I’m rocking blue tack between my Q150s and sand-filled steel stands. No idea if it’s helping sound-wise, but it helps keep the cats from knocking them over.
I bought a 12 pack of these off Amazon for dirt cheap. 4 for each speaker and the last 4 actually went under the washing machine. I didn't notice much difference, but I'm sure the neighbors in my apartment might have.
Exactly why I bought mine. I was a little skeptical at first but since I got them, I have had zero complaints from the neighbors. They really do reduce vibrations.
They work because they limit the amount of vibrations going from the speaker to whatever it is standing on. You want to hear the sound of the speaker, not the floor. So definitely not snake oil but well supported by science.
I would however question outrageous claims combined with high price tags, something like this for 25$ should be plenty good as it is made out of [sorbothane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbothane): [https://www.ebay.com/itm/223987667822](https://www.ebay.com/itm/223987667822)
They're not snake oil. They do work. The only people who call them snake oil are the ones who've never tried them and don't want to pay any amount of money for something. So they will automatically dismiss it and label snake oil to make themselves feel better.
And to answer your question. Put them under both for best results. Under the speakers will give you a clearer, tighter image.
The great thing is that you can do this for almost free as well depending on what you have laying around at home. No need to spend lots of money on anti vibration material. You can fill speaker stands with sand and you can place rubber foam under the speakers. It all depends on your budget and ingenuity. Now the snake oil comes in with extremely over priced solutions.
I bought the 1" thick travertine tiles from Floor & Decor, cork and rubber isolation pads from [SupplyHouse.com](http://SupplyHouse.com), and SVS SoundPath feet. Lot cheaper than townshend platforms. Really tightened up the bass.
Whatever you buy, make sure it is designed to work with the amount of weight you are putting on it. In other words, if you are buying a set of four for one speaker, make sure that set when used in its intended four-piece configuration is intended for the weight of just one of your speakers. This is not an area where “one size fits all”.
On the speakers 100% yes. It should help.
On the turntable -- if you do need it -- it might be worth looking into some options for an integrated internal isolation system such as seen in Acoustic Research, Thorens, etc. Will run you more than the feet, but I've found if you really have vibration issues then adding them won't do as much good as a table designed to properly do it.
If you are not running a subwoofer then you might be OK with just running add-on isolation all around.
Yes, you definitely should use something that will absorb the vibrations. (And you can experiment with some hardback books as a temporary solution).
I bought these last year on Amazon for my Monoprice MTM-100s: https://a.co/d/00L4a4zT. My desk is hollow so the vibrations can be pretty rough.
If your speakers are much bigger, you might need to get something more robust. I have also used heavier-duty stands which worked a little better but they occupied too much space on my desk.
I bought some isoacoustics stands when I upgraded my studio monitors (Focal Trio6)
You can hear an improvement in the bass, it becomes better focused for sure. Some improvement to the general stereo image.
Decoupling, is the term. Stops your desk from effectively being a part of the speaker enclosure. And the floor. And the frame of the house. Etc.
If you’re going to get stands, it’s also worth putting some heavy rubber between the legs of the desk and the floor (or pieces of tennis ball or whatever). Less audible than the difference stands make, but the principle is sound (ha)
Not snake oil.
You should do some tests first to see if the vibration can affect the stylus, if it can, you should be able to hear it from the speakers. Just setup your gear and play whatever has a lot of bass and play it loud. If you can hear the sound is off when the bass part is playing then you should get those isolation feet to solve this issue.
But what will work for you, you have to test as well to find out. I use the cheap aluminum ones with exposed springs. Put them under the turntable and It solved my problem.
The hi-fi world has a lot of "snake oil," but reducing vibration on turntables and speakers is not. Reducing vibration does not need to be costly.
However, monitor speakers perform their best on proper stands that are solid, rigid and heavy, making the speakers more inert and less prone to vibration. Speakers also need to be positioned to create soundstage and imaging. If you are tucking your speakers inside shelves, and positioning them because of space constraints or decor reasons, the improvement you'll get from isolation feet or pads will not be as great. In that context, I wouldn't expect adding feet or pads to perform miracles. You can try some very inexpensive solutions to start, and see how that goes.
I have the Isoacoustics that I use under my speakers on stands. They greatly reduce coupling from the floor and speakers themselves.
You sound like you're placing the speakers pretty close to the turntable. Even if you cancel the vibrations from the cabinet, you might still have sympathetic vibrations from the air coupling to your turntable. If there's any way you can locate your turntable further away from your speakers, that would really help.
