I was lucky! I met someone with Townshend platforms. He invited several friends over for a Sat evening. We swapped the platforms for several isolation products and compared. Someone brought the Gaia as well. In the end it was like this.... The Townshend was so good it wasn't comparable. Semi inflated bicycle tubes were second best (go figure). Gaia was deemed 3rd best. Syposium Rollerblocks actually took 4th best. And some foam pad of different hardness layers was 5th. Lastly was sorbothane, but it smeared things. Two large spike type things were tried, but we couldn't tell any changes from the speakers sitting directly on the elevated hardwood floor.
I am a bit late to the comments but I’ve had six months with Gaia IIs under my Spatial Audio M3 Sapphires. They are open baffles and sit on laminate glued to concrete. I was skeptical that they’d change the sound but the change is exactly as Hans describes. In fact, they are one of the only tweaks I’ve tried that I’d consider a “no brainer.” If they work so well for me, imagine what they do for box speakers sitting on sprung hardwood. Highly recommended.
Thanks for a great review of the Gaia’s Hans. You are one of the few audiophile reviewers I trust and because of this video I decided to try the Gaia II’s on my vintage B&W 802 matrix II speakers. I use these speakers fitted to dedicated Sound Anchor (7kg) bases with 3 spikes sitting on Blue Horizon spike shoes on a wooden floor. I took your advice and got the retailer to agree on a trial and for a return if I wasn’t satisfied. I replaced the spikes on the sound anchors with the Gaia’s. With less than a day of listening so far I am very impressed. The soundstage has widened and deepened, I hear more inner detail, the sound is less confused/more relaxed. Most noticeably, the speakers themselves are less obvious. Needless to say, I won’t be returning the Gaia’s! Thanks again Hans.
I can only confirm what you said in this video. I had been eyeing the Gaia isolators but wasn't convinced. After this video I ordered them and I am blown away by the difference in sound. Before I had spikes under my Tannoy D900s, standing on concrete slabs with ice hockey pucks under the slabs. This isolated the speakers well in the sense that the neighbours never complained. Now with the Gaias mounted the sound has improved a lot. Like you said, tighter bass, darker background and the image has retreated more into the background. I love it. Thanks for your advice and indeed, it is a lot of money but I cannot go back anymore.
Using Gaia III on my Raidho X-1 with stands. Price isn’t quite on an affordable level, but I have to admit, it really helps to open up the sound significantly and the bass sounds so much more three dimensional. One of my best audio accessories investments.
Morning Mr. Beekhuyzen. I use my speakers on spikes as I did not want them on the carpet. I do not have the room for the plinths. I find the sound is much tighter on the bass and there is less colouration. I have been toying with the idea of using isolation pads like the ones mentioned here. Great review, very helpful. Thank you.
I’m a spike user on carpet over concrete or tile or polished/bare concrete. The thing about spikes whether on the speakers proper or with stands is the floor material has to be considered. Most of my experience is deadened steel stands holding two way speakers. This is specific to them as this is my experience and yours may vary. The spikes in the deadened stands got rid of the speaker resonances very well, allowing the speaker to really be heard as this case has proven it out in real world tests. The key is the floor. Using spikes in a wooden floor is a no no for obvious reasons. It damages the wooden floor and the wooden floor reflects the speaker resonances back into the speaker causing slurring. Clearly the floor material determines the use of spikes or isolation feet. Each must find what works in their situation and with their gear. Using spikes in undampened speaker stands is no help as the stands use metal tubing which is hollow and therefore is a resonant cavity. The only way to dampen it is filling it with sand that is dry and filtered at the very least. Completely full yields the best result. Using an acrylic resin to fill the gaps increases the damping further if you choose to. There is another method which will work on carpeted and wooden floors and that is to add a sand trap made of 3/4”MDF glued and screwed together with a side which I’d screwed into the back this forms a box which holds dry and filtered sand which is filled completely full and can also be filled with acrylic resin to dampen it even further. It absorbs the released energy and dissipates it as heat just like these isolator feet do without the high cost. I’ve seen these used on flat topped speakers and they help direct the energy released there also. You can call this snake oil if you want to. This is for each to see if it works for them. I claim nothing outside what it has done for me. Not all things have to cost a fortune. Trying these things will prove this out. Following the methods isn’t hard. You be your own judge. What works in one situation does not work in all. The floor composition matters. Knowing this is how you address this. It’s not just a one thing solution. You must address the floor first. This saves a lot of headaches. Very good video Mr Hans! Stay safe my mates!😊👍🏻😁
I use the Iso stands for my desktop speakers. I just bought them to get the speakers off of the desk and nothing more. But what a difference they made. Worth every penny of the questionable price tag.
Thanks for the review. I have the GAIA IIs on my Spatial Audio Lab X3 speakers. They do what they were intended to do and I am very happy with them. They easily passed the WAF test. My floor is concrete slab covered with laminate and carpet. I use the GAIA carpet spikes for stability of my speakers. Concrete will create resonance and quite possibly a "megaphone" effect. The GAIA IIs, in my opinion, eliminate that problem.
Your concrete slab has resonance? Highly doubt that. Easy enough to have someone measure. Run a tone sweep with speakers and have a vibration sensor sitting near it on the slab.
I have seen inside these by accident, when moving speaker stand one Gaia III suction was so strong both sections separated. A hardened plastic flat length with flat plates top and bottom that slot into rubber boots in both sections, and was a SOB to join them back together
@@erics.4113 Try a 3/4 inflated bicycle inner tube under each speaker (carefully, so your speakers don't tip over!) Not a long term solution but a cheap way to simulate the effect and see if it helps your situation and if it's worth it for you to buy something to do the job.
