Granite Under Speakers Over A Wood Floor

My system is also on a wood floor. I use 3/4x15x24 inchs slab of Granite under each spiked speaker. I work in construction and get it free. When a builder puts in granite counter tops in a kitchen the sink and built in range top are cut out and left as scrap! Check a few sites, talk to a few supers. For a six pack of beer and ten bucks the installers will trim and size the material while you wait.

I indeed have my Merlin VSM-Millennium over spikes over a granite slab (cut from a piece of my kitchen countertop where the sink goes) over wooden floor. I put four plastic "stickum" feet under each slab to isolate the slab from the floor. Works well in my opinion. I had expected the sound to be edgy (and the Merlin can sound like that in some setup) but it is not so. Very clean, detailed sound yet not fatiguing. By the way, since the kitchen counter has a shiny side, I put the rough side up to the spikes provide good coupling with the slab.

Each of my Acoustats sits on four Prozac tablets because someone told me these speakers are bi-polar. ;>)

Hey VTVU,

You're not having any issues with your set-up, so there's really no problem, but I stumbled across a discussion at audioasylum.com where Bobby from Merlin recommended NOT decoupling Merlin speakers from the floor (which you're doing by placing rubber under the granite). He said that the Merlins are designed to couple to the floor. Like I said, it doesn't sound like an issue in your case, but you can always ask him for info if you're curious (and in the discussion I mention, someone had their VSMs on plywood, over carpetting...not really the same situation).

If you only desire to protect the flooring, I would recommend Audio Points Coupling Discs – made of solid brass with a smooth floor service. Stone even polished versions in contact with wood can scratch (more like scuff) finished flooring as well.

If you are searching to increase the sound quality from your loudspeaker, possibly double your enjoyment of listening and really hear your speaker investment for the first time, I would recommend Audio Points replacing the spikes.

As quoted by Ernie Fisher – Editor The Inner Ear Report – Volume 13 #2, 2001 –
“Folks with spiked floorstanding loudspeakers, regardless of make, should replace the spikes with Audio Points, for the audible benefits here are considerable and quite appreciable”.

The Audio Point is unlike any other cone or spike type product in the Industry. Have a look see at www.audiopoints.com.

To further your understanding of dynamics associated with coupling, de-coupling, absorption, isolation and The Science of Resonance Energy Transfer (a new way of dealing with detrimental resonance) telephone them.

Good luck with your floor and as always - Good Listening.

Robert