Speaker Spikes, Do You?

[novisnick]

Thats the question.

Do you think/know/believe that using speaker spikes makes any difference in the Sound? Tone? Quality? 

If so, whats the difference in your opinion?

Or wheres your facts?

I've never used them, what benefits will they bring? Or not?

Thanks for stopping by.

[novisnick]

Poll

Thats the question.

Do you think/know/believe that using speaker spikes makes any difference in the Sound? Tone? Quality? 

If so, whats the difference in your opinion?

Or wheres your facts?

I've never used them, what benefits will they bring? Or not?

Thanks for stopping by.  

Do you have any suggestions for questions on a poll?

[AudioHTIT]

I think spikes are most helpful with subwoofers, and I normally use them there. Not using them on hardwood floors. If you want to move a lot of air you don't want the box moving.

[novisnick]

Do you think a ported floor facing driver in a sub puts out more or less acurate sound? More or less volume?

[AudioHTIT]

Jul 1, 2016 23:48:28 GMT -5 novisnick said:

Do you think a ported floor facing driver in a sub puts out more or less acurate sound? More or less volume?

One of the best subwoofers I've owned – a Nola Thunderbolt III – had a floor facing port. That said I don't think any given design is always best (or worst), how it works in a particular room is the key, and how much flexibility you have with placement. I'm no sub expert.

[vcautokid]

Theory holds in concentrating mass on the tips of the spikes improving clarity of the loudspeaker. Reality, does it? What do your ears tell you? Try and see!

[assy74]

I use spikes, but have to admit it is not a big change in sound..... But I have hardwood floors. But I will say it is a slight difference to the better

[bitsandbytes]

My B&W 804 diamond speakers each sit on an Auralex Subdude isolation platform. Had previously purchased these so my tweeters would be exactly at ear level. The improvement from this was there, but marginal.

My speaker spikes are attached to the front end of the speakers only, to give them a backward tilt. This increases the vertical soundstage and ambiance. Makes it sound like the singer is standing in front of you (versus singing at ear level). When properly set up, the voice of the singer should be always seem to be coming from the center of the room. If you move to the side to listen, the voice should still seem like its coming from the center instead of following you in parallel and sounding like they singing directly in front of your new listening position.

In the video High Fidelity Stereo, this is discussed at a presentation at the Rocky Mountain Audiofest. Interesting that Bob advocates using the long wall to set your equipment along. I may have to try that...

myspeakersetup.com/index.php/videos

Walt

[Chuck Elliot]

I've never used spikes, but I've used casters for a long number of years starting with my Cornwalls. All my subs are on casters. It makes them easier to move too.

[vneal]

I have a wooden floor with carpet in front of the speakers. My CM10s are designed on their dedicated platform for these speakers flat surfaces do not need spikes though it comes with spikes for carpet.speakers  

Other designs I have owned that were spiked mostly Thiel speakers I  spiked them because they came that way


Honestly I never heard any difference

[ÈlTwo]

I've never used spikes, then again, I've never used speakkers either

[LCSeminole]

I've used the spikes that came with my speakers when I had carpet in the past. I don't put any credence in the theory that spikes give more clarity, but I do know that when the carpet that they were meant to be used with is no longer there, it affects the room as the dampening the carpet provided is no longer a factor and now you are less one room treatment on a very reflective hard flooring.

[macromicroman]

My speakers are on a wooden floor so I have never used the spikes that came with them. I, therefore, have no idea if they affect sound in any way.

[hemster]

I have carpet in my HT and use spikes under the front left and right speakers. Also the speakers are placed atop a raised curved front stage and I find that spikes help decouple the speakers making the sound less boomy. Lastly, spikes help raise the speakers slightly to aim perfectly at the sweet spot which is second row seating on a 10" riser.

As LC says, dampening is the main reason to use spikes. Also they can help if you have very light speakers that are prone to "walking" away!

[jlafrenz]

Here is a good explanation.

www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/speaker-spikes-and-cones-2013-what2019s-the-point

[rbk123]

With carpet, yes. Gave a much more rigid foundation for the speaker; tighter bass, better imaging, increased clarity. Small but noticeable.

For hardwood floors, I can't see using them without damaging the floor. I'd imagine if the speaker is heavy enough, good rubber feet would give a solid enough foundation that would be very close or equal to spiking.

Jul 2, 2016 1:48:51 GMT -5 assy74 said:

I use spikes, but have to admit it is not a big change in sound..... But I have hardwood floors. But I will say it is a slight difference to the better

Do you just live with the gouges in the wood floor?

[DYohn]

I use them on carpet and only to keep the speakers where I put them.

[autiger]

I put sorbothane 1/2 spheres under my sub and there was a drastic improvement. Hardwood floors. Really cleaned up the low end. I've put in under my TT with excellent results and started my Airmotives with it under them.

[Gary Cook]

My numerous, over the years, sub woofers on carpet have always had spikes. They simply rock (not in a good way) too much without them.

Cheers
Gary

[JKCashin]

Would a downward firing sub fix that though?