I want to get these for my Kef Blade 2. They are 78 lbs is it close enough to use the III version that goes to 70 lbs or do I need to jump up to the II version that goes to 120?
Isoacoustics Gaia Speaker Footers
Replacing the spikes in my Soundocity outriggers (Soundocity made me a set of outriggers with threaded holes) with the Isoacoustics Gaia 2 footers has improved the sound of my Merlin VSM speakers. They now sound more open and articulate than with any combination of Z-feet or other spikes, with or without outriggers, on the floor or on a platform, that I've tried. Like the Townshend products the Gaia footers completely decouple the speakers from the floor, allowing them to float. See:
http://www.audiostream.com/content/isoacoustics-gaia-isolation-pucks#IVXH8EtVAjQdwbuj.97
http://www.isoacoustics.com/products/gaia-series/gaia-i/
http://www.audiostream.com/content/isoacoustics-gaia-isolation-pucks#IVXH8EtVAjQdwbuj.97
http://www.isoacoustics.com/products/gaia-series/gaia-i/
151 responses Add your response
ejilif, I would recommend the 2’s for that weight. I use the 2’s on my Silverline Bolero Supremes and the 1’s on my Lawrence audio double bass speakers that weigh 135lbs. If you are going to spend that much money on speakers,you might as well pony up the same coin and not skimp.IMO. Best of luck to you, Kenny. |
Yes the Townshend seismic bars do look like a worthy contender to the Gaia’s 1,but my Lawrence double bass speakers are ported near the bottom on each side,so wasn’t a option for me.I wanted a certain distance from the platforms and needed full adjustability especially on the single front footer. Kenny. |
I like the idea of the Townsend bars because they deliberately minimize raising the height of the speaker - which will in of itself change the sound for a listener and may even account for much of the change people percieve in using devices like the Gaia. Whenever I've raised my speakers at all I've never preferred the results, including trying the isoacoustics iso-pucks. |
Hello. I want to buy GAIA isolators for my speakers but I don't understand what model do I need, GAIA III or GAIA II. I have B&W 702 S2 speakers. The weight of each speaker is 30 kg (65 lb). The problem is that the weight of my speakers is rather close to the limit of GAIA III model. What model of GAIA will be better for me? Thank you in advance. |
I just finished reading this thread and found it quite interesting, however, I have a few questions. 1. I have the Focal Sopra 2’s speakers on their way to me at this time. And I also ordered the ISO GAIA 1’s. First, I would like to experiment with proper room placement for the speakers. Any preference as to removing the spikes from the Sopra’s as they come out of the box or should I wait until I am ready to install the GAIA’s? 2. Now, for a heavy speaker like the Focal Sopra 2’s should I install the Gaia 1’s while the speakers are standing upright or with the speakers laying on there sides? 3. Also, if my floor is concrete but it is carpeted with no padding, do I really need the extra cups/spikes? ozzy |
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I’m thinking of putting Gaia I on Sound Anchors stands under PMC IB2i speakers, replacing stock spikes and Herbie’s glider cups. Can anyone tell me whether, once installed, they are easy to slide on a hardwood floor, or do they stick in place? I’d like to be able to fine-tune speaker positioning very precisely once these are installed, and that requires sliding in tiny increments. |
As far as sliding goes, these behave like grippy suction cups. It's just a no-go. I use some nylon furniture sliders purchased at Home Despot for positioning, these are about 1/8" thick and available in many diameters- I use a 2.25" set for Gaia 1s, then remove them once optimally positioned. Works like a charm. For carpeted installations the spiked cups, really do help significantly. At least, that was my experience. Hope this helps. |
Hi lak, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I have PMC Ib2i with customer Sound Anchor four-post stands. I am curious whether the Gaia I would work there magic under stands. A call to IsoAcoustic wouldn't be a bad idea, though the cynic in me thinks a manufacturer might promote its product even for a sub-optimal application, hence my interest in user experiences. |
I just put the Gaia IIs under my 66 pound Dali Epicon speakers. I was also provided some M10 threaded inserts by the supplier as this size does not come in the box. Nice that IsoAcoustics provides these oddball sizes to their retailers. My initial impression is very good indeed. Music is more solid and focused. Bass is more powerful and present. Improved midrange saturation. I hear a bigger stage with the music more at ease and inviting. This last point is most important to me. Like these footers! Just a pain to set up. Nearly drove me crazy. I found myself fiddling with these things for over an hour. I said to myself it is easier to build a darn tube amp 🤓. I think they could better think through the whole double thin nut thing. Bottom line is it it well worth the effort. |
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Tried to install Gaia 1’s under my Sopras but they didn’t work out for me. The carpet spikes are very short and could not penetrate a frieze carpet with a nice pad underneath. I couldn’t get them stable no matter what I tried. Also their leveling with the double washers was frustrating at best. I’m returning them and going back to the Sopra spikes which are much more thoughtfully implemented at least in regard to installation. |
emcdade, that is my concern. My carpet and pad is about an inch thick uncompressed. If the carpet spikes are 15mm, I'm not sure the carpet and pad will compress enough to made solid contact with the subfloor. It looks like the spikes aren't long enough or tapered enough to work effectively in my application. |
https://www.purewaveaudio.com/isoacoustics-gaia-carpet-spike-ii-1 The pic makes them look longer, but I guess that's not the case. |
I have the GAIA 1’s with carpet spikes under my Sopra 2’s, although my speakers are sitting on carpet with no padding over a cement floor. Before adding the carpet spikes the speakers sat very firmly to the floor and was difficult if not impossible to move. The suggestion about putting a heavy granite type slab over the carpeted/padding is a good idea, then you wouldn’t need the carpet spikes. ozzy |
In the new Stereophile Art Dudley reviews two different IsoAcoustic footers, and says he prefers the GAIA to the Oreo under his Garrard 301. The GAIA is intended to be used with loudspeakers, the Oreo with components, but Art found the GAIA to provide more improvement with his table than did the Oreo. Since it comes with mounting studs in three sizes including the 1/4-20 used on the feet of VPI turntables, it occurred to me that the GAIA is a good candidate for use with those tables. A set of four GAIA III (which support up to 70 lbs.) retails for $199, about half the price of four Townshend Audio Seismic Pods. The Pods are really good (I have them under my Townshend Rock Elite table), but for only $199 the GAIA is worth a try bolted onto my Aries 1, in place of the stock cone "isolation" footers. The parens is in recognition of the fact that cones (and spikes) are not isolators, they are couplers. Why that myth continues is a mystery to me! Geoff Kait's springs are also worthy of consideration, but for use under a turntable---which requires precise leveling---the height adjustability of the GAIA (via the threading on the studs) makes it ergonomically better. |
Just placed an order for two sets of GAIA IIs for my 2A3 monoblocks. IsoAcoustics helped with choosing between OREA and GAIA as well as between the GAIA IIs and IIIs. I had been looking at various options and landed at the Critical Mass CenterStage2 footers as the high performance/high price option and IsoAcoustics as the value/performance option. I will revisit the CenterStage2 Footers at a later date. I should have them on Thursday and will report back with initial impressions after I’ve installed them. FYI, I did have the GAIA IIs for my Tekton Design SE speakers but ended up preferring my own ’double’ isolation solution using two sets of Herbie’s Giant Gliders with a TAOC isolation platform in-between. A shout out to @mac48025 and @audiotroy for their assistance. Thank you! |
