Isoacoustics GAIA speaker isolators

[Pancho]

Hi

How many here use Speaker Isolation Stands / Supports ? There is a wide variety of options availble - from simple effective and affordable bamboo boards to specialised supports from companies like IsoAcoustics as well as Stillpoint.

Keen to know the popular effective solutions our members have come up with and use with theor gear - especially floor standing speakers ?

The ones in the pictures are GAIA II Acoustic Isolators.

 

[drkrack]

Hi

How many here use Speaker Isolation Stands / Supports ? There is a wide variety of options availble - from simple effective and affordable bamboo boards to specialised supports from companies like IsoAcoustics as well as Stillpoint.

Keen to know the popular effective solutions our members have come up with and use with theor gear - especially floor standing speakers ?

The ones in the pictures are GAIA II Acoustic Isolators.

I have been using them for quite a while now, have tried many other options but isoacoustics Gaia gives a very good SQ difference. Especially in Tightening the bass and improved clarity in midrange.

Whichever speaker system I upgrade to, I'll definitely opt for Evaluating the compatible Isoacoustics Gaia feets.
Previously it was Gaia 3s, Now I'm using Gaia 2s.

 

[chander]

@Pancho what are those speakers if you don't mind, very curious about the keyhole!

 

[Pancho]

@Pancho what are those speakers if you don't mind, very curious about the keyhole!

those are Tannoys - Kensington GR ! It has a heavy grill frame - which you lock into its slot

Hopefully will be able to learn whether others use any such isolation items ....

 

[Pancho]

Hopefully the pictures attached will help....you will see the unit with the factory supplied "puck" as well as currently with GAIA - audiable improvement followed

 

[chander]

Hopefully the pictures attached will help....you will see the unit with the factory supplied "puck" as well as currently with GAIA - audiable improvement followed

Beautiful drool worthy speakers. Love the looks, I hope at some point in life I get to hear them too.

 

[Pancho]

Beautiful drool worthy speakers. Love the looks, I hope at some point in life I get to hear them too.

You will my friend...you will..... "may the force be with you "

 

[panditji]

How much of a difference in SQ can you make out with the Gaia isolators over the stock feet supplied..

 

[thedude]

How much of a difference in SQ can you make out with the Gaia isolators over the stock feet supplied..

It’s a pretty good difference. If one can’t make out…one might be cursed by the music gods (or may be very lucky and don’t need to spend )

Hi

How many here use Speaker Isolation Stands / Supports ? There is a wide variety of options availble - from simple effective and affordable bamboo boards to specialised supports from companies like IsoAcoustics as well as Stillpoint.

Keen to know the popular effective solutions our members have come up with and use with theor gear - especially floor standing speakers ?

The ones in the pictures are GAIA II Acoustic Isolators.

I use Gaia III with ATC 40. Bass gets tighter weighty and more rounded, image is in better focus, vocals are slightly more forward. For me Gaia are a must have. There might be better solutions but could be lot more expensive.

However the Gaia’s performance also depends on where they sit. On the tiles they made the highs very glassy. I solved that problem by placing em on a thick granite slab.

Btw bamboo boards don’t work. Let’s just use em to chop stuff.

 

[Pancho]

How much of a difference in SQ can you make out with the Gaia isolators over the stock feet supplied..

Panditji......I never believed such items would make differnce to the speaker / audio performance. I listened to it at the dealer - and then he was kind enough to lend me a set - and I could listen to them attached to my speakers at home. I tried the factory supplied units - then mounted the speakers on bamboo floor board - and then GAIA.

It certainly improves the audio and the effect / improvement is audiable.

Now to the question on how much - that would vary I suppose - based on system to system and from speaker to speaker and probably the kind of music genre you follow. The other important thing is it does stop the low frequecies reaching your neighbour especially if you live in an apartment building and are on one of the upper floors. The bass does get more enjoyable - tigher & controlled - those unpleasant vibration disappears - it becomes defined and the tracks become more enjoyable.