Even with their spikes under, my B&W Nautilus 804s (on carpet) used to rock back and forth when touched; their footprint is small. I installed Gaia IIIs under them, put them on a 45cm x 45cm x 3cm granite slab resting on 4 IsoAcoustics’ own carpet spikes. Problem solved! Since doing that, the image has locked in solid and especially the bass and mids have improved in definition and resolution, micro-informations are more prominent and decays last so much more.
I wonder how there compare to Audio Physics own VCF magnetic isolation feet. Do you have any experience with them? Kinda hard to find anyone who actually has them or has tested them. What I'd also really like to know: Can those decoupling loudspeaker feet have a positive effect for sensitive neighbours? The neighbour living above my flat often complains about the bass of my system bothering her. I believe this to be more structure born noies than air born so I was wondering for a long time if those (imho expensive) feet help with that problem. Would be lovely to hear back from you Hans. Liebe Gruesse aus Deutschland!
Bought the Gaia III for my Sonus Faber Lumina III. Coming from my Focal Aria 906 (2way bookshelf speaker) screwed to sand filled loudspeaker stands, I gained with the Lumina more clarity and much better 3D like pinpointing of instruments and vocals, but I missed the soundstage going beyond the physical dimensions of the loudspeakers to the right and left. With the Gaia III installed this is back. I guess the sand filled stands did absorbed excessive sound energy from the Focals and the Gaia are doing now something similar for the Sonus Faber.
Hans, do we think the explanation is the speaker activating the large tympanic membrane, the floor. I do. I use three lightly inflated adjustable slow bounce “Winbags” from the builders’ section. It sure works with my subbies. Doesn’t this confirm the floor diaphragm hypothesis.
I have floor standing speakers that are placed on carpet with a concrete floor. I have gone back and forth with using the spikes, and not using any spikes with the speakers just on the carpet. Honestly, I cannot hear any difference and find placing the speaker directly on the concrete is easier to make small movement adjustments.... And make sure my speakers are perfectly time aligned with each other. I've always been curious about using these. Thanks for the review.
Hi Mike, may I kindly suggest DiversiTech MP2-E E.V.A. anti- vibrationpads; the ONLY thing that really works of everything I experimented with. In the Netherlands Amazon asks €26/4 pcs, in the US it's much cheaper even. I don't doubt the qualities of IsoAcoustics articles, but I DO question their prices.
I use the Gaia and believe it's an essential item to have. Another worthwhile item is the Entreq Vibbeaters, which rest on top of the speakers and convert vibration into heat.
Hi Hans, I have the IIIs under my Q Acoustics 3050i. Even budget speakers benefit enormously from them: more sound clarity, better bass control and the vocals seem to come from singers standing very close to my listening position.
I ordered them 2 years ago just to make sure I don't need them (I need the biggest version). The difference was so big they had to stay. If you plan to upgrade cables etc, try first Gaias. it's almost sure that will be better spent money.
Very similar to myself.. Again about 2 years ago I got them... To rule them out in truth! ... But decided they just had to stay, I only needed the Gaia III, so a very economical way to gain a respectable improvement in my own use case.
Paul Barton of PBS speakers who's a real physics guy explained how the sound wave pressure actually travels through the floor and thumps your chest but not in sync with the sound reaching your ears through the air. That's what causes the fuzziness and loss of image when not properly dampened. PBS latest model features... Gaias!
Since I'm currently doing some renovation of my listening room - a good time to give them a try. I'm sure they will help to improve the sound together with the new Creaktiv Rack. Looking forward to you next review after highend munich.
I use Gaia III's on my Clearaudio Concept Turntable (Satisfy Carbon Fiber Tonearm & Maestro v2 Cartridge) instead of the spikes that came with the turntable. For me this was a noticeable upgrade for only $200USD. I have been thinking about purchasing two sets of Gaia II's, $300USD a set, for my T+A Criterion TCD 210 Speakers. So a very timely video - thank you, Hans!
I have been thinking about the Gaia lll for my klipsch Heresy lVs. My floor is oak flooring on wooden joist. Any comments? Thanks Hans. Hoping your health is good. 🎶✌
Chris, my new house has your same floor set up, I just installed Gaia 3 on my tannoys. Absolutely, %100 clears up the sound. The hollow resonances that came from having my speakers on a hollow, wooden box are gone.
Hmm...i got my B&W 803D standing on 5cm thick granite plates using the original spikes (the plates are on carpet). I am sattisfied with the sound so far.... maybe i should give the Gaya 2 a try.... At th sound demos of isoacousics i watched on youtube there clearly is a difference...but thats what i heard....a difference..not better but different...but i think you can't make a suggestion over youtube...got to hear them live.
If I mount the Gaia II on 19Kg loudspeakers each (KEF C95 from 1989), in the perspective of changing loudspeakers weighing more than 32Kg but less than 54Kg (QUAD ESL2812 or 2912) in the future, are the Gaia II as good as the Gaia III ? The Isoacoustics answer: "Great question! Though the GAIA III would be ideal, if you are planning to upgrade in the future, the GAIA II is a great choice and one I would recommend you stick with !" And still: "Though we do not have an optimum operating range for the GAIA, we do advise clients to keep in mind that overloading your isolators is MUCH worse than underloading them. That being said, the GAIA’s perform best at 50% to 80% of their weight capacity. This is why we typically recommend the GAIA III as it meets that criteria. However, the difference you will feel is not substantial enough to discredit the use of the GAIA II, especially if you plan to upgrade in the future."
