Self Medicating > General DIY
Add spikes to your Pangea Vulcan rack shelves
malloy:
For those of you who use Pangea racks, this might be a worthwhile tweak.
This is a very affordable rack that looks like this stock. with only the bottom shelf isolated with spikes:
I've always been suspicious of what it was doing to the sound, so I decided to add spikes each individual platform to hear what that would do.
Added some M8 Flanged Button Head Socket Cap Screw Bolts on top and spikes to the bottom of each post.
This is what it looks like now.
I am hearing a more balanced sound. I left everything the same - sub level and volume.
To my surprise, there is less bass now. Or should I say, not as much bass and midbass. The midrange is not as forward as before as well. I can hear more separation of instruments, especially vocals.
The boards on the Pangea are MDF and not the hardwood type available on their pricier offerings. I guess it is safe to say that it was coloring the sound a lot before the 'upgrade.'
Not bad for a total cost of about $25, but this just shows how much further the sound can be improved. Next, I'll try damping the amp lid with a book as Dave suggested in this other thread:
--- Quote from: P.I. on October 20, 2023, 09:43:05 AM ---
You can look into that rabbit hole by taking a big, heavy book and set it on the top of the amp. This will give you an idea of what damping will do.
--- End quote ---
Thanks, for the suggestion, Dave!
Paul
Nick B:
Paul,
I’ve had the MDF version of the Pangea rack for a number of years. A very nice product and good value and I see the Pangea rack being used by exhibitors at some shows. I’m not surprised by your findings and let us know what the heavy book will do.
Nick
GDHAL:
I'LL chime in, if you don't mind. IMO *in general* spikes are no good. And I've done a fair amount of googling this subject and speaking with colleagues. I also had a bad experience of my own. As you only spent $25 it's no biggie one way or another (i.e. whether I'm right or wrong or whether you care or don't). Spikes, IMO, *couple* whatever is connected to the spikes. If coupling is what you want then fine. In my use case, I needed to *decouple* (my speakers from the floor). Spikes did not do that.
Long story short I installed IsoAcoustics GAIA footers and haven't looked back. They're not cheap. Townsend platforms are supposedly better and even more pricey.
YMMV.
Best
Hal
Nick B:
--- Quote from: GDHAL on November 24, 2023, 09:06:27 AM ---I'LL chime in, if you don't mind. IMO *in general* spikes are no good. And I've done a fair amount of googling this subject and speaking with colleagues. I also had a bad experience of my own. As you only spent $25 it's no biggie one way or another (i.e. whether I'm right or wrong or whether you care or don't). Spikes, IMO, *couple* whatever is connected to the spikes. If coupling is what you want then fine. In my use case, I needed to *decouple* (my speakers from the floor). Spikes did not do that.
Long story short I installed IsoAcoustics GAIA footers and haven't looked back. They're not cheap. Townsend platforms are supposedly better and even more pricey.
YMMV.
Best
Hal
--- End quote ---
I’ve heard very good things about the GAIA and no negative comments yet. Haven’t been willing to spend the money…yet. But will post for the forum if I do. Hal, have you used the GAIA in multiple locations?
GDHAL:
--- Quote from: Nick B on November 24, 2023, 09:14:04 AM ---
--- Quote from: GDHAL on November 24, 2023, 09:06:27 AM ---I'LL chime in, if you don't mind. IMO *in general* spikes are no good. And I've done a fair amount of googling this subject and speaking with colleagues. I also had a bad experience of my own. As you only spent $25 it's no biggie one way or another (i.e. whether I'm right or wrong or whether you care or don't). Spikes, IMO, *couple* whatever is connected to the spikes. If coupling is what you want then fine. In my use case, I needed to *decouple* (my speakers from the floor). Spikes did not do that.
Long story short I installed IsoAcoustics GAIA footers and haven't looked back. They're not cheap. Townsend platforms are supposedly better and even more pricey.
YMMV.
Best
Hal
--- End quote ---
I’ve heard very good things about the GAIA and no negative comments yet. Haven’t been willing to spend the money…yet. But will post for the forum if I do. Hal, have you used the GAIA in multiple locations?
--- End quote ---
Hi Nick. I agree they are pricey. In my case I could actually hear the sonic benefit, which is usually the point of any audio change. I'm using GAIA 1 footers on my Triton Reference speakers. Four are needed per speaker. I did not change the location of the speaker before/after installation, so in that sense, no, I have not used them in multiple locations.
It's worth noting that GT Audioworks (I think Greg and Steve are on this forum, but I haven't read any posts of theirs here) have the GAIA 1 installed on their $50+k planar magnetic reference speakers . And they do move them.
If you get the GAIA, they come in six different sizes. What to get depends on the weight of the speaker. What I did (and I've had a few conversations with Sean Morrison of IsoAcoustics to which he stated "bravo, correct thing to do") is if you determine the size needed falls between two sizes, get the higher model (more weight capacity) version. Yes, the higher weight capacity footers cost even more.
Also worth noting, more so than spikes, is that installing the GAIA's on speakers (they have the same type of product known as a "puck" for components) raises the speaker approximately 1.5 inches higher off the floor. Conceivably that could be concerning depending on where the tweeter is situated in relation to your ears, and the vertical dispersion pattern of your particular tweeter. Good thing for me is I realized that in advance and contemplated the affect raising the speaker would have. Fortunately for me even that aspect worked in my favor.
I presume I've answered your question.
Best.
Hal
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