Is it worth the money? - now thats different pandoras box altogther

 

[Pancho]

It’s a pretty good difference. If one can’t make out…one might be cursed by the music gods (or may be very lucky and don’t need to spend )



I use Gaia III with ATC 40. Bass gets tighter weighty and more rounded, image is in better focus, vocals are slightly more forward. For me Gaia are a must have. There might be better solutions but could be lot more expensive.

However the Gaia’s performance also depends on where they sit. On the tiles they made the highs very glassy. I solved that problem by placing em on a thick granite slab.

Btw bamboo boards don’t work. Let’s just use em to chop stuff.

I must add - there is a huge following to the Bamboo Board from IKEA

 

[thedude]

I must add - there is a huge following to the Bamboo Board from IKEA

I know and was hence inspired to try… with Concept 40s and then ATC 40s. They made the soundstage bigger but everything else was a big downgrade.

I also tried different plywoods and MDF boards. Ply were much better than Ikea bamboo. Attached a pic of it.

 

[Lizard King]

I must add - there is a huge following to the Bamboo Board from IKEA

Tell me. Been there, done that. Now it's back to chopping onions.

 

[Pancho]

Tell me. Been there, done that. Now it's back to chopping onions.

 

[jenson]

Islolators definitely change something... That change is what impresses us first...not sure if that change is for good or bad... Most often tightening can also be read as, something is taken away... I had that exp with a, CD player.. Initially excited.. Later removed as I felt the decay, some mid range hump was missing...

All said, my interpretation is, isolation is a tough science to master... Unless of course the makers themselves recommend it..dont they tune the box to vibrate or not vibrate a certain way...?

 

[Beast_of_burden]

I will not comment on isolation or vibration control for amplifiers, preamplifiers, Streamers, etc but in my experience isolation, resonance control, vibration damping whatever one might call it, works under speakers. I have ISO200 under floorstanders and ISO130 under bookshelf speakers and I never hesitate to recommend these with bookshelf speakers. These stands don't have much give and feel quite rigid but they appear to be working to prevent energy from transferring to the stand or desk on which they are situated.

 

[Pancho]

@jenson & @best of burden .... I share the views - I have experienced improvement - by supporting the speakers. I do use SVS isolation supports under the subwoofer as well. The other place I use the same SVS are network switches .... the high end gear - the DAC as well as Streamer / Transport and even some Amps come with very sophisticated foot mechanism ... to minimize or eradicate the effect of vibration. ( read the footers on Auralic Aries G2.1 streamer as an example) - but frankly now much audiable improvement it provides - I don’t know ‍- nor can I confirm.

 

[JC2021]

those are Tannoys - Kensington GR ! It has a heavy grill frame - which you lock into its slot

Hopefully will be able to learn whether others use any such isolation items ....

Hi Pancho, I have two questions. I have the Kensington GR too and I just ordered the GAIA II for them.
1) Did you have to order a special thread size for them?
2) Do you tilt them backwards? If yes, how do you accomplish this?
Many thanks, J.

 

[Pancho]

Hi! Good choice! with this addition your unit will without a doubt sound even more better - better definition along with overall firmness.

Yes my installation was delayed on account of “custom threaded studs” needed for the Kensington”s …but those were procured by the dealer.

Installation isn’t easy as a - b - c, I certainly suggest you get another extra pair of hands to help you out. Mine was done by the technician from the dealer - but yes - you need to tilt the unit and fix them, with the printed IsoAcoustics name facing forwards. (this was baffling to me - but probably part of marketing!) Once installed there is a slight suction effect between the footers and floor - so it becomes a bit difficult to move your speakers around afterwards….I suggest you mark the exact position of the speakers prior to moving the speakers and fixing these.

If you have help and time - you can disconnect the speaker cables - turn the speaker cabinet upside down on a carpet or something and then peacefully and correctly install this - as there is a “lock nut” you need to tighten once you got the Gaia aligned correctly.

Good luck ! Do share how it goes ….