Do we have any concrete evidence(measurements)to back these claims up instead of us having to rely on one's subjective experience this really audibly improves studio monitor performance?
Hello Hans, i have a combi of a Nad c658 with the Nad c298 on a pair of Focal’s 948 on spikes, this all in a livingroom of 50 m2. Lucky enough the c658 has Dirac on it because without Dirac on a lot of tracks the bass is way to present and some mid’s are also to shrill, and with Dirac i am really satisfied with the sound, and especialy with the soundstage! But when i listen to my vinyl all of the sudden i want to shut off Dirac and listen straight to the Phone source, then the direct sound without Dirac is really good. Because it’s my livingroom i can not do mayor acoustic adjustments. So do you think an investment in a set of Gaia’s will solve these problems? And Thanks for your great video’s👍🏻
I bought two sets of gaia2 after watching your video. However I am using them on my filled speaker stands replacing their spikes. The sound changed right away but I can't tell if that's better or not. Soundstage widen but seems to be less focus. I'll let them settle for a couple of days and hopefully more better changes will occur
OK not long after I wrote the last comment.. 🤔 15mins? I started to hear and feel the change on the good side. Better bass, more real, more details, and separations. A more acoustic resonance over, as if I've moved closer to the performing stage
I am also using them with stands and it made the tonal balance just right. I could not believe my ears, because the difference was quite dramatic in a 30k€ system...
Interesting. I wonder if they do a model that will screw into the top of my floor spiked Acoustic Energy AE1 (lead-shot filled) cast stands. I would expect that decoupling the speaker from the stand would be more effective than energizing the stands and then decoupling? At present I use UHU black-tak which I believe performs the same function and will not allow the speakers to get knocked off accidentally!
I would ask them. They do invite such questions on their website. I think they will have threads that will fit, the question is whether the Gaia's will work upside down.
I have Gaias under the stands with Dynaudio Heritage Special standing on a laminate floating floor. The result is one of the best upgrades ever. I love it.
I have Gaia I on my Kef reference 5’s and Gaia iii on my Kef r700’s. I think the biggest difference they make is raising the tweeter closer to ear level in an attractive way (in my opinion) since I believe US seat height might be a bit higher than UK where KEF’s are designed. I’ve never compared reduction in vibration with and without so thanks for producing this video!
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel sorry Hanz not sure what would cause you to respond that way when I was sharing my experience with the product and saying thank you for the video?
I'm in the UK and always have problems with seats being too low...Hans won't know anything about this as the Dutch are very tall and have quite high chairs as a result.
Hello, would the Gaia III help with a SVS SB2000 subwoofer? I have vibrations in my room and the bass doesn't seem clear, i feel like the sub is distorting, sounds muffled. I have laminated flooring, i now use some 4"x4" rubber pads/mats for washing machines, they help a bit.
Hi, would adding these assist with bass and vibration in an apartment to reduce annoying neighbours below? P.s. my floor is concrete slab but hardwood floor.
I also have concrete floor with an oak top layer. The energy build-up in the lows was drastically reduced. I didn't check but it seems logical that it would also reduce the energy to your neighbours.
Interesting, though I suspect the surface stability they are sitting on is relevant. My home is built on a concrete slab, a home built on a timber sub floor would be different. I just use spikes, I’m impressed and confident in your findings but I can’t see myself spending a thousand dollarydoos on them. I might try a piece of rubber under my spikes though. Or maybe get some rope and hang my speakers from the ceiling 😂
Cork will dampen vibrations too yes. But the difference is that the connection with the speakers is not as good, which could affect effective transfer, and perhaps more importantly, allows the speakers to move more because they are not standing as firmly. My experience is that putting such isolators underneath will make neighbors happy, but can also muffle the sound.
Thanks as always Hans. I’m sold on adding them to my PMC 23. Do you think they would be any advantages adding the feet to subwoofers, in my case 2* REL T7i
Hello Everyone. I plan to buy a Gaia3 set under my Dali Opticon8, each measuring a bit more than the official cap, 32 vs 34.8kg. I know it is officially not suggested, but (without being held responsible of course) do you think this minor (9%) difference can cause trouble? I try to avoid spending more for gaia2. Thank you for your answers
I am very interested in the Gaia 1’s, but fear that the carpet spikes will cut through my carpet and scratch up my oak floors. Isn’t that the purpose of the carpet spikes, to make contact with the floor? Would a piece of granite countertop on top of the carpet be a good thing or a bad thing? Keep up the great reviews!
In theory, spikes are for Coupling to concrete through carpet. You don't really want speakers coupled to wood floor if possible. So hardwood slab, decoupling pucks like this or a block of granite is possibly the way to go.
Hans, you are a scientist! Amazing, you are speaking of microns here. Our touch can resolve microns, why not our ears? Eyes, can't resolve microns. Look it up how small our sense of touch can resolve. It's a amazingly small.
Hi Hans, Altijd top videos ook voor nitwits zoals ik. Korte vraag weet jij misschien een goede professionele live Dirac calibrator? Ik heb een NAD 778. Alvast bedankt!
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Ja na calibratie klinkt de bas beter, mid en high clinkrn niet goed meer (een beetje gecastreerd zeg maar, Nu heb ik een filter gemaakt de curtain op 200Hz, dat klinkt een stuk beter maar ik heb het idee dat ik het Dirac proces aan het foppen ben (mid en hoog weerkaatsen etc. immers ook). Tweede probleem is dat ik wat wil fine tunen aan de distance en levels die Dirac bepaald. Maar bij de NAD kan dat niet (mn LS en RS speakers staan 10db te hard.) Tips zijn welcome :)
It didn't have influence on the Audio Physics Scorpio's that also are bottom ported. For low frequencies those few centimetres are irrelevant. They have waves lengths of several meters.
