Speaker stablization

BlueFox
BlueFox Posts: 15,251
edited July 2008 in Speakers
I was reading on another site about something called "Black Diamond Racing Cones". While researching this item I came across some interesting info about how equipment, and speakers, can vibrate, which sets up audible distortion. While I am having a hard time believing this in regard to amps and pre-amps, it made instant sense from a speaker perspective.

My 4 LSi15s are using carpet spikes, but they really are not that stable, especially side-to-side. While wondering how the Black Diamonds would help with the LSi15s I had an idea. Years ago I bought a 110 lb Olympic weight set that, like all home exercise equipment, sat unused in the garage. I went out, got the 25lb plates, and put them on top of each LSi15 (a cloth is between the speaker and plate).

This made them more stable and planted to the floor. The real surprise is that they sound better!! Clearer, more precise, more detailed. I am amazed. I made a sonic improvement without spending a ton of money.

The only issue is whether the 25lbs is putting any type of damaging stress on the speakers. And being in earthquake country I have to remove them when not in use.
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
Post edited by BlueFox on

Comments

  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited July 2008
    Good work! I wouldn't worry about 25 lbs. But a workaround is to built a box to put the speaker on. Fill the box with sand and you're done. Your solution is a tad better as it will suppress vibrations caused by the drivers moving.

    Better yet, bolt those suckers into a concrete floor. j/k

    Do you have a turntable? That is another piece that can benefit a lot from stability.
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited July 2008
    ShinAce wrote: »
    Do you have a turntable? That is another piece that can benefit a lot from stability.

    Good point. Turntables are very vibration sensitive.

    Back in the day (70s) when I used vinyl I put a shelf on the wall for my turntable (AR manual) and braced it with a pole between the floor and the shelf, which helped a lot with the sound.

    Now I enjoy SACDs without the hassle of records.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.