikes? obviously, i cannot run them direct into the floor. someone suggested putting the spikes on coins. maybe slate tiles?

any ideas?

 

To me, coins seem to be as good an idea as any. Mine are on polished granite slabs (a present from the local stonemason for buying my crazy paving from him), into which I drilled spike-accomodating holes. (This actually didn't take forever, it merely seemed that way).

I personally think that the whole spikes business is highly exaggerated, just like the cables/interconnects business and that a little rockiness makes no audible difference. But then, I only play music for me, not for the entire village.

 

Related question - speaker isolation etc

I have always assumed that the spikes are provided to allow the speakers to be connected through a layer of carpet to a solid, say concrete, floor. Something to do with dissipating unhelpful vibrations by connecting to a large mass? Someone far more scientific out there will correct me no doubt. I have a concrete floor and am happily spiked.

However many modern houses have wooden floors; what are the options here? Are you supposed to find a mass to connect to (like granite slabs or whatever)? Or can you go down the isolation route, using the same sort of principles applied to some equipment supports (like my Audiophile Base01's)? Coins under spikes will stop the floor getting marked but I'm not sure it will make any difference to the sound.

Partly I'm just curious, partly I want to know if I move house whether to avoid woden floors!

Hopefully any answers to above will also help resolve Bobby's query.

 

Re: Related question - speaker isolation etc

I'm just making educated guesses here like everyone else. There are so many variables - flooring, speaker frequency range, weight, vibrations, equipment support to name but a few - that I don't believe that one answer will fit all.

I have been contributing to a Stateside thread which you may find interesting. Cones, stones, bones, and other "audiophile tweaks" on the Steve Hoffman Forums

 

Not to mention the Audiosylum tweak forum thread some time back. Nice reading. Not sure whether superballs are still around here - will have to mug some local kids.

 

This might be a bit of a boring suggestion, but even if spikes do / dont make a difference to the sound, surley they're a good thing as they make it much harder for the speakers to fall over?!?!?

 

I have quick look at that forum and it looks quite good.

One of the forum rules is that debates on blind testing are banned! A great idea

I think I might join it.

 

I believe it's only the "cables" area that's been designated a DBT free zone

AudioAsylum is OK from time to time but it's VERY US-centric. I post there from time to time.

Michael.

 

Michael,

I am talking about Steve hoffman forums. All objectivist/subjectivist debates and DBT discussions are banned.

I am not that bothered about AA, although I visit very occasionally.

 

Oh...I see :shame:

Michael.

 

Just curious - is this the same Steve Hoffman, mastering 'guru', of DCC/Acoustech fame etc etc??

 

One solution depends on how much you're attached to a pristine floor. After reading somewhere that it can help control suspended wooden floors, I tried a cross-head screw under each spike. It gives some extra height adjustment for uneven floors, and is supposed to help with controlling resonances. It worked well for me, but you may not like the idea of screwing into your floor.

 

Yes

 

Yes, it's that Steve Hofmann.

The forum is quite amusing from time to time. It's very US-centric and occasionally guru-centric.

Most posters there have a different view of equipment and are, in many ways, not as sophisticated as we are. Many of the members are very fond of vintage gear, tubes and turntables. The Shure V15 is considered 'King of the Cartridges' and the SET rules supreme. I would say the phrase 'pipe & slippers' could be applied.

Still, the general atmosphere is pleasant. and it's one of the forums I visit every now and again.

 

Right up your street theen Steve, but is it Lou Reed friendly I ask myself?

 

Oh yes.

 

Lou who, Tone

 

I don't normally take an interest in some of the more shall we say 'prosiac' upgrades/tweaks.

I don't hear differences in cables, I don't believe that kit takes x weeks to warm up etc.

However there is one area I feel is vitally important. Speaker interface.

How the speaker interfaces with the floor does make significant changes to music, especially at higher volumes.

And for me the best solution is indeed to have the spikes interfacing directly with the floor surface. Mine interface with the wood effect flor stuff we have, admitadly this has left a few marks here and there but ultimatly the sound is best this way.

Stone and glass hardens the sound significantly.

I also tried some thingys I got from a hifi shop which were hard on top with a spongy underside, totaly destroyed the sound.

So there you go.

 

2 x concrete pavers = one of the cheapest tweaks to try there is.

I wouldnt be without mine... makes a real difference.

 

Try replacing the spikes with M8 RDC cones (and cone cups if you fancy). They work a treat and don't mark a wooden floor.