Hans. First off I have to say I have learned more from you than any other youtuber on the subject of audio. Thank you for this. But… most of us can’t justify spending this kind of money to ourselves and or loved ones. I use cut in half squash tennis balls to place my bookshelf speakers. Is it possible for you to do a video on the best bang for buck audio improvements?
I'm not very good in compromises. I do review affordable equipment though. The is just a phase where I happen to review more upmarket products, with the exception of the € 40 DAC I did a few weeks ago.
I used the Gaia II on my Marten Duke 2. It does tighten up the low end and because of that I suspect it allows the mids to cut through better and highs to sound better. There is less ‘smearing’ caused by the low end.
Glad to hear that the aesthetics and finance committee is happy with GAIA. For my system, GAIA easily has the highest sound quality improvement per dollar spent. Most noticeable for my system was improvement on bass, which got tighter and much easier to hear bass details. I bought a set for my subwoofer on impulse, only later to realize that my subwoofer does not have screw fitting to be compatible with GAIA installation. Any chance you will try it out on your subwoofers if they are compatible?
I started with the Gaia II for my speakers. After what I heard, I swore by them. Bought the Gaia orea for my streamer and my amplifier, the results want to put them under everything! Well worth the money!
@@agustinpaz1530 I used 3 as it supported the weight of my streamer. You will need to check the Gaia’s specs for each and decide which model is enough for your equipment.
Great video! I've use the Gaia III on my speaker stands for my standmount speakers and love the results. The company recommends the pucks between the speaker and the stand but that would put my speakers too high and I was worried about the risk of the speakers getting knocked off.
Thank you for the review. I've always wondered about the possible benefits of dampening where speaker cable terminations connect at the binding posts...if that would even be possible.
@@afrancois1968 I know, you should remove the ISO Acoustics and see if you hear a difference, I'm guessing that if you would do a double blind test, you will know if the ISO acoustics are there or not. (if the speaker remains in the same height), Once you got the your Sopra you added the ISO acoustics, so you don't have a reference to how they sound without.
@@cemaxcem3203 Well I did hear them without the ISO Acoustics and when I got them on it was apparently obvious, in a positive way. An important bonus is the convenience that I won't destroy my flooring when I move the speakers.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
I was lucky! I met someone with Townshend platforms. He invited several friends over for a Sat evening. We swapped the platforms for several isolation products and compared. Someone brought the Gaia as well.
In the end it was like this.... The Townshend was so good it wasn't comparable. Semi inflated bicycle tubes were second best (go figure). Gaia was deemed 3rd best. Syposium Rollerblocks actually took 4th best. And some foam pad of different hardness layers was 5th. Lastly was sorbothane, but it smeared things. Two large spike type things were tried, but we couldn't tell any changes from the speakers sitting directly on the elevated hardwood floor.
.
It is so good to have you back. Your reviews and insights are always entertaining and refreshing. Please stay well and keep up the great work.
I will
I am a bit late to the comments but I’ve had six months with Gaia IIs under my Spatial Audio M3 Sapphires. They are open baffles and sit on laminate glued to concrete. I was skeptical that they’d change the sound but the change is exactly as Hans describes. In fact, they are one of the only tweaks I’ve tried that I’d consider a “no brainer.” If they work so well for me, imagine what they do for box speakers sitting on sprung hardwood. Highly recommended.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for a great review of the Gaia’s Hans. You are one of the few audiophile reviewers I trust and because of this video I decided to try the Gaia II’s on my vintage B&W 802 matrix II speakers. I use these speakers fitted to dedicated Sound Anchor (7kg) bases with 3 spikes sitting on Blue Horizon spike shoes on a wooden floor. I took your advice and got the retailer to agree on a trial and for a return if I wasn’t satisfied. I replaced the spikes on the sound anchors with the Gaia’s. With less than a day of listening so far I am very impressed. The soundstage has widened and deepened, I hear more inner detail, the sound is less confused/more relaxed. Most noticeably, the speakers themselves are less obvious. Needless to say, I won’t be returning the Gaia’s! Thanks again Hans.
My pleasure entirely
My pleasure entirely
I can only confirm what you said in this video. I had been eyeing the Gaia isolators but wasn't convinced. After this video I ordered them and I am blown away by the difference in sound. Before I had spikes under my Tannoy D900s, standing on concrete slabs with ice hockey pucks under the slabs. This isolated the speakers well in the sense that the neighbours never complained. Now with the Gaias mounted the sound has improved a lot. Like you said, tighter bass, darker background and the image has retreated more into the background. I love it. Thanks for your advice and indeed, it is a lot of money but I cannot go back anymore.
👍🏼
Using Gaia III on my Raidho X-1 with stands. Price isn’t quite on an affordable level, but I have to admit, it really helps to open up the sound significantly and the bass sounds so much more three dimensional. One of my best audio accessories investments.
Thanks for sharing!
Morning Mr. Beekhuyzen.
I use my speakers on spikes as I did not want them on the carpet. I do not have the room for the plinths. I find the sound is much tighter on the bass and there is less colouration. I have been toying with the idea of using isolation pads like the ones mentioned here. Great review, very helpful. Thank you.
Excellent
I love the description of the aesthetics committee - her indoors!!
😁
Thank you . I use Finite elemente Cerapuck to decouple my speakers and have also noticed an improvement as you described
Thanks for sharing
I have Gaia feet under my Focal floor standers. I’ve been happy with them.
