House Move Changed The Sound

Posted by: MontyW on 10 May 2003

I've just moved house and where my sistem is now placed is almost identicle to the old house (room size and furnishings), apart from the room is now on the third floor and the floor is wooden/carpeted and not concrete/carpeted ground floor. I changed my speakers from Into II's for Epos M12's on their dedicated stands only a few months ago and thought at last all was well.

I have read a few threads in the forum and have seen many people believe Quadraspire supports are not at their best on wooden floors - that is what I have presently have my sistem on. Now, is the Quadraspire that is contributing to the change of my favourite tunes or is it the fact my speakers are now on a wooden floor?

If its the wooden floor, what can I do? Screws under the speaker stand spikes has made only a marginal improvement? What next, to get back to the sound I like and are used too?

Cheers,

Dave

Posted on: 10 May 2003 by syd

quote:
Originally posted by David Greenwood:
I've just moved house and where my sistem is now placed is almost identicle to the old house (room size and furnishings), apart from the room is now on the third floor and the floor is wooden/carpeted and not concrete/carpeted ground floor. I changed my speakers from Into II's for Epos M12's on their dedicated stands only a few months ago and thought at last all was well.

I have read a few threads in the forum and have seen many people believe Quadraspire supports are not at their best on wooden floors - that is what I have presently have my sistem on. Now, is the Quadraspire that is contributing to the change of my favourite tunes or is it the fact my speakers are now on a wooden floor?

If its the wooden floor, what can I do? Screws under the speaker stand spikes has made only a marginal improvement? What next, to get back to the sound I like and are used too?

Cheers,

Dave

I've just added 2 paving slabs under my 'Briks and it made an incredible difference to the sound. I reckon that if I had spent 3 grand on boxes etc and got this improvement I would have been well happy. And it just cost £3.00 from homebase. The slabs are 400mm x 400mm and £1.49 each. Why not give it a go has you have little to lose.

Yours in Music

Syd

Posted on: 10 May 2003 by MontyW

Syd,

Cheers will pick some up from the local DIY in the am!

Posted on: 11 May 2003 by MontyW

Wetwipe,

All I can say - is place my speakers on top of a cople £'s worth of concrete slabs has doen the trick! A worth while and very cheap upgrade. Bass now tighter and mid range is 'spot on'. Get a pall to put some slabs in the boot of his/her car.

Cheers,

Dave

Posted on: 11 May 2003 by syd

quote:
Originally posted by Ultra Violet:
Since Concrete isn't exactly aesthetically pleasing in the lounge - would felt covered concrete slabs work just as well?

I dont see why not. or even painted to suit your decor. As the paving slabs work so well in my system I'm now considering approaching a local monumental mason to see if he can come up with blocks of marble or whatever cut and polished to the same size. Should be much nicer on the eye although the paving slabs are of a size that's just outside the dimensions of the stands so don't intrude much. I also thought of granite but read somewhere that it rings.

Yours in Music

Syd

Posted on: 12 May 2003 by syd

quote:
Originally posted by Tony Coxhill:
Syd. What dealer sold you your LP12? I got mine from Maeto Musik in Clarkston, remember them? I used to live in E.K (Greenhills) in the early eighties. Great guys and one of the best Linn dealers ever in my view. Much better than those numpties in Stereo Stereo. Unfortunately there's a bloody chippy there now! Where abouts in E.K are you?

Hi Tony

I live in East Mains quite near the Old Village. And I remember Maeto Music with great fondness. My current Linn was bought second hand in Edinburgh but my first was indeed bought in Maeto, an Ex Demo rosewood plinth number, LVX II and Basik cartridge. After Maeto closed I used Russ Andrews in Edinburgh where I upgraded to Ittok/Asaka/32.5/Hicap/250 and Linn Saras. They were also an exceptionally good dealer in those days and drove through to EK and set everything up one evening and spent a good few hours setting things up to my satisfaction. The quality of dealers has certainly gone down over the last few years.

Yours in Music

Syd

Posted on: 12 May 2003 by Greg Beatty

To those of you using slabs under speakers...

Are you using them on top of carpet?

If so, do you have some kind of spike arrangement through the carpet?

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Posted on: 12 May 2003 by syd

quote:
Originally posted by Greg Beatty:
To those of you using slabs under speakers...

Are you using them on top of carpet?

If so, do you have some kind of spike arrangement through the carpet?

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

I don't but the Briks are very heavy. It may be necessary with lighter speakers or where you have very thick underlay.

Yours in Music

Syd

Posted on: 12 May 2003 by ErikL

David,

I might have missed it here since I'm hardly awake, but did we/you correctly diagnose that stands were the root of the problem in your new home? I didn't see any details on how the sound changed, is all. What came to mind is going from a fully-carpeted room to a wood-floored room with area carpets might have hardened the sound (I experienced this once myself).

Ever consider painting the concrete blocks or coating them in a tool dip? How fun would that be- big blue or red plastic dipped concrete slabs as stands! Even better, you can buy some massive plant pots, fill them with rich soil, and set your speakers in them. Okay, I'm awake now! (tap, tap- is this thing on?)

Seriously, though, I would be interested in hearing how the sound changed in your new home.

Cheers,

-Ludwig-

Posted on: 12 May 2003 by MontyW

Hi Ludwig,

OK - here goes, the concrete slabs are on a carpeted wooden floor - no spikes because the slabs are damn heavy. All I have done is placed the stands on top of the slabs, in exactly same position apart and from the back wall. My set-up is identical to our old house except with a wooden floor now with slabs. All I can say is the 'tunes' I love so much are back! Bass is nice and tight, mid range is 'nice' and sound stage spot on! Now I know this may seem cliched, but I liked the sound in my concrete floored house and now I have recreated it with a few 'quids' worth of slabs from the local DIY. So a cheap upgrade and worth it! Try it!!

Dave

Posted on: 12 May 2003 by ErikL

David,

Glad things worked out. So rickity, rocking stands on the hardwood floor was the issue? I have a slightly shaky stand myself.

Maybe 8 years ago a co-worker bought a cheap Rotel system and US$300 Canadian bookshelfs. Anyhow, he set his speakers on concrete blocks from The Home Depot. Mostly the same sort of improvements you describe, especially the tightening bass!

Cheers,

-Ludwig-

Posted on: 14 May 2003 by MontyW

Just for information 'guys' - I have had the use of two pieces of granite from a friend of mine who reclaims lots of stuff. I thought I'd give it a try instead of the concrete slabs - you know why, because it looks better. However, be WARNED!!! Granite is sh*te - what a mess it makes of my beloved 'tunes' - it sounds like I have bells ringing in my room. It may be just me, but granite ain't worth a penny in my humble books!!

Cheers,

Dave