[pixelpidgeon]

Hi. Looking to try and isolate my speakers and/or sub in attic music/cinema setup. Currently have speakers on stand then on 1/2 inch granite slabs.
Was wondering if using cut to measure 5cm-10cm acoustic foam from here
eFoam, all sorts of foam: foam cut to size
placed underneath the granite slabs would improve isolation from floor?
Also should i use the flat foam or convoluted (egg crate) and 5cm or 10cm thick?

thanks for any help

[ARNOLD AKIEN]

Originally Posted by pixelpidgeon

Hi. Looking to try and isolate my speakers and/or sub in attic music/cinema setup. Currently have speakers on stand then on 1/2 inch granite slabs.
Was wondering if using cut to measure 5cm-10cm acoustic foam from here
eFoam, all sorts of foam: foam cut to size
placed underneath the granite slabs would improve isolation from floor?
Also should i use the flat foam or convoluted (egg crate) and 5cm or 10cm thick?

thanks for any help

I've added that link to my ' Home/Home-furnishings ' file ... you never know when that sort of info will come in handy.

I was assured, in another thread on the forums, that 'memory foam ' would be as good a sound insulator for noise reduction when placed behind a floating wall as real acoustic insulation would be in a similar location. There was more to it than that of course and my question about relative costs and the price of my memory foam stuffed pillows brought the reply that if you have the right supplier/source the stuff is shockingly inexpensive. I see that that dealer of yours does sell memory foam and so maybe they sell cheap off-cuts.


Anyway, to respond to your inquiry my own inexpert reasoning would be that in the location that you suggest the foam would be compressed by the weight of the speaker and plinth and thus would have no effect at all beyond that you would achieve with carpeting of a similar thickness.The 'convoluted (egg crate) ' foam wouldn't stay that shape when compressed under the weight of a speaker would it? And even ordinary acoustic foam would surely be compressed to considerably less than its original thickness.

What would have an effect is placing the speaker/plinth assemblies on Foculpods.


" Foculpods are high performance vibration absorbing supports designed to be paced under CD Players, Turntables, Amplifiers, Loudspeakers and all other Audio, Video & Computer equipment

Each Foculpod is accurately replicated from a precisely machined and polished master in order to provide equal support both dimensional and volumetrically.

Each pack contains 4 Foculpods which will support up to 10Kg. "

The link to manufacturers site follows and you can often find Foculpods on sale in e bay shops and auctions.


Foculpods


Of course it all depends on what you mean by 'isolation ' but if you hope that sticking something under the speakers will stop complaints from the neighbors about ceiling shaking Noise from your Home Cinema then you are likely to be disappointed. Decoupling the speakers from the floor will help with sound in the room in as much as it's something to try in conjugation with all sorts of measures that you can take in the room itself but what it wont do is magically stop sound traveling into adjacent rooms through the floor say or via flanking transmission.

If you state what you are trying to achieve then you may get a better response from one of the forums experts.


Just a few, inexpert, thoughts.

Arnold.

[pixelpidgeon]

Good morning Arnold. Thanks for taking the time to reply

I thought similar regarding the foam being squashed by the weight of the speakers (XTC 93wmt's) and the stands that go with them (filled halfway with sand) and then the granite slabs. As you rightly state this is probably too much weight to make the foam of any use.

I had read on these forums about the aurolex gramma

GRAMMA Isolation Riser - Acoustic sound isolation products from Auralex Acoustics.

and just thought that thick foam would serve a similar (cheaper) purpose.
I do use foculpods under my subwoofer then granite base (big chopping board from tesco) and then again under the granite. Which did improve, to my ears, the bass in my setup.

So maybe i should do the same with the Front L/R speakers. Or just put the the foculpods under each speaker as you suggest?

Thanks again for you help, its given me another option. Oh and the original reason for posting, was firstly to get the best sound possible at the right price for when listening to stereo music through speakers only. Secondly to reduce sound going through floor to rest of house and possibly nextdoors either side. Im not very knowledgable at DIY but i believe the attic room floor is basically boarded over the ceiling beams?

[j0hn]

this any use to you?

Acoustic Sound Absorbing Panels and Tiles for Walls and Ceilings Class A Class B Class C

[pixelpidgeon]

Have found a couple foculpods on the bay. 8 milty pros for £25 inc delivery or cheaper 8 Deflex polypods for at most 9.95 inc.
Quite a big difference in cost. I also think i opted for the cheaper ones for my sub and they workded well.
Is there any reason why i should spend the extra £15?

[j0hn]

having looked at that acoustic foam you posted is it as good as the stuff here "Studiospares" Acoustitile Pro 100 Grey at Studiospares or here Special Offer AFW45 | Acoustic Foam which was posted the other week by amioa

[pixelpidgeon]

Hi JOhn. I have no idea about the quality/price ratio of anything acoustic foam or pods. I suppose im just looking for the cheapest solution for improving the sound from my speakers by isolating them more.I probably need to read up on it.

By the way am having trouble opening your links below. I dont think its necessarily the links as lately clicking on links can take an age to open in a new window. This was happening in vista before i replace'd with win 7. Now its happening again

Originally Posted by j0hn

having looked at that acoustic foam you posted is it as good as the stuff here "Studiospares" Acoustitile Pro 100 Grey at Studiospares or here Special Offer AFW45 | Acoustic Foam which was posted the other week by amioa

[j0hn]

They are taking a little time to open for me. A banner if you can call it that, at the bottom left of safari says waiting for go.avforums so I guess they are communicating.

Not sure on whats better though they are definately different surfaces. Not sure if you noticed

I got good results with some dense black foam I found on an old dissused shirehorse center. Maybe have a look round and see what you can find whilst you read up on the subject and before you splash out. Good luck