I’m a spike user on carpet over concrete or tile or polished/bare concrete. The thing about spikes whether on the speakers proper or with stands is the floor material has to be considered. Most of my experience is deadened steel stands holding two way speakers. This is specific to them as this is my experience and yours may vary. The spikes in the deadened stands got rid of the speaker resonances very well, allowing the speaker to really be heard as this case has proven it out in real world tests. The key is the floor. Using spikes in a wooden floor is a no no for obvious reasons. It damages the wooden floor and the wooden floor reflects the speaker resonances back into the speaker causing slurring. Clearly the floor material determines the use of spikes or isolation feet. Each must find what works in their situation and with their gear. Using spikes in undampened speaker stands is no help as the stands use metal tubing which is hollow and therefore is a resonant cavity. The only way to dampen it is filling it with sand that is dry and filtered at the very least. Completely full yields the best result. Using an acrylic resin to fill the gaps increases the damping further if you choose to. There is another method which will work on carpeted and wooden floors and that is to add a sand trap made of 3/4”MDF glued and screwed together with a side which I’d screwed into the back this forms a box which holds dry and filtered sand which is filled completely full and can also be filled with acrylic resin to dampen it even further. It absorbs the released energy and dissipates it as heat just like these isolator feet do without the high cost. I’ve seen these used on flat topped speakers and they help direct the energy released there also. You can call this snake oil if you want to. This is for each to see if it works for them. I claim nothing outside what it has done for me. Not all things have to cost a fortune. Trying these things will prove this out. Following the methods isn’t hard. You be your own judge. What works in one situation does not work in all. The floor composition matters. Knowing this is how you address this. It’s not just a one thing solution. You must address the floor first. This saves a lot of headaches. Very good video Mr Hans! Stay safe my mates!😊👍🏻😁
👍🏼
Good scientific analysis of how the Gaia's work. Also great to hear the Aesthetics committee approved of them, I was predicting they might. ;)
Cool, thanks!
but were the Townsend podiums better than the isoacoustic Gaia?
I use the Iso stands for my desktop speakers. I just bought them to get the speakers off of the desk and nothing more. But what a difference they made. Worth every penny of the questionable price tag.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the review. I have the GAIA IIs on my Spatial Audio Lab X3 speakers. They do what they were intended to do and I am very happy with them. They easily passed the WAF test. My floor is concrete slab covered with laminate and carpet. I use the GAIA carpet spikes for stability of my speakers. Concrete will create resonance and quite possibly a "megaphone" effect. The GAIA IIs, in my opinion, eliminate that problem.
Thanks for sharing
Your concrete slab has resonance? Highly doubt that. Easy enough to have someone measure. Run a tone sweep with speakers and have a vibration sensor sitting near it on the slab.
I think concrete bounces back vibrations where these feet absorb them.
I have seen inside these by accident, when moving speaker stand one Gaia III suction was so strong both sections separated. A hardened plastic flat length with flat plates top and bottom that slot into rubber boots in both sections, and was a SOB to join them back together
Thanks for sharing
Yep speaker isolation gives the biggest bang per buck of any upgrade in my experience 👍🏻
@@erics.4113 All volume levels 👍🏻
Not at very low levels since they won’t exite the speaker cabinet.
@@erics.4113 Try a 3/4 inflated bicycle inner tube under each speaker (carefully, so your speakers don't tip over!) Not a long term solution but a cheap way to simulate the effect and see if it helps your situation and if it's worth it for you to buy something to do the job.
Even with their spikes under, my B&W Nautilus 804s (on carpet) used to rock back and forth when touched; their footprint is small.
I installed Gaia IIIs under them, put them on a 45cm x 45cm x 3cm granite slab resting on 4 IsoAcoustics’ own carpet spikes. Problem solved! Since doing that, the image has locked in solid and especially the bass and mids have improved in definition and resolution, micro-informations are more prominent and decays last so much more.
Sounds like a sound solution (no pun intended).
I wonder how there compare to Audio Physics own VCF magnetic isolation feet. Do you have any experience with them? Kinda hard to find anyone who actually has them or has tested them. What I'd also really like to know: Can those decoupling loudspeaker feet have a positive effect for sensitive neighbours? The neighbour living above my flat often complains about the bass of my system bothering her. I believe this to be more structure born noies than air born so I was wondering for a long time if those (imho expensive) feet help with that problem. Would be lovely to hear back from you Hans. Liebe Gruesse aus Deutschland!
Bought the Gaia III for my Sonus Faber Lumina III. Coming from my Focal Aria 906 (2way bookshelf speaker) screwed to sand filled loudspeaker stands, I gained with the Lumina more clarity and much better 3D like pinpointing of instruments and vocals, but I missed the soundstage going beyond the physical dimensions of the loudspeakers to the right and left. With the Gaia III installed this is back. I guess the sand filled stands did absorbed excessive sound energy from the Focals and the Gaia are doing now something similar for the Sonus Faber.
Hard to say. But your ears are leading.
Hans, do we think the explanation is the speaker activating the large tympanic membrane, the floor.
I do. I use three lightly inflated adjustable slow bounce “Winbags” from the builders’ section. It sure works with my subbies. Doesn’t this confirm the floor diaphragm hypothesis.
Only for a limited part. Watch thee video gain.
I have floor standing speakers that are placed on carpet with a concrete floor. I have gone back and forth with using the spikes, and not using any spikes with the speakers just on the carpet.
