Topic: DAW Monitor Isolation

[DigiGal]

Didn't see a thread on the topic of monitor isolation, what is everyone using? I recently picked up a pair of IsoAcoustic stands.  Some of the options available are...

http://www.isoacoustics.com/

http://www.primacoustic.com/recoil.htm

http://www.auralex.com/new/ProPADSpecSheet.pdf

[Gutbucket]

I use large floorstanders, and although it's a project I've yet to get around to, I've had plans for years to build plinths to support them which incorporate the key design features of the monitor supports you've linked- namely provision for height/tilt adjustment and mass/damping layers.  The combination of a mass layer suspended between damping layers is "constrained layer damping", based around a layered construction with a flexible damping layers on either side of a more massive layer 'suspended' between them like a sandwich.  It's a common and effective strategy for vibration damping and noise-transmission reduction products like generator housing and engine room wall linings which are similar in construction to the isolation product material Jon lined his soffits with. 

If you look at the design of the monitor supports linked above, you'll see a similar idea with a mass layer suspened between flexible layers.  In that case it's a rigid plate to help keep the monitor stable, but it's the mass rather than the rigidity which works to help damp vibration transmission.

In my yet to be realized design I'll have a Sorbathane layer (a flexible polyurethane with excellent damping properties) between two heavy stone or concrete slabs, with threaded legs embeded in the top slab which rigidly connect the speaker enclosure to the slab and allow for tilt adjustment and somthing like upside down carpet adheared to the underside of the bottom slab to allow me to reposition the speakers around on my hardwood floor more easily as required.  It's been on hold for like 5 years,    but I've not been supermotivated to move ahead with it since I can use them as they are and the entire house need lots of other more important work first.

[Gutbucket]

And it is when using the isolators DigiGal linked.  In my case the (moslty) rigid link between speaker and top slab will allow for tilt and height adjustment as well as providing a wider footprint and lower center of gravity so that the cabinet isn't overly wobly balanced on a sorbathane layer compliant enough to be resonably effective.  The top slab should couple with and increase the mass of the speaker itself, the combination of which will rest on the compliant sorbathane layer.  The bottom slab mostly just provides solid support and and easier way of sliding the speakers around, although if one were to really break down the vibration analysis their are less significant spring/mass relationships between the (bottom slab >< carpet layer >< floor) as well as the (speaker >< semi-rigid yet vibrationally flexible threaded rod legs >< top slab).   

Pretty geek-ish stuff even for this forum.

[dlh]

The speaker itself should be a mass layer, treated it as such removes the need for a rigid mount between speaker and platform.

Was it Warfedale (sp) that filled double wall speaker cabinets with sand?
Dave

[kcmule]

Didn't see a thread on the topic of monitor isolation, what is everyone using? I recently picked up a pair of IsoAcoustic stands.  Some of the options available are...

http://www.isoacoustics.com/

http://www.primacoustic.com/recoil.htm

http://www.auralex.com/new/ProPADSpecSheet.pdf

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=157773.msg1989366#msg1989366

I ended up picking up a pair of the ISO-L8R200 for my Yamaha HS80M.  Love them.

[DigiGal]

Didn't see a thread on the topic of monitor isolation, what is everyone using? I recently picked up a pair of IsoAcoustic stands.  Some of the options available are...

http://www.isoacoustics.com/

http://www.primacoustic.com/recoil.htm

http://www.auralex.com/new/ProPADSpecSheet.pdf

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=157773.msg1989366#msg1989366

I ended up picking up a pair of the ISO-L8R200 for my Yamaha HS80M.  Love them.

Thanks, forgot about that thread, I was using those wooden stands that I had linked there.  I didn't follow through with adding recoil stabilizers after finding out that they didn't have quite the right size and were/are going for a ridiculous price.  I tried experimenting with some dense foam around the same thickness used in the recoil stabilizers and didn't like the result(s).  So instead I utilized a couple of those thicker type rubber foam mouse pads to provide some isolation with plans to reinvestigate options down the line.   

Had then contacted the founder of IsoAcoustics who told me they were currently developing the ISO-L8R130 which would be the size I'd need for my near field monitors.  I only recently picked up a pair after visiting the IsoAcoustics booth at the AES exhibition last weekend.  Bottom line they are a brilliant design that's well constructed, provides excellent isolation, replaces my old desk stands by putting the monitors at the right height all while taking up less space and for a very reasonable price.  Donating the old stands to a local community rummage sale.



Here is another link, Argosy's - Spire isolating speaker stands incorporate a version of the IsoAcoustics technology.  If you already have floor stands though just adding a pair of IsoAcoustic stands to them using the short tubes on a set sized for your monitors will effectively provide the same result.

http://www.argosyconsole.com/html_internal/argosyspeakerstands_istands.html