I subscribe to an email newsletter from Jim Smith (author of "Get Better Sound"), and the most recent issue promotes using "gliders" under speaker spikes:
Quite simply, using spikes as the interface between the floor and the speaker consistently produces what I call Audiophile Bass. There is no question that the bass is tighter. It even affects the overall sound in the higher registers.
I tend to prefer more of what I call a musically organic sound, whereas the spikes produce a more mechanically precise sound. So there is room for calling one or the other a simple preference.
Until you think about the sound of live bass, acoustic or amplified, I always say, “It’s not a preference when you have a reference.” :)
Over many years of concert-going, and making live recordings for various entities, including Public Radio Affiliates, not once have I EVER heard live bass (acoustic or amplified) that sounds as tight and shriveled as I hear from systems where spikes are used. Not once – never…
Yet, I can go into a show where – time-after-time – the speaker designer is on hand, proudly demo-ing his latest creation, which, more often than not, is sitting on spikes. Rather than being critical, let’s just chalk it up to a matter of opinion and experience.
We think we need to couple speakers (and racks) to the floor. I’m not sure if that is the right term. I’ve almost come down on the side of those whose viewpoint is that we need to decouple the system from the floor. Or at least do it in a more valid and musically interesting way.
I can attest to the fact that I’ve voiced dozens of systems lately where the client was using spikes under their speakers when I arrived, because that was what came with their speakers. I do not suggest removing them. I do suggest refining the interface between the spike and the floor (Doesn’t matter if the floor is hardwood, tile, carpeted, etc.). Don’t know whether to call it coupling or decoupling. I do know the results are wonderful!
And, in every case, the client did not want to give up the solution I brought along, in my case, to aid with the movement of the speakers. If you’ve ever tried to move heavy speakers on spikes, you know what I mean!
Later in the newsletter Jim introduces specialised speaker gliders.
In the last issue, I referred to putting speakers on furniture sliders to enable easier placement. That actually works pretty nicely, but if you have heavy speakers with sharp spikes, it doesn’t work as well, because the spikes start to protrude through the furniture sliders.
Reader Mike M. reminded me of a much more elegant solution. Why is it more elegant?
First, let’s have a look at it. I wish I owned this company because everyone who tries these gliders from Herbie’s Audio Lab has to buy them right away. They are called Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders
Finally, he provides links to the gliders.
Has anyone done a Tunedem comparison of gliders vs spikes or spikes vs "no spikes"?
