Sub on spikes?


REL provides spikes for the Strata III but recommends against using them. I'm wondering if any of you have experimented with spikes on subs (particularly on carpet, but not necessarily) and decided for or against, and why?
Thanks,
Art
artmaltman

Showing 1 response by snickelfritz

Spikes have traditionally been used to provide stability in tower speakers on heavy carpet, and also allow the speaker to be plumb and leveled on uneven floors. (the HF polar response could certainly be effected if the drivers are not perfectly vertical)
An unstable 4' 100lb tower is an accident waiting to happen.
MY B&W CDM 9NTs are extremely easy to tip over without spikes.

My subwoofer came with a set of large, scary spikes, but it's far too heavy to move once they are installed. (you'd have to pick it up and drop it, rather than sliding it; not easy with a big cube weighing close to 100lbs)
They're not needed anyway; there's no way this thing is going to tip over and it certainly is too squat to "look crooked".
One potential benefit of spikes; they prevent large heavy subs from making permanent dents in the carpet pad. My sub sits on 2" brass feet and they definitely leave a lasting impression in the carpet.

There's no sonic benefit from the spikes per se, unless the bottom panel of your subwoofer is overly compliant and is activating a hollow wood floor beneath it, causing buzzing and resonances.
Spikes would help reduce the transfer of energy to the floor, (or at least limit it to a narrower range of frequencies) and would probably give you a cleaner, crisper mid-upper bass.
Rubber feet are far more effective than rigid spikes for subs on hard floors though. (towers require a rigid mounting system to be stable, so rubber feet are out)