Honestly, I cannot hear any difference and find placing the speaker directly on the concrete is easier to make small movement adjustments.... And make sure my speakers are perfectly time aligned with each other. I've always been curious about using these. Thanks for the review.
I shouldn't try the Gaia's then for it might cost you...
Hi Mike, may I kindly suggest DiversiTech MP2-E E.V.A. anti- vibrationpads; the ONLY thing that really works of everything I experimented with. In the Netherlands Amazon asks €26/4 pcs, in the US it's much cheaper even.
I don't doubt the qualities of IsoAcoustics articles, but I DO question their prices.
I use the Gaia and believe it's an essential item to have. Another worthwhile item is the Entreq Vibbeaters, which rest on top of the speakers and convert vibration into heat.
Thanks for sharing
Hi Hans, I have the IIIs under my Q Acoustics 3050i. Even budget speakers benefit enormously from them: more sound clarity, better bass control and the vocals seem to come from singers standing very close to my listening position.
I ordered them 2 years ago just to make sure I don't need them (I need the biggest version). The difference was so big they had to stay. If you plan to upgrade cables etc, try first Gaias. it's almost sure that will be better spent money.
Very similar to myself..
Again about 2 years ago I got them... To rule them out in truth! ... But decided they just had to stay, I only needed the Gaia III, so a very economical way to gain a respectable improvement in my own use case.
Paul Barton of PBS speakers who's a real physics guy explained how the sound wave pressure actually travels through the floor and thumps your chest but not in sync with the sound reaching your ears through the air. That's what causes the fuzziness and loss of image when not properly dampened. PBS latest model features... Gaias!
Makes sense
Since I'm currently doing some renovation of my listening room - a good time to give them a try. I'm sure they will help to improve the sound together with the new Creaktiv Rack.
Looking forward to you next review after highend munich.
Excellent!
I use Gaia III's on my Clearaudio Concept Turntable (Satisfy Carbon Fiber Tonearm & Maestro v2 Cartridge) instead of the spikes that came with the turntable. For me this was a noticeable upgrade for only $200USD. I have been thinking about purchasing two sets of Gaia II's, $300USD a set, for my T+A Criterion TCD 210 Speakers. So a very timely video - thank you, Hans!
The carpet spike adapter discs look simple enough to make your self. Perhaps use round blocks of wood with three wood screws screwed into them?
I think so. But if it looks just as elegant...
I have been thinking about the Gaia lll for my klipsch Heresy lVs. My floor is oak flooring on wooden joist. Any comments? Thanks Hans. Hoping your health is good. 🎶✌
Chris, my new house has your same floor set up, I just installed Gaia 3 on my tannoys. Absolutely, %100 clears up the sound. The hollow resonances that came from having my speakers on a hollow, wooden box are gone.
@@whynotwas thank you Pete. I listen at low volume usually, but these make sense.
Hmm...i got my B&W 803D standing on 5cm thick granite plates using the original spikes (the plates are on carpet).
I am sattisfied with the sound so far.... maybe i should give the Gaya 2 a try....
At th sound demos of isoacousics i watched on youtube there clearly is a difference...but thats what i heard....a difference..not better but different...but i think you can't make a suggestion over youtube...got to hear them live.
Also watch this video: ruclips.net/video/saGfGSdLwZg/видео.html
Do you think these footers would benefit electrostatic speakers with a limited low end?
I wouldn’t know without trying. There is no cabinet but there is a frame that might vibrate to some degree.
Yes they made an improvement on my CLSllZ speakers. Just added pucks under my amp. Also improvement. More?
So Hans are they going to live under your speakers?
If I mount the Gaia II on 19Kg loudspeakers each (KEF C95 from 1989), in the perspective of changing loudspeakers weighing more than 32Kg but less than 54Kg (QUAD ESL2812 or 2912) in the future, are the Gaia II as good as the Gaia III ?
The Isoacoustics answer: "Great question! Though the GAIA III would be ideal, if you are planning to upgrade in the future, the GAIA II is a great choice and one I would recommend you stick with !" And still: "Though we do not have an optimum operating range for the GAIA, we do advise clients to keep in mind that overloading your isolators is MUCH worse than underloading them. That being said, the GAIA’s perform best at 50% to 80% of their weight capacity. This is why we typically recommend the GAIA III as it meets that criteria. However, the difference you will feel is not substantial enough to discredit the use of the GAIA II, especially if you plan to upgrade in the future."
Do we have any concrete evidence(measurements)to back these claims up instead of us having to rely on one's subjective experience this really audibly improves studio monitor performance?
I don't have them. But If you don't hear the improvement, I wonder why you want measurements since they would prove what you can't hear.
Nice explanations, thanks. Have you compared Gaias to Oreo pucks? Is the principle similar here?
I am afraid not. I can only do about 50 videos a year and try to spread them amongst several subjects in several price categories.
Hello Hans, i have a combi of a Nad c658 with the Nad c298 on a pair of Focal’s 948 on spikes, this all in a livingroom of 50 m2. Lucky enough the c658 has Dirac on it because without Dirac on a lot of tracks the bass is way to present and some mid’s are also to shrill, and with Dirac i am really satisfied with the sound, and especialy with the soundstage! But when i listen to my vinyl all of the sudden i want to shut off Dirac and listen straight to the Phone source, then the direct sound without Dirac is really good. Because it’s my livingroom i can not do mayor acoustic adjustments. So do you think an investment in a set of Gaia’s will solve these problems? And Thanks for your great video’s👍🏻
I would first find out why there is such a large difference between digital sources and the turntable, for hat is not normal.
