Footers under new speakers
Hi , I’m seeking advice regarding footers and/or platforms under my speakers. I purchased Tekton Double Impact’s and have heavy shag carpet and padding over a cement slab floor. House is 35 years old, cement is thick and well cured. I’m from that old mindset of spikes into cement and I am looking for an improvement. I’ve looked online at Gaia footers and Herbie's Studded Giant Gliders. I emailed Herbie’s and specifically inquired about the studded gliders alone on the DI’s over carpet. I asked about stability and was told the speakers were “ heavy enough “. Unfortunately I just set up the DI’s temporarily to get a little break in time. They are without any footers upright on my carpet. At 115 lbs the speaker does about zero to compress the carpet. I understand weight Vs footprint is abysmal but they won’t even stand straight. I’ll probably put the spikes on for a bit until I formulate a plan. But my first concern is that Herbie’s gliders alone are not enough and due to the minimum cost of the speakers I am struggling with purchasing Gaia’s footers and footer spikes. The seismic stands look exceptional, but I’m trying to be frugal. So I’m looking for suggestions like, gliders or dots with or without spikes on wood / stone plinths spiked to the floor. My goal is to try some sort decoupling (Gliders / Springs / Dots) AND eliminate the need of having to rely on the carpet being compressed. And yes I have cheap speakers and seek a cheap solution, so I get that limitation. Unfortunately I can’t afford Tannoy’s or Fynes to compliment my 180 watt tube mono blocs for at least a year. Cheers , Mike B.
@buellrider97, congratulations on the Townshends. Something that may interest you are the very affordable Vibrapods at about $30 a set/4 I first tried some under my Oppo and the results surprised me which lead me to buying a Townshend Platform to replace the pods which improved the sound further. These are available in sizes from 1 - 5 to match the weight of the component. I now have No. 1s under my line stage and No. 2s under my Wadia, actually preferring them to Isoacoustics Oreas. |
@bugredmachine, I sometimes resort to using a pair of closed-back headphones to eliminate the rooms acoustic signature as a sanity check. I find it a great help. |
@lemonhaze , Hi , thanks for the compliment. I have the Pangea Sorbothane feet under my line stage. They have pretty much glued themselves to the Rogue RP-1 feet and the shelf it’s on. I’ll have to pry it apart when I change up my rig. FWIT I damaged my raw birch Klipsh Heresys with Blue Dots that were provided by Sound Anchor when I purchased custom sized stands from them. I’ve accumulated quite a pile of gear to assemble. I’m sitting here waiting on a pending kitchen , den remodel which will result in a massive dust cloud throughout the house. When the dust clears I will be getting out the Rogue Hera Pre, the Rogue M-180’s. I plan on putting the amps ( 55lbs ea ) on platforms near my speakers. I’ll use a two shelf rack for the Hera pre, my Thorens TT, and my Yiggy DAC. I currently have an Innuos Pulse mini with a LPS, a Musical Fidelity CD transport , an Oppo 105, and a Richard Gray 600 filter. When all of this occurs I will start experimenting with various items for components starting with the less expensive items suggested like springs and pucks. My TT has a custom Brazilian Rosewood plinth with Maple Shade brass footers. I’m thinking an additional platform with vibration footers. I’m running into funding issues and still need balanced cables. Between the 3 Rogue pieces I’ll have 22 tubes and need dampers for them also. During all of that I need to get a dedicated Ethernet line to my streamer as I’m using a powerline adapter through the same lines powering the system. My next big purchase will be a nicer steamer. It’s always something. 😆 BTW have you done any mods to your Oppo ? I only bought it to watch my concert DVD’s and it’s been in the closet for the last 2 years. Regards, Mike B. |
Rogue Hera, awesome preamp. About 20 years ago I had one on loan for 2 weeks and loved it. My ignorance of tube microphonics at the time dissuaded me from keeping it as I was heating the tinkling of the tubes at idle and thought it was a defect. |
@bugredmachine , Thanks , its the Hera II, I bought it from the original owner for $2k. It was sent to Rogue for a full service and a retube with Sovtek’s then stored . The M-180’s were free from the same friend. One had an issue and needed repair. So I sent them to Rogue and decided on the full Dark upgrade and full retube. I have a stash of nos tubes for them. Rogue supply’s Psvane KT -88’s over Tung Sol KT-120’s due to quality issues. I did a 100 hr break in for the gear and then boxed it up. After the dust clears I’ll set it up. I wanted some Tannoy’s but I’m not that well funded. I bought the Tektons as a budget compromise and am Very surprised at how much I like them. I considered the MoFi 888’s too, I wanted a FUN SPEAKER over an exacting audiophile speaker. My goal for this whole thing is to have a big full off axis wall of sound. I have a Had Inspire and some ZU’s for that small late night experience. My wife will inherit that for her own system. Once I offered to set her up with her own rig to steam het stuff she was all in. I’ve always tried to get her interested in my system with moderate results. I guess it’s like her having her own car. I should have realized this long ago. Cheers , Mike. |
It was so delicate and musical at the same time. You're lucky to have it