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What measurable sonic effects does such "low frequency" vibration have?

answer, a lot . The impact of mounting my Magico Q3s on Townshend Seismic podia was profound. The quality of the bass response became much more natural, sounding exactly like the live unforced bass I heard in a concert just this last weekend

This link provides more background on the sources and effects of this insidious vibration, don't underestimate what it is doing to your system nor make the false assumption that because you are on a concrete slab a long way from a main road you are not still subject to the effect of micro earthquakes 

ricred -- Townshend products are distributed in the US by EAR-USA. Although the EAR-USA site does not have much information Dan can get any of the products. Townshend have products at a range of prices, the seismic podiums are actually among the most expensive -- price varies by size but mine made for 300lb Q3s were about $2500.

This UK based dealer has the full range and the prices when quoted in $ without tax (i.e. exc VAT) should be similar to the US list prices -- you can order direct if you want (which is actually how I got mine)

I would love to use footers to help isolate more of my components from the effects of outside low frquency noise but am not convinced by this concept of a certain shape being a "mechanical diode"at the frequencies in question and given the vagaries of different loads on the footer

Could you provide a link to a reference for those of us not deep into seismic science? I tried searching but could not come up with anything.

Would be great to have an alternative to the spring based solutions I am currently using

Robert. Still hoping for a link to a reference showing how a mechanical spike can act as a mechanical diode to filter out seismic interference? You claimed this was "common knowledge" so would love to hear more

Also I’m a tad confused as to how a mechanical diode (isolation in other words) fits into your system. From the following it would seem this is not the effect you are after? Again apologies if I’m confused

they move because they are coupled to the flooring. The Energy Rooms™ are also direct coupled to the structural foundation so they also move ‘in rhythm’ with the earth

Star Sound products do “NOT” Isolate.

Robert -- thanks for your response. I get what you are saying about Airborne resonance and am personally getting very good results with the Marigo Mystery Feet F8 Extreme to control this effect.

My main question was regarding the other issue that of ELF or lower vibrations from seismic, traffic and construction. Having seen the immediate and profound impact controlling this has on my speakers I was hoping to find a solution I could easily apply to my equipment stands. I guess I’ll have to explore some Townshend pods to replace the GrandPrix Apex footers under my Monaco stands and see if that helps

ps If you look at the Townshend materials you can quickly understand that the issue with ELF vibration is not the audibility of the seismic activity itself but on the effect it has on the relative geometry of the speaker/listener and stability of the speaker, so an indirect effect

Try here for in-situ measurements, Townshend do the demo in place by jumping on the floor around the speakers

http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/townshend-audio-seismic-podium/

If you still own the Monitor Audio PL500 these have an absolutely ginormous footprint (20"x25") -- bigger than the biggest stock podium so the quote may be for a custom job

Likely the Seismic Isolation corners may work best for you -- two sets of 4 in Size C should be around $3400

http://www.analogueseduction.net/townshend/townshend-seismic-isolation-corners.html

These will fit neatly under the existing spikes of your PL500

You could also explore the bars -- I'm a bit ensure on sizing (size 2?) but if you can find ones that fit these should bring the price under $3000. 

I recommend analogueseduction -- they were very easy to work with, and as these items are custom built ordering from the UK will be just as quick as ordering from the US (maybe faster if they do not trans-ship)

Where does the vibrational energy from the speaker itself go?

In my system it stays in the speakers. At least for the bass range. Before the podiums (Magico spikes to floor) i felt the bass through my floor (wood on concrete) after the podiums i do not feel anything through the floor only through the air. You kind of miss the floor based boom at first but its really a fake effect, good for sound effects but not something i experience at live acoustic concerts

others with more knowldge of springs (Geoff?) may comment on whether the setup transmits higher frequencies, it may

recognize all of this is with a very inert cabinet design, and no ports on my Magico Q3s.

Ps agear. Nice room, mine is a similar size and likewise complex design albeit a more traditional Art Noxon design for sound isolation and bass response, despite the small size it works well and behaves as yours seems to really disappearing into the recorded acoustic

You shoved earthquakes and inaudible frequencies up our rods and we agreed to review, measure your advice and sought out a highly educated seismologist to evaluate both sides of the coin.

Robert -- Geoff and I both asked for a link to an independent third party data source on how your spikes, or any other similar device could act as a mechanical diode able to isolate against seismological effects, You have yet to provide this. As far as I can tell you have brought no facts to this "debate"

To be fair, no manufacturer has provided such data.

