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Coupling vs Decoupling

I’m new to this forum and have been doing much reading. I’m aware working with the room and equipment can produce dramatic changes in sound. One topic I’m lost with is coupling vs decoupling. When, where and how to apply each method to produce the best outcome?  

My current system is KEF R900 towers with matching center, R600C and surrounds, R300 and a pair of JL E112 subs flanking a Sony A1E TV.  The room is a bonus room approx 24’ x 14’ with all centered on the 14’ wall. 

Currently the towers are equipped with spiked plinths and subs sit directly on the carpet with their OE feet.  Any feedback about how to best manage acoustic vibrations and when/where to apply coupling or decoupling methods is greatly appreciated. 
jdeickhoff

Showing 2 responses by hifiman5

hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,611 posts
 
A couple questions.
1.  What type of floor do you have in your listening room?
2.  What is your gear on?  Metal rack, wood rack or?  Is the rack or shelf spiked?

This is a great thread and has been discussed here before.  After decades of coupling, I tried decoupling, and in my room, with my gear, there is no going back.  The answers to the questions above will help us discuss your specific needs.
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,611 posts
 
@georgehifi  Agree with you about wood floors.  And coupling to a concrete slab floor can yield fine results... but, when this issue came up a couple years ago, I decided to decouple my main speakers and subwoofers and what I hear from that is greater clarity through the entire frequency range.

Why?  With decoupling, the energy from my speakers is dissipating across the carpeted floor rather than being transmitted into the slab underneath and then reflected back into my equipment rack and speakers causing a slight smearing and loss of detail to the sound.  It was quite definitive and after experimenting back and forth there is no going back to coupling for me.

The bonus benefit to the rest of the family is that my basement listening room is not rattling the upstairs when heavy bass is present in the music!
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