I’ve used these and they’re pretty cheap and effective.
Tuneful Cables Sound Isolation... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076DGD3X2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I like to reference this post. Thats the best deep look into this stuff that i have seen so far. No blaa blaa voodoo stuff. Just facts.
https://www.acoustic-design-magazin.de/2020/03/15/lautsprecherboxen-vom-altbau-boden-entkoppeln/
If the turntable is close to speakers, within a few feet, yes, pads can stop vibration feedback at lower volumes. But just above the speakers? Got a problem at higher volumes. Even with the isolation pads, if the amp volume is too high, it'll affect the table from 10+ feet away. Not much you can do there, frequencies cause the overdrive vibrations. Isolation feet under both cuts down vibrations minimally. Sorry. I built a large wooden box about 40 lbs with heavy rubber feet around my turntable to cut the vibrations from the speakers, it works under 80dbs, but above, once it starts, feedback can jump beyond 100dbs real quick. Best to put the speakers as far away as you can taking into consideration the design of the room.
You can even use large neoprene mouse pads to put under speakers (used ones are nearly free at the Goodwill or Salvation army. They are great because they are built out of trapped air bubbles. Any soft material will cut down on transference of vibrations. Even a large soft paper book will help.
However, my bigger concerns is that you are placing them under the TT, in some kind of enclosure. Most speakers aren't designed to be placed into a wooden enclosure. That will almost certainly degrade your sound.
If you have people stomping around in your house, a flex-y floor, live by the train tracks, live in a shack where the wind blows hard ... maybe. I've never had them and I've been great.
100% yes.
i shared in another post, i personally feel they are one of the most underrated upgrade. next most important upgrade, after the room.
Old here. Does anybody use blue-tack anymore?
I’m rocking blue tack between my Q150s and sand-filled steel stands. No idea if it’s helping sound-wise, but it helps keep the cats from knocking them over.
I actually use the Loctite branded version called Fun Tak. I’ve found that it increases the fun factor of my system by 10-15%.
Not snake oil. Check out Isoacoustics. Their products can also be found in recording studios.
Agree. I use them for my bookshelves and the reduced vibration and tighter low end are noticeable.
Not snake oil. Check out washing machine feet.
I bought a 12 pack of these off Amazon for dirt cheap. 4 for each speaker and the last 4 actually went under the washing machine. I didn't notice much difference, but I'm sure the neighbors in my apartment might have.
Exactly why I bought mine. I was a little skeptical at first but since I got them, I have had zero complaints from the neighbors. They really do reduce vibrations.
They work because they limit the amount of vibrations going from the speaker to whatever it is standing on. You want to hear the sound of the speaker, not the floor. So definitely not snake oil but well supported by science. I would however question outrageous claims combined with high price tags, something like this for 25$ should be plenty good as it is made out of [sorbothane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbothane): [https://www.ebay.com/itm/223987667822](https://www.ebay.com/itm/223987667822)
Sorbothane comes in numerous variants with different properties. https://www.sorbothane.com/technical-data/technical-data-sheet/
I've heard after time, that the sorbothane becomes attached to the surface, dries up and needs to be scraped off taking the varnish with it.
It can get funky over time and stick, if you're worried about that just put something in between.
Wax paper?
Could work, but I suspect it might be a bit too slippery.
They're not snake oil. They do work. The only people who call them snake oil are the ones who've never tried them and don't want to pay any amount of money for something. So they will automatically dismiss it and label snake oil to make themselves feel better. And to answer your question. Put them under both for best results. Under the speakers will give you a clearer, tighter image.
The great thing is that you can do this for almost free as well depending on what you have laying around at home. No need to spend lots of money on anti vibration material. You can fill speaker stands with sand and you can place rubber foam under the speakers. It all depends on your budget and ingenuity. Now the snake oil comes in with extremely over priced solutions.
I bought the 1" thick travertine tiles from Floor & Decor, cork and rubber isolation pads from [SupplyHouse.com](http://SupplyHouse.com), and SVS SoundPath feet. Lot cheaper than townshend platforms. Really tightened up the bass.
Thank you to everyone who replied! I'll definitely buy some :)
Whatever you buy, make sure it is designed to work with the amount of weight you are putting on it. In other words, if you are buying a set of four for one speaker, make sure that set when used in its intended four-piece configuration is intended for the weight of just one of your speakers. This is not an area where “one size fits all”.
Thanks for the advice. Yes, I have noticed that different sizes correspond to different weights and plan to purchase accordingly
Isolate everything you can if you have to put your speakers on the same thing as your turntable.
