2. member-reviews
  3. 165155-41

Townshend Seismic Isolation Podium Platform Review:

Townshend Seismic Isolation Podium Platform Review:

Comparison:  To the Iso- Acoustics Gaia 1’s.

Procedure: I removed my Iso-Acoustics Gaia 1’s that I have had under my Focal Sopra 2’s speakers from their entry into my system to compare the sound with the Townshend Seismic Isolation Podium Platform.

With the 2 Townshend Seismic Isolation Podium Platform size 3 now in place. BTW,  I must add that I placed the order from Townshend in England from the USA on Tuesday, they were shipped on Thursday and I received both of them by Monday. Pretty fast shipping, Oh, if only the USPS could get there act together…

Starting with the bass. = There is definatly more clearly defined bass notes. Defined is my choice word. I listened to familiar tunes with prominent bass notes.  I like to imagine if I can feel a real bass player playing along. That is; with the power and tonality of a live performer. Can you feel the bass pluck?

Midrange. = I hear more hidden clues in the music. I listen for the clarity of the voice and instruments. Live recording’s is usually the best to examine. (See my conclusion below)

Treble. = The highs are extended naturally. Nothing added or taken away. I think the treble sounds more open, cymbals shimmer longer, better? Again, I think so.

Soundstage. = Definitely an improvement in both front/back side to side images. Very happy.

Conclusion:

Ok, I admit I am an old time rocker. My favorite group is Creedence Clearwater Revival. On the “Green River” tune (24/192hz download), previously I could sense the rhythm guitar of John’s older brother Tom strumming but could never quite hear it clearly. No wonder he got pissed.

Well today with the Townshend Platforms in place, I can hear the brother clearly strumming along, a little left of center, sort of floating above the speakers. This tells me that I am hearing deeper minute images that were once buried in the mix.

I like the livelier sound on the Led Zeppelin track “Rock & Roll” HD 24/96hz but it always seemed a little anemic, like it should sound more dynamic. Well now with Townshend Platforms in place it does! The drum whacks have more presence. And the cymbals really ride with the music. Most impressive.

The size of the Platforms fit my Focal Sopra 2’s perfectly, almost like they were made for them. Edge to edge in all directions, perfect fit. For smaller rooms the outrigger extensions may be cumbersome but in my open room they look fine.

Nothing negative to report, except maybe the cost. But I also own many Critical Mass footers that are quite impressive and I can’t believe what those little buggers’ cost.

Quite frankly, instead of trying other footers that are perhaps cheaper and sort of a band aid approach that will cause you to keep searchin’ for that missing element, go for the real thing(s) and finally enjoy your system.

ozzy


128x128ozzy
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,204 posts
 
tvad, gdnrbob,pmiller115,milercarbon,
Thanks for your comments.
I am really glad millercarbon posted the thread. It made me dig deeper for info. I see that the platforms were also awarded accessory of the year by Audiophile Magazine.

I am using Critical Mass footers under all my audio components except the speakers and subs. They look relatively pedestrian and inexpensive but boy do they help the signal transfer and cost a lot more.

ozzy
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
I tried so many things, under speakers and everything else, and the BDR system of carbon fiber Cones and Shelf was so much better that it was my reference for decades. Then I was shocked to find springs so much better, and for a lot less money too which hardly ever happens.

Probably would have stopped right there were it not for John Hannant leading me onto the Townshend Pods and Podiums. They have been around a long time but pretty much off the radar here in the US and with nobody I knew about using them it took me a while to feel like giving them a try. Once I did though, wow!

Obviously others had used them before, just hardly anyone knew about it. When I find something really good like this, well it’s just the coolest thing to let people know. Don’t care if it’s a spring or a rubber band, a Schumann generator or a cable elevator, if it helps the magic I am all for it. This stuff totally helps make the magic.

This helps in a general sense too. Because the way I see it, what this shows is not just that this one particular thing is really good, but that this one fundamental concept is really good. That idea being, to leave each component free to vibrate on it’s own. Works with speakers, turntables, amps, source components. Works with speaker cables, interconnects, power cords. Recently cut my crossovers free from the brace they were mounted on, working on testing how well it works there. This is now as far as I’m concerned a proven concept.

Where else can we use it? Think of something, try it- find out!
cd318
2,636 posts
 
"Because the way I see it, what this shows is not just that this one particular thing is really good, but that this one fundamental concept is really good." MC


I agree, but let's not forget that it wasn't so long ago that we were being advised to rigidly couple everything together as far as possible - speakers/stands/floor, tonearms/head-shells/cartridges.

Now were seeing a complete 180 degree turnaround in a matter of years. Some even going as far as introducing compliant cartridge mounting.

I still remember in Hi-Review of one senior reviewer casually admitting that he preferred his cartridge sound with the bolts slightly loosened but decided against it because of what his more esteemed colleagues had told him. 

A fine example of dogma-led thinking.



@senza,

I'm a little surprised that you found the Townshend bars to be effective under the Harbeth M40.2s. 

If ever there was one speaker brand where all of the effects of cabinet/driver resonance had been taken into careful consideration, it would be Harbeth.

With my Tannoys even a few 3mm x 44mm sorbothane/rubber squares have similar effect as the OP has described. 

Anyway it's good to know that even further improvements via the Townshend Platforms (or even undamped springs alone) might be available if the need ever arises.
prof
3,435 posts
 

Excellent review Ozzy!

I’m still waiting to pull the trigger on the Seismic Speaker Bars (I have other things I may buy first).

I’d considered giving the Iso- Acoustics Gaia’s a whirl but when building my turntable isolation base I tried the isoacoustics pucks under the platform and they didn’t do much to isolate relative to the Townshend pods I had, and I tried the pucks under my speakers too and didn’t particularly care for the results. I figure I’ll just skip them and go for the gold :-)
I mentioned in millercarbon's thread that I tried a cheap version of spring footers under my Thiel speakers and they amazed me in terms of tighting up the bass, opening up the sound, refining everything (though the sound got a bit too laid back).    I've been integrating a subwoofer recently and while it is also helping open up the soundstage more, it didn't have quite the amazing effect of making the speakers disappear and refining and digging out more information as the springs did.
senza
80 posts
 
@cd318,

I’m surprised also. But don’t forget the bars are under the Hifi Racks support, not directly under the speaker.
I will soon receive a pair of Kensington to compare with the Harbeth. So I can try with and without the bars.
More to discover