Speaker isolation or absorbtion - what is best?


I have Verity Audio Parsifal Encores on a carpeted concret floor in my basement, using the stock brass spikes. I am reading up on possible improvements through isolation/vibration control/absorbition.

There appear to be two schools of thought. "Isolation" decouples the speaker from the external environment, leaving the energy of the cabinet with no where to go, but prevents distortion caused by energy transmitted from the cabinet to the environment (e.g. a vibrating floor). My spikes on concrete are an example of isolation.

By contrast, absorbtion "drains" the vibration energy from the cabinets, thereby reducing its harmful effect on the speaker performance. Stillpoints and symposium are examples of absorbtion based approaches. This appear to me very opposite philosophies of how to go about improving speaker performance.

Three questions. First, is my understanding correct? Second, in my environment (carpeted concrete), which way should I go to get the best out of my parsifals. Third, what specific products (platforms, cones, spikes etc) have you used succesfully with the parsifals to achieve optimal isolation or absorbtion (on a carpeted concrete floor!)?
edorr
Oops! Looks like the links didn't post properly, so here they are again.

http://www.vertexaq.com/

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/crystalref/

Regards

Steve
As always with audio, it depends. With my old Focal Alto speakers they sounded best with spikes on couplers and Herbie's dbNeutralizer pads under the couplers. However, with my new Focal Scala speakers they sound best spiked directly into the floor.

There are no shortcuts, you have to try the options yourself. In this case, it's a relatively cheap experiment so there is no excuse.
All feets/ platforms will probably do something. Though, what they do, might be straighly the opposite to one another.
Generally speaking, spikes connects the chassis to the floor.
Which usually is no good idea. Springloaded or suspended often makes bass very dry and shy. Effect of this could be very high level of detail but a pronounced and not ear-friendly top. There are a possibility to use feets in conjunction with chassis drain-devices. But to fully determine which weight is not easy (on top of chassis).
However, it is not a bad thing to help the speakers get rid of stored energy as this tends to affect the overall sound very much. Some cases, cables choices become very different after and before the speakers are drained.
I understand what wonder about this.
I do not say this is your only choice, but you can look here for one choice.

Feets (you can order 4 instead of 3 per chassis):
http://www.entreq.com/default.asp?PageId=1923

Drain (mice and cone, same except for visual):
http://www.entreq.com/default.asp?PageId=1924

When i tried this, i must say, the effect is not at all small. A good speaker, can easily become extremely better sounding. (Mine is one example!)
This will most likely improve microdynamics, inner detail (as chassis vibration/ sound affects lesser), impact, start/stop-decay, bass nuance, air. The sound became clearer - less smear - less muddy. Intitially better speed (PRAT) and lesser sense of compression in woofer and upper mid.

This is part of what i notice in my system.

I hope that you dare try this and i believe the effect will put a smile in your face and ears.

I would try, from 4Kg's and up in weight for drain devies for full range speakers. I use Jumbo cone (one per chassis and four cat feets under speakers original feets).
At 700 a pop playing with absorbtion platforms/stands is not exaclty cheap, but the bottom line of the useful responses appears to be "try some alternative setups and see what works best". I will do just that.
Save some money. Try the Herbies products designed for speakers. 90 day trial period to boot so no risk. I use Adona platforms under my speakers, granite side face down. Works well for me on top of carpet.