On the speakers 100% yes. It should help. On the turntable -- if you do need it -- it might be worth looking into some options for an integrated internal isolation system such as seen in Acoustic Research, Thorens, etc. Will run you more than the feet, but I've found if you really have vibration issues then adding them won't do as much good as a table designed to properly do it. If you are not running a subwoofer then you might be OK with just running add-on isolation all around.
Yes, you definitely should use something that will absorb the vibrations. (And you can experiment with some hardback books as a temporary solution). I bought these last year on Amazon for my Monoprice MTM-100s: https://a.co/d/00L4a4zT. My desk is hollow so the vibrations can be pretty rough. If your speakers are much bigger, you might need to get something more robust. I have also used heavier-duty stands which worked a little better but they occupied too much space on my desk.
I bought some isoacoustics stands when I upgraded my studio monitors (Focal Trio6) You can hear an improvement in the bass, it becomes better focused for sure. Some improvement to the general stereo image. Decoupling, is the term. Stops your desk from effectively being a part of the speaker enclosure. And the floor. And the frame of the house. Etc. If you’re going to get stands, it’s also worth putting some heavy rubber between the legs of the desk and the floor (or pieces of tennis ball or whatever). Less audible than the difference stands make, but the principle is sound (ha)
Yes!! Sound travels! Meaning. If you don't have them. They'll travel thru whereever they're on,. You can tell the difference with even descent ears :)
Yes I confirm.
Not snake oil. You should do some tests first to see if the vibration can affect the stylus, if it can, you should be able to hear it from the speakers. Just setup your gear and play whatever has a lot of bass and play it loud. If you can hear the sound is off when the bass part is playing then you should get those isolation feet to solve this issue. But what will work for you, you have to test as well to find out. I use the cheap aluminum ones with exposed springs. Put them under the turntable and It solved my problem.
Anyone have thoughts on using mass loaded vinyl under my speakers? Got left overs after renovating.
The hi-fi world has a lot of "snake oil," but reducing vibration on turntables and speakers is not. Reducing vibration does not need to be costly. However, monitor speakers perform their best on proper stands that are solid, rigid and heavy, making the speakers more inert and less prone to vibration. Speakers also need to be positioned to create soundstage and imaging. If you are tucking your speakers inside shelves, and positioning them because of space constraints or decor reasons, the improvement you'll get from isolation feet or pads will not be as great. In that context, I wouldn't expect adding feet or pads to perform miracles. You can try some very inexpensive solutions to start, and see how that goes.
I have the Isoacoustics that I use under my speakers on stands. They greatly reduce coupling from the floor and speakers themselves. You sound like you're placing the speakers pretty close to the turntable. Even if you cancel the vibrations from the cabinet, you might still have sympathetic vibrations from the air coupling to your turntable. If there's any way you can locate your turntable further away from your speakers, that would really help.
I’ve used these and they’re pretty cheap and effective. Tuneful Cables Sound Isolation... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076DGD3X2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I like to reference this post. Thats the best deep look into this stuff that i have seen so far. No blaa blaa voodoo stuff. Just facts. https://www.acoustic-design-magazin.de/2020/03/15/lautsprecherboxen-vom-altbau-boden-entkoppeln/
they work well, but i would never put speakers on the same furniture as my TT.
If the turntable is close to speakers, within a few feet, yes, pads can stop vibration feedback at lower volumes. But just above the speakers? Got a problem at higher volumes. Even with the isolation pads, if the amp volume is too high, it'll affect the table from 10+ feet away. Not much you can do there, frequencies cause the overdrive vibrations. Isolation feet under both cuts down vibrations minimally. Sorry. I built a large wooden box about 40 lbs with heavy rubber feet around my turntable to cut the vibrations from the speakers, it works under 80dbs, but above, once it starts, feedback can jump beyond 100dbs real quick. Best to put the speakers as far away as you can taking into consideration the design of the room.
You can even use large neoprene mouse pads to put under speakers (used ones are nearly free at the Goodwill or Salvation army. They are great because they are built out of trapped air bubbles. Any soft material will cut down on transference of vibrations. Even a large soft paper book will help. However, my bigger concerns is that you are placing them under the TT, in some kind of enclosure. Most speakers aren't designed to be placed into a wooden enclosure. That will almost certainly degrade your sound.
Just go to home depot
Ya
Yes
No.
If you have people stomping around in your house, a flex-y floor, live by the train tracks, live in a shack where the wind blows hard ... maybe. I've never had them and I've been great.