Speaker stand spikes into floor or on to Chips ?

pcs

NBL's were 20 here in Canada circa 2001, unless the dealer mislead me at the time. It was the reason I originally turned them down. Which would suggest that I am both cogniscent of facts, and price (budget) sensitive just like everyone else.

Perhaps some granite slabs would be economical while adding some sonic benefits. Many have used them here in the past.

My point about the chips was not that they were a no brainer, but they worked in certain circumstances especially under the Fraim whose cups resemble them. They are transferable to any spiked equipment although they may not produce the same results, like most items in the stereo realm.

So expensive as a term is useful only if the item is impractical, or does not deliver as advertised. In other words relative.

As for motivation and "enthusiasm", I guess I can only say: thanks for the condescension.

tw

quote:

Originally posted by Alive:
Well i can see alot of ppl manage to convince themselfs alot of things, even that a piece of steel under a spike can change the sound from "horrid" to "wonderful"..

Please show me any proof (other than placebo) that for exampel the Naim chips (or any other dedicated chip from any other company) will improve the sound.

I can almost bet my entire Naim-rigg that not one engineer will verify that it is even possible, the law of physics goes for us all..

ps. do not get me wrong, i love Naim and the sound of my equipment but all of this dogmatic thinking just wears me down..

You should come over and I can easily demonstrate that the Naim Chips work. I tried other things underneath DBL's and also tried the spikes penetrating the hardwood floor (not much you can do to prevent it when each speaker weighs in at 100Kg!). The Chips increased clarity in the bass, mid and treble, and opened out the sound to create more depth, height and width. I am currently using PMC IB2 monitors. Tried all sorts under the stands, and I found that using the Chips better than using PMC's flat feet, PMC's spikes, concrete slabs, coins etc.

I remember an engineer in a recording studio wondering why I had turned up with an angle iron stand with a glass shelf. I told him it usually improved the sound of the equipment we placed on it. You could hear him stifling a snigger. However we soon had him asking if we could get hold of any more, and all we had done was plug a cheapo Roland XP10 keyboard into the desk, and asked him to tell us if he could hear the difference. We ended up placing it under guitar amps, bits of outboard gear and ultimately the power supply of a Neve Desk.

I think if you cannot hear the difference that's fine. Keep the money in your pocket. Or take some home and try them if you're curious. That way you have your own judgement on value for money and if you think the improvement is worth £60 per stand or speaker for a set of Chips (£15 each).

I found that coins and similar round flat(ish) objects may bring some of the benefits of Chips, i.e cleaner faster bass, but these usually rob the sound of scale and make the mids and top a bit detached and often screechy. No chips meant a relaxed and full sound but with less speed and less separation around instruments.

Give it a go!

Sure they might "work" but can you really suggest them for a pair of $400 speakers (or less)? That would be like jamming $1000 per Z rated tire on a 1982 Honda Accord with 436,000 miles on it.

Yes they might "work", when in fact they do work.

You said that Chips were only for Fraim. I'm just trying to put over my experience. Sure, when the Chip was launched, we all said "How Much???" But then gradually people tried them and found that they actually work a treat. I get the impression that you haven't played with them under a pair of speakers. Am I right in thinking that?

The Epos were very fussy about placement. I don't see anything wrong with putting Chips under them if the owner feels the improvement in sound is justifiable.

Anyway, just my thoughts.

Best wishes,

Mickey