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Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 6:55 pm
by Lost to the Void
So, many know here I like to cut through the bullshit of audio myths and get down to the truth, so people are dealing with reality and not woo woo.


Well...

Speaker isolation products.
Foam MOPADS, ISoacoustics etc are bollocks.

I`ve kinda always thought the physics was suspect, having a reasonable knowledge of physics.
But I always erred on the side of caution.

However, I was having a online conversation with Ethan Winner the other day (man behind Realtraps and uber acoustics nerd) about monitor isolation (actually in regards to my mastering towers) and he basically blew my mind.
And has the science to back it up.

So basically, bollocks to all these expensive isolation products, it`s all just crap to get you to part with your money.

http://ethanwiner.com/speaker_isolation.htm

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:18 pm
by Mslwte
I've got mopads. I remember first using them and thinking there was more bass coming through the floor. I stuck with them though, because everyone said they were good. They cost enough.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:21 pm
by Lost to the Void
Yeah I¬ve been using mopad alikes for years, and got some isoacoustics and then sold em as they didn`t appear to really do anything.

And now I know why..
It`s all audiophoolery.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:54 pm
by RWise
I always used some books for my monitor pads :lol:

If they are truly a placebo then i think ill pass on buying some in the future.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:14 pm
by Barfunkel
RWise wrote:I always used some books for my monitor pads :lol:
.
Vintage books or modern, sterile sounding ones?

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:15 pm
by Mslwte
Lol

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:29 pm
by RWise
Barfunkel wrote:
RWise wrote:I always used some books for my monitor pads :lol:
.
Vintage books or modern, sterile sounding ones?
Mostly crime thrillers tbh.

They really 'kill' unwanted vibrations.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:31 pm
by Mattias
I think the reason why there seem to be a difference is that you add height to the speakers when putting them on isolation stuff.

Yeah I stay with my massive tank lifting Towersonics instead of adding isolation products under the speakers :)

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:44 pm
by Lost to the Void
Mattias wrote:
Yeah I stay with my massive tank lifting Towersonics instead of adding isolation products under the speakers :)
Well, these are just as unnecessary too, according to the science.
Any speaker stands {or anything you can stand your speakers on} will do.
Obviously something that doesn't wobble about is better, but....
Essentially Towersonics charge extra dollar for bullshit (marketing to audio pros), when cheaper solid stands would be absolutely fine.

Though obviously speakers on stands away from the desk are better than speakers on the meter bridge and all the comb filtering problems that come with it.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:30 pm
by Mattias
Lost to the Void wrote:
Mattias wrote:
Yeah I stay with my massive tank lifting Towersonics instead of adding isolation products under the speakers :)
Well, these are just as unnecessary too, according to the science.
Any speaker stands {or anything you can stand your speakers on} will do.
Obviously something that doesn't wobble about is better, but....
Essentially Towersonics charge extra dollar for bullshit (marketing to audio pros), when cheaper solid stands would be absolutely fine.

Though obviously speakers on stands away from the desk are better than speakers on the meter bridge and all the comb filtering problems that come with it.
The only other stands that had adjustable height were from a company in the US and the price + the shipping cost would equal buying the Towersonic from the UK.
And there are simply no other stands as fucking sexy as these. So sex appeal and adjustable height was what made me decide to get them.

Edit; I wouldn't say Towersonic market at all, they just say they make good stands. No super hidden magic crap in there.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 2:48 pm
by Plyphon
"The Dark Field Cable Elevators cost $350 for a set of 12. I heard a definite improvement in quietude, a significant improvement in depth, and an increase in overall system definition."
--Robert H. Levi, Positive Feedback
Image


Crrrr---rrikey

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:12 pm
by Lost to the Void
Mattias wrote:

And there are simply no other stands as fucking sexy as these. So sex appeal.

:shock:
I think you need a woman dude.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:29 pm
by Mattias
Lost to the Void wrote:
Mattias wrote:

And there are simply no other stands as fucking sexy as these. So sex appeal.

:shock:
I think you need a woman dude.
Now now let's not be too judgemental about other peoples preferred sexual orientations. Even if I happen to be a straight person this is something I cannot put up on signs and flash with at Subsekt.

Anyway on a side note regarding Towersonic stands and the sex appeal, they're a great piece of craftsman ship which I apprentice . I never found any stands in the lower or mid price regions within the EU that didn't feel wobbly, thin and they all had a cheap look.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 5:23 pm
by Barfunkel
Plyphon wrote:
"The Dark Field Cable Elevators cost $350 for a set of 12. I heard a definite improvement in quietude, a significant improvement in depth, and an increase in overall system definition."
--Robert H. Levi, Positive Feedback
Image


Crrrr---rrikey

Image

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 5:31 pm
by Lost to the Void
Hey, whatever floats your boat dude, man, woman, ladyboy.....

IF you are finding your stands sexy, you probably could do with some McLovin s`all I`m saying.

But yeah, in pro-audio land it`s hard to find solid stands.
Step out in to hi-fi land and there are shit loads though, plenty more competition (and they tend to look "sexier" too).
Though some of them do bump up the price for bullshit as well.

I would say one of the things those isocoustics are actually good for is fine tuning speaker height, as they are adjustable. Still, buying them just for that is kinda ridiculous.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:16 am
by tsaro
Used to put my speakers on those stock rubbers that came with turntables.... Still use anti-slip mats (those things you can get in the kitchen supply section), even though I have no clue if it actually does anything other than making it slightly less likely that they fall off the cabinet.. Glad I didn't buy into the hype though I suppose my equipment isn't nearly at the level where you could discern any supposed improvement.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 10:49 am
by Thies
thanks for that article.. saved me some money, since i am moving into a new room and just thought about buying isoacoustics

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:41 am
by Mattias
Thies wrote:thanks for that article.. saved me some money, since i am moving into a new room and just thought about buying isoacoustics
You might still consider to get some, just not for any acoustic hocus pocus. If they make your speakers come at the right height and from a desk then it's good.
That's the general idea anyway. However you can use other things beside stands like these to get your speakers up.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:45 am
by Plyphon
Image


I got some of these to move my monitors off my desk (for space reasons, they're still in the corner of a room lol) and they were the most stable stands I could find for £200 ish if I remember right. At the time I was shocked how much they cost but tbh they're great and don't look like they're going to collapse if I fart too loudly.

Re: Monitors Isolation products are Bullshit

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 12:10 pm
by Críoch
I have a less than ideal room.. a perfect box.. and the one thing that I believe the mopad style foam pads (from thomann) do for me is to make my desk less of a resonator. There's less rattling & buzzing etc.. at certain freqs.

I don't think they've improved the sound of my room at all.. but they have stopped my desk acting the prick.