I bought two sets of gaia2 after watching your video. However I am using them on my filled speaker stands replacing their spikes. The sound changed right away but I can't tell if that's better or not. Soundstage widen but seems to be less focus. I'll let them settle for a couple of days and hopefully more better changes will occur
OK not long after I wrote the last comment.. 🤔 15mins? I started to hear and feel the change on the good side. Better bass, more real, more details, and separations. A more acoustic resonance over, as if I've moved closer to the performing stage
Thanks for sharing
I am also using them with stands and it made the tonal balance just right. I could not believe my ears, because the difference was quite dramatic in a 30k€ system...
Interesting.
I wonder if they do a model that will screw into the top of my floor spiked Acoustic Energy AE1 (lead-shot filled) cast stands.
I would expect that decoupling the speaker from the stand would be more effective than energizing the stands and then decoupling?
At present I use UHU black-tak which I believe performs the same function and will not allow the speakers to get knocked off accidentally!
I would ask them. They do invite such questions on their website. I think they will have threads that will fit, the question is whether the Gaia's will work upside down.
did you have an answer? When I fill in Isoacoustics calculator, they advice the Orea series
Hans, are these Gaia’s also suitable for speakers on a stand, for example the Dynaudio Contour 20 i.
I have not tried but other isolators did. have a positive effect so I expect these will too.
I have Gaias under the stands with Dynaudio Heritage Special standing on a laminate floating floor. The result is one of the best upgrades ever. I love it.
I have Gaia I on my Kef reference 5’s and Gaia iii on my Kef r700’s. I think the biggest difference they make is raising the tweeter closer to ear level in an attractive way (in my opinion) since I believe US seat height might be a bit higher than UK where KEF’s are designed.
I’ve never compared reduction in vibration with and without so thanks for producing this video!
It's obvious you didn't check out the vibration reduction...
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel sorry Hanz not sure what would cause you to respond that way when I was sharing my experience with the product and saying thank you for the video?
I'm in the UK and always have problems with seats being too low...Hans won't know anything about this as the Dutch are very tall and have quite high chairs as a result.
sorry Mike, trying to answer everyone I obviously didn’t read your message well enough. Thanks for coming back to me.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel No problem Hans, we’re both humans trying to do our best but mistakes happen. Thanks again for the video!
Hello, would the Gaia III help with a SVS SB2000 subwoofer? I have vibrations in my room and the bass doesn't seem clear, i feel like the sub is distorting, sounds muffled. I have laminated flooring, i now use some 4"x4" rubber pads/mats for washing machines, they help a bit.
I’m sure Gaia’s will help
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel cool, thanks!
Hi, would adding these assist with bass and vibration in an apartment to reduce annoying neighbours below?
P.s. my floor is concrete slab but hardwood floor.
I also have concrete floor with an oak top layer. The energy build-up in the lows was drastically reduced. I didn't check but it seems logical that it would also reduce the energy to your neighbours.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thanks Hans
Interesting, though I suspect the surface stability they are sitting on is relevant. My home is built on a concrete slab, a home built on a timber sub floor would be different. I just use spikes, I’m impressed and confident in your findings but I can’t see myself spending a thousand dollarydoos on them. I might try a piece of rubber under my spikes though. Or maybe get some rope and hang my speakers from the ceiling 😂
I play on a few mm thick layer of oak, placed on concrete. I'm sure you will benefit from the Gaia's or similar products.
Hi, i just wonder.... is it better to place them under the bookshelf or the stand? Thanks in advance
They need to be screwed in so under the stands is the only possibility. If you want them directly under the bookshelf speakers, use the OREA Graphite.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you for your advise.. 🙏
I wonder if sticking the speakers on cork mats would be just as effective.
Cork will dampen vibrations too yes. But the difference is that the connection with the speakers is not as good, which could affect effective transfer, and perhaps more importantly, allows the speakers to move more because they are not standing as firmly. My experience is that putting such isolators underneath will make neighbors happy, but can also muffle the sound.
I second that
Thanks as always Hans. I’m sold on adding them to my PMC 23. Do you think they would be any advantages adding the feet to subwoofers, in my case 2* REL T7i
I haven't tried but it seems most likely.
Hi Hans, i’ve just ordered a set, so i’ll have play. the gaia III are the recommended set for both pmc23 and relt7i. thanks again Hans.
Hello Everyone. I plan to buy a Gaia3 set under my Dali Opticon8, each measuring a bit more than the official cap, 32 vs 34.8kg. I know it is officially not suggested, but (without being held responsible of course) do you think this minor (9%) difference can cause trouble? I try to avoid spending more for gaia2.
Thank you for your answers
I don't think it will cause trouble, the question is whether they work fine. They are damped springs and they are tuned to a certain weight.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Dankjewel Hans, i'll rather wait then to have a "goedkoep" for the II : )
I am very interested in the Gaia 1’s, but fear that the carpet spikes will cut through my carpet and scratch up my oak floors. Isn’t that the purpose of the carpet spikes, to make contact with the floor? Would a piece of granite countertop on top of the carpet be a good thing or a bad thing?
Keep up the great reviews!
In theory, spikes are for Coupling to concrete through carpet. You don't really want speakers coupled to wood floor if possible. So hardwood slab, decoupling pucks like this or a block of granite is possibly the way to go.
A block of granite sends cabinet resonances back into the cabinet.
So then what would you suggest I do?
Hans, you are a scientist! Amazing, you are speaking of microns here. Our touch can resolve microns, why not our ears? Eyes, can't resolve microns. Look it up how small our sense of touch can resolve. It's a amazingly small.
