Speaker Spikes and Cones – What’s the point?

[admin]

In recent years it has become common for items of audio equipment to be mounted using “spikes” or “cones”. These come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials, at all kinds of prices. The Hi-Fi magazines sometimes ‘review’ these accessories, and recommend their use. However, are they worth buying and using? In this article, we consider their use with loudspeakers, and discuss some alternatives.


Discuss "Speaker Spikes and Cones – What’s the point?" here. Read the article.

[Dan]

I've often wondered about this "point" myself. It seems that if vibration is the issue proponents of spikes make it out to be, than perhaps a hammock like arrangement would be better. I still find it hard to believe that any of this could matter for components aside from turntables and speakers. However you find isolation material for all types of components usually at obscene prices.

[Seth=L]

LOL, Admin is gaining some recognition

[stratman]

There are no points or reasons to spend good money after bad.

[j_garcia]

Good ol' Admin

I use Auralex MoPads on my front 3 speakers. They do the trick very nicely. All of my stands have spikes on the bottom though, because of what is described in the article - without spikes, the stands just rock around on the carpet and the spikes both keep them stable and keep them exactly where I put them.

[stratman]

Yes J, but you use them for the right reason. Not the garbage they spew in the audio mags.

[AbyssalLoris]

Thank you, seriously, for the article. I have been wondering about all these spikes. Even without thinking about it, the idea seemed a little dubious.

More importantly, it seems quite absurd to me to use spiked amplifier stands or audio racks that carry electronics.

This is not something I had really registered in my mind, until recently, when I went to this dealer to check out speakers and also looked at some AV racks they had over there. I said how I had made the mistake of buying a media cabinet (because it would not fit any AVR or amp) and he started off immediately about how this company (Quadraspire) makes good stuff and how media cabinets are bad to put electronics in. He was talking about mechanical isolation being a BIG thing in the audio world. All the while I was wondering why on earth I would need to mechanically isolate an AVR. Speakers.. maybe there is a reason. Electronics? I mean its not like they are vibrating, at least not in any significant sense. Sure, they have power sources and what not and are bound to produce some minuscule vibration as probably any electrical thing is. But its not like that can alter your audio output or interfere with your speaker's performance. Your household A/C definitely vibrates a zillion times as much. Going by this logic, all household electrical/electronic goods should be mounted on spikes! Why, maybe we should all walk around on spikes ourselves! Oh wait, is that what those spiked shoes are for? Mechanical isolation?

Not to make fun of anyone who uses those things. I'm sure no one wants to take it upon themselves to figure out if these ideas are valid or bunk, and most people would just grit their teeth and get the accessories after having paid good money for their real equipment. But it is good to hear some authoritative input.

[3db]

In recent years it has become common for items of audio equipment to be mounted using “spikes” or “cones”. These come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials, at all kinds of prices. The Hi-Fi magazines sometimes ‘review’ these accessories, and recommend their use. However, are they worth buying and using? In this article, we consider their use with loudspeakers, and discuss some alternatives.


Discuss "Speaker Spikes and Cones – What’s the point?" here. Read the article.

is that spikes act as a conductor of vibrations effectively coupling the speaker to the floor (given the spikes are long enough) and reducing the vibration of the speaker itself. I believe speaker manufacturers have intended this along (who would know better about vibrations than a speaker manufacturer) but for some reason, the translation got lost by the Hi_fi magazines.

I've found that the spikes supplied with the speakers I purchased help me in tilting back the speaker a bit which for my setup has improved the sound. It also keeps the speakers (floorstanders) anchored more securely to the ground making them less suspetable to be knocked over.

[Joe Schmoe]

I have used (the same) speakers with and without spikes, and have never heard any difference.

[3db]

To me spikes on a speaker or speaker stand is analogous to women wearing high heels. Very sexalating .