| Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
December 1, 2013 - 3:58am
#1
Do I need rubber or felt pads under my bookshelf speakers?
| Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources | |
Analog Sources Accessories Featured | |
Music Columns Retired Columns | |
Show Reports | |
Features Latest News Community | |
Resources Subscriptions |
© 2024 StereophileAVTech Media Americas Inc., USA
All rights reserved
I have used 3M stickon rubber pads, which are about 1 inch square, and they work OK.
My favorite material, though, is the rubber material that comes in a thin sheet (about (1/8 inch thick) and is intended to keep dishes from sliding around in a recreational vehicle cabinet.
It is slightly tacky in consistency, and comes in a roll about a foot wide and several feet long, and can be cut to fit easily with scissors.
You can get a roll at Camping World or any RV parts and supplies dealer for under $10. It is really perfect for the job.
Acoustically, it is important to have the front of the speaker about an inch or so in front of the front of the cabinet it is in, to avoid unwanted reflections of high frequencies.
The material you mention sounds like a good option. Preventing movement seems like it would be beneficial since there could be alot of vibration/movement due to the sound levels these speakers can produce.
As far as keeping the front of the speaker in front of the cabinet...I have them about as far forward as they can realistically go. I think that, being horn loaded tweeters, perhaps they are less succeptible to reflection issues off of the bookshelf. If so I am hoping that this choice of speaker was superior to a typical flush mounted tweeter speaker for my application. I wish I had more experience with high end audio for a basis of comparison, but I have to say that the imaging seems quite good despite the less than ideal placement. In fact, my wife(little interest in audio) said to me, while llistening to music in 2.1, the vocals are coming out of the center channel nice and clear.............
I'd try either the RV 'rubberish' shelf matting (I use it in our RV) or something that prohibits movement of the speaker (it'll slide on felt).
Regardless of the level of speakers (and you did fine) keeping them relatively immobile is a good thing for the tightness of the bass response. That's why so many (under 200 lb) floorstanders or speaker stands are spiked to the flooring surface.
Good luck with your system and welcome to your 'journey..." :-)
you can go to a home center and get foam rubber weatherstripping which works perfectly. You can get it up to a half-inch thick, it has a sticky peel-off backing, and it stops speakers from moving on a hard surface. I have a sub that was walking across a hardwood floor and I put this stuff under it now stays in one spot.Also used it under bookshelf speakers on stands.