I personally am unconvinced that isolation from the boogey man of seismology has any real relevance.

Maybe but at least there is ample and readily accessible data on how springs can be used for seismic isolation, any modern construction in an earthquake zone stands in evidence of this. The Star Sound guys made a claim about their spikes and an appeal based on their "seismic expert" and I’d just like to see them back that up

Geoff always has a scientific theory or data point (even if some of them are odd) to back up every one of his claims

The opinions of the engineers who have worked on this study throughout our history stated all along that the geometry governing the tip of the Audio Point rejected low frequency from the floor surface . Our newest associate in science flew in for a meeting to fully see what we were doing as she found our design for the mechanical grounding of musical instruments on the web and thought the two of us might be sharing on an infringement with regards to each other’s patents and methods.
...

She said it was common knowledge in her field of seismic science that this shape was a mechanical diode.

This is the full quotation. Personally my reading of the definition of a diode is close to 100% rejection, in other words isolation at the frequencies in question

I’m also hopelessly confused as to what you are claiming your devices do. Per your latest they DO NOT ISOLATE so presumably they do not reject any of the extremely low frequency interference that is at issue in all of this discussion and thus in comparison with spring based products bring nothing to the table

Arguments about the proportions of energy moving up rather than down are besides the point (and also act as a perfect demonstration that your product is not in any way a diode)

And by the way where is all this sub 8Hz interference moving down your platforms coming from (your fire hose analogy)? I’m not sure I’m aware of any well set up audio system that generates energy at this frequency? I think this was Geoff’s point in response

The one leg we stand heavily on is the proof of undeniable musical performance.

Really all of this fuss could have been avoided if you'd refrained from making claims based on assertions of science and instead said what you say above -- "we fine tune our stuff to sound good and improve the performance of your system", it was good enough for the makers of Cremona after all (and by the way I believe you)

agear -- good question but the answer is not as simple as that

Firstly I have come to recognize that the limit on what is the "right" volume for a track is not loudness per se but in fact the impact of distortion and noise -- to whit resonances and all the niggling interferences in a poorly set up system. Prior to optimization I typically set the volume on my ARC 40th at 30-34 for CD playback. With optimization of the noise floor through fine tuning of my footers and the electrical system I now use a range of 34-40. In other words as you remove interference you benefit from increased dynamic range

Adding the Townshend Podiums had somewhat of a similar effect in the bass range. The immediate effect seems to be that the speakers are LESS efficient. i.e. it "sounds" less loud at the same volume setting. But quickly you realize that this is the removal of the floor borne boom that I described in a prior post. I find then that some tracks that had been limited by a bass distortion (e.g. a resonance or boom) could now be turned up a couple of notches without any issues.

So overall I cannot make any conclusion as to whether the Townshend kit has made my speaker more efficient in absolute terms, all I can say is that it helps get the speaker/room interface out of the way and lets you hear what is on the track irrespective of volume level

Two cases in point -- Nancy Harms "Bye Bye Blackbird", opens with close miked acoustic bass that can get out of control, now much better controlled and also makes it easier to seperate the room rattle (that is actually in the recording) from the bass that is causing it. Second example Melody Gardot "It Gonna Come" -- a plethora of bass sounds and soundstaging effects that I can now reach into while at the same time cranking the volume wheras before it overloaded the room

ps regarding your comments on lack of science I for one have no problem with references to known and published science (e.g. use of springs to manage seismic interference, even Mr Kait's citing of Sheldrake to support some of his tweaks), it's the stuff I've never heard of before that I expect people to be able to provide some back up for. WIthout a source it's hard to attach any credibility for or against

agear - you observe

Since no one in the Audiogon ecosystem appears to be using your products

Fact is Geoff is not the only proponent of spring based isolation from subsonic vibration and I along with many well regarded reviewers and experts are getting great results from the current Townshend kit. Your attempts to dismiss his emphasis on the need to deal with the vibrations impinging on our systems as well as those generated within them are unhelpful. Remember this entire debate was triggered by a manufacturers assertion that his carefully shaped spike would reject seismic interference, an assertion he has been unable to provide any evidence for

ps for those with good memories Machina Dynamica spring based platforms were highly desirable and much sought after back in the day on Vinyl Asylum, I'm sorry I did not get the chance to acquire one when they were available