I'm only sanding on the shoulder of wiser men.
ik heb ze ook gehad, bij mij deed het echt helemaal niks helaas
Hi Hans, Altijd top videos ook voor nitwits zoals ik. Korte vraag weet jij misschien een goede professionele live Dirac calibrator? Ik heb een NAD 778. Alvast bedankt!
Het is heel eenvoudig om het zelf te doen. Of loop je tegen problemen aan?
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Ja na calibratie klinkt de bas beter, mid en high clinkrn niet goed meer (een beetje gecastreerd zeg maar, Nu heb ik een filter gemaakt de curtain op 200Hz, dat klinkt een stuk beter maar ik heb het idee dat ik het Dirac proces aan het foppen ben (mid en hoog weerkaatsen etc. immers ook). Tweede probleem is dat ik wat wil fine tunen aan de distance en levels die Dirac bepaald. Maar bij de NAD kan dat niet (mn LS en RS speakers staan 10db te hard.) Tips zijn welcome :)
Hans, which do you think is better the Townshend podium or the isoacoustic Gaia?
The townhend
these or stack audio auva?
I use the Stack Audio ones now
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 👍👍👍
Excellent news Hans, it would seem the minister for finance and all things important is in agreeance with these particular enhancements.😁🎧👍
quite right
Haans! will the gaia affect negatively the bass performance if my speakers are bottom ported?
It didn't have influence on the Audio Physics Scorpio's that also are bottom ported. For low frequencies those few centimetres are irrelevant. They have waves lengths of several meters.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel awesome! Im planning on buying some for my Sonus Faber Venere S! Love your channel!
👍🏼
What are the options if the base of your loudspeakers doesn't have a place to screw the isolators into?
They offer stands for that
Hans. First off I have to say I have learned more from you than any other youtuber on the subject of audio. Thank you for this. But… most of us can’t justify spending this kind of money to ourselves and or loved ones. I use cut in half squash tennis balls to place my bookshelf speakers. Is it possible for you to do a video on the best bang for buck audio improvements?
I'm not very good in compromises. I do review affordable equipment though. The is just a phase where I happen to review more upmarket products, with the exception of the € 40 DAC I did a few weeks ago.
Are they only for floorstanding loudspeakers ?
They have stands for bookshelves
I used the Gaia II on my Marten Duke 2. It does tighten up the low end and because of that I suspect it allows the mids to cut through better and highs to sound better.
There is less ‘smearing’ caused by the low end.
Thanks for sharing
Glad to hear that the aesthetics and finance committee is happy with GAIA. For my system, GAIA easily has the highest sound quality improvement per dollar spent. Most noticeable for my system was improvement on bass, which got tighter and much easier to hear bass details. I bought a set for my subwoofer on impulse, only later to realize that my subwoofer does not have screw fitting to be compatible with GAIA installation. Any chance you will try it out on your subwoofers if they are compatible?
I use Gaia III, very pleased
Very good video. Thank you.
Thank you too!
Another great review 👍
I appreciate that
I started with the Gaia II for my speakers.
After what I heard, I swore by them. Bought the Gaia orea for my streamer and my amplifier, the results want to put them under everything! Well worth the money!
How many Oreas did you use for your streamer? I have a Wiim Pro streamer and I dont know if I will need only two of them
@@agustinpaz1530 I used 3 as it supported the weight of my streamer. You will need to check the Gaia’s specs for each and decide which model is enough for your equipment.
I must admit that putting the Gaia’s under my PMC 25i.24 was a real upgrade. I surely recommend this upgrade !
Thanks for sharing
Did you keep them?
Yes
Great video! I've use the Gaia III on my speaker stands for my standmount speakers and love the results. The company recommends the pucks between the speaker and the stand but that would put my speakers too high and I was worried about the risk of the speakers getting knocked off.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the review. I've always wondered about the possible benefits of dampening where speaker cable terminations connect at the binding posts...if that would even be possible.
Naim does this on their amps.
Using Gaia’s on my Sopra 2’s since day one. Very nice sounding and convenient.
How do you know if you had them from day one ?
@@cemaxcem3203 What I meant is day one of my speakers :-) I only used my speakers for perhaps 1 day without the ISO Acoustics
@@afrancois1968 I know, you should remove the ISO Acoustics and see if you hear a difference, I'm guessing that if you would do a double blind test, you will know if the ISO acoustics are there or not. (if the speaker remains in the same height), Once you got the your Sopra you added the ISO acoustics, so you don't have a reference to how they sound without.
@@cemaxcem3203 Well I did hear them without the ISO Acoustics and when I got them on it was apparently obvious, in a positive way. An important bonus is the convenience that I won't destroy my flooring when I move the speakers.
Thinking of screwing the Gaia IIIs to the bottom of my Focal Solo 6 be (s); I have the mini pucks now. What do you think. Let me know. Glad your back!
Can’t say. Don’t know the mini pucks.
Do Gaias also improve the sound when attached to stands for bookshelf speakers?
They have special stands for bookshelf.
Another absolute necessity in life.
It makes life better, especially the lows
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 😊
Seems isolation rather than spikes has become the new orthodoxy. Make sense to me.
I don't like orthodoxy. I rather have good sound and common sense.
I have them with my harbeth hl5 xd -seem to work fine
Seem to work fine? Doesn’t sound like you’re convinced, or don’t care to evaluate.
Had the Gaia's II for 4 years and if you try them on a good system you will not return them
👍🏼
aesthetic and finance committees - LOL 🤣🤣🤣
🙏🏻
Using Gaia 3 on my KLH model 5. (I had to tap and drill)
You looks thinner..losing some weight? gaia iii user here 😎
I try to…