Floor<>speaker interface

I tried a few different feet gizmos and the cheapish platforms I usually keep my tt/cd on but wasn't happy, so the result I settled on [for my Credo's] was some plain old slabs from Homebase (less than a tenner, value for money or what!). Ground floor though - dont think it is suspended.

Maybe try a pair of cheap slabs to see if you are going in the right direction?

Dave.

Sean - in another thread regarding setting up Mana soundbases you may find some answers, and also here.
I am having 40mm slate slabs made this week for my SBL's, polished on three edges and one face for £65. Who quoted you £270?? Get some other quotes from a monumental stonemason.

All,

I had a look at the MDF/balbearing thread, very interesting. I do thing though that DBLs may be too heavy for MDF boards causing 'sinking' of balls/speaker spikes into it. However, the idea looks good so will be experimenting in that direction, wheather it being two layers of thinner slate/concrete or one thicker layer. I know how good speakers can sound on a concrete floor (had one at one time) and thought that the mass helped in stopping the bass from going into the floor. I will be seeing how much slabs will cost. Slate would look better and be cleaner but the 270pounds quoted was from a monumental stonemason.

Thanks.

Sean.

My KEF Reference 4.2s floorstanders are each currently sitting on a B&Q paving slab (less than 5 quid for two) on a very bouncy suspended wooden floor with a 3 to 4 foot air gap beneath it.

I got the paving slabs in an attempt to tighten up the bass, and if they didn't work then all I'd lost was the price of a couple of pints.

It did help to tighten up the bass but I found that overall the sound improved - mainly that the instruments sounded more real and there was a better sence that they we being played by real people.

My wife thoght I was mad - she needed to help me get each of the 50kg KEF beasts onto the slabs. However listing to the system with the slabs in place she could here much the same positive changes I could. Marvellous what 5 quid can do!

I've recently got a secondhand LP12/Ittok/Trioka to replace my Rega. It's almost impossible to use - the floor is s.s.s.so b.b.b.b.bouncy that the slightest movement is a d.d.d.d.disaster. So I've ordered a m*n* wall shelf to get it off the rack thats on the floor. At the same time I threw caution to the wind and took the opportunity to order soundbases to replace the paving slabs.

The helpful chap at the M*n* factory said theyed be with this Friday, so I'll post the findings of the bare suspended wooden floor vs slabs vs m*N* soundbases once I've got over hulking 50kg speakers about if anyone is interested.

Jim J

Jim,

It will be interesting to hear how you get on with the m**a, you will be doing the reverse of what I am contemplating. I put my DBLs back on the soundbases purely to please the neighbour downstairs and did'ent like what I heard. However, a constant tweaker being, I fitted home made 'chips' (I am a machineist to trade) underneath the speaker spikes.......an improvement, especially in the bass. The sound was still edgy and the flow of the music was poor. More of my 'chips' were put underneath the soundbases spikes.........now the sound is soooooo smooth and listenable again. Crisper, fuller, smoother all of the things you look for in the sound, I have to say I'm quite pleased. This is totally against the advice from *an*.

Good luck with yours.

Sean.

Being in the midst of this type of stuff myself, I am seriously interested in what you guys are doing. Jim - is there carpet in there? Did you plonk the slabs straight onto carpet?
Sean - Were your chips for the Soundbases on carpet?

very interesting.

I will be going for the concrete paving slabs, but will paint them to make 'em look good.

H.

Rasher,

The floorboards are bare with a large rug in the middle of the room. The speakers are sited on an area where there is no rug, so I plonked the slabs directly on to the wooden floorboards. I had to fiddle with the slabs to get them into a position where they didn't rock, but with 50kg of KEFs sitting on each of them they're pretty stable.

I'll post how I get on once the m*n* arrives.

Jim J

Rasher,

To let you know my m**a soundbases do sit on chips which are on carpet. Yes, they are not as stable and yes, they sound better. As to why? well your guess is as good as mine.

Sean.

I will try some coins then, or I might try pulling the pin out of drawing pins, that may leave a dimple to put a spike into. Worth a try.