Monitor isolation pads... useful or snake oil?

[terminal3]

You know what I mean... things like these and variants thereof... there are many on the market. All else being equal (ie, let's say the room itself is in reasonable shape acoustically and the monitors are quality - useful or stupid? What about in a situation where the room acoustics AREN'T perfect?

[sureno]

would you include china cones in this?

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by sureno

would you include china cones in this?

Sure, why not! They purport to do a similar thing. "Purport" being the operative word.

[sureno]

i must admit iv always been curious but never got round to getting some, isn't their a simple test to see if they do as they claim. as for using them in an untreated room i suppose the old saying "your only as good as your weakest link" comes into play. Im sure Trev or Frank will shed some light on this matter, have you ever used them T3?

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by sureno

i must admit iv always been curious but never got round to getting some, isn't their a simple test to see if they do as they claim. as for using them in an untreated room i suppose the old saying "your only as good as your weakest link" comes into play. Im sure Trev or Frank will shed some light on this matter, have you ever used them T3?

No, I haven't, which is why I'm asking.

[sureno]

well iv heard good things about china cones cant speak for the pads but would be curious to to see what the verdict is on this

[JAYDMF]

Got Mopads and they do make a difference, i get no "farting" from my tables when theyre under either the adams or the berrys, same goes for when theyre on stands too so id say they make a difference even in an untreated room. However you can get away with a lot of stuff in its place, just need to stop the desk/surface theyre on from resonating in sympathy really.

[Monarch]

Thanks for the feedback Jay, I was watching this thread for replies to T3's questions.

[modz1]

Originally Posted by terminal3

You know what I mean... things like these and variants thereof... there are many on the market. All else being equal (ie, let's say the room itself is in reasonable shape acoustically and the monitors are quality - useful or stupid? What about in a situation where the room acoustics AREN'T perfect?

I've been recommended these (by a reliable source) in the past T3
http://www.dv247.com/invt/56268/ - a cheaper option than the above and in a pack of 4 pairs (2 sizes). My colleagues comment is that they do make a 'noticeable' difference in an environment that wasn't acoustically treated other than been chok a blok full of shelves, books, records, 'n gear..

[TrevCircleStudios]

As with all things, it depends. Frank will have the more scientific answer but my educated guess would be that if you have a well treated room but not a good set of monitor stands these things will improve the situation (otherwise the furniture they are sitting on will vibrate and amplify certain frequencies). In a completely untreated room they will only make a marginal differences unless your furniture is amplifying certain frequencies quite significantly. You of course can try it out pretty cheaply by getting a concrete block sandwiched between a couple of thick mousemats and sitting your monitors on them. This will decouple your monitors to some degree (probably enough to see if your furniture was causing huge problems). If it makes a big difference then you might decide its worth the outlay.

[dvdan]

The recoils are supposed to be pretty damn good, and get a lot of good press from 'named' producers... for what its worth. I keep meaning to nick a set and try them out. Maybe I should take them down to the studio and do some blind with/without tests.
Hmmmm.....

[sureno]

any personal experiences on these?
CHINA CONES

[FrankGIK]

Originally Posted by TrevCircleStudios

As with all things, it depends. Frank will have the more scientific answer but my educated guess would be that if you have a well treated room but not a good set of monitor stands these things will improve the situation (otherwise the furniture they are sitting on will vibrate and amplify certain frequencies). In a completely untreated room they will only make a marginal differences unless your furniture is amplifying certain frequencies quite significantly. You of course can try it out pretty cheaply by getting a concrete block sandwiched between a couple of thick mousemats and sitting your monitors on them. This will decouple your monitors to some degree (probably enough to see if your furniture was causing huge problems). If it makes a big difference then you might decide its worth the outlay.

Spot on, Trev. They're mostly useful for decoupling monitors from some kind of integrated surface like a desk top or the meter bridge on your console. If you have a good pair of monitor stands that are filled with sand MoPads (or the equivalent) aren't really necessary. That said, I have a pair underneath my JBL's, which are placed on top of a couple of stand-filled stands. They're not really doing anything useful other than aiming the monitors down at a 5 degree angle though.

The bottom line is, they do work in terms of decoupling a monitor from the desk underneath it. I also have Auralex's sub decoupling pad...works BRILLIANTLY underneath a guitar amp.

Frank

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by FrankGIK

I also have Auralex's sub decoupling pad...works BRILLIANTLY underneath a guitar amp.

Frank

Ahh excellent ive been meaning to get a Gamma for ages, i havent researched into them too much yet but im assuming the standard one is only big enough for a 1x12 type affair ? i need something to put a 4x12 on (well at least until i get my EV in a cabinet and ready to rock)

[FrankGIK]

Originally Posted by JAYDMF

Ahh excellent ive been meaning to get a Gamma for ages, i havent researched into them too much yet but im assuming the standard one is only big enough for a 1x12 type affair ? i need something to put a 4x12 on (well at least until i get my EV in a cabinet and ready to rock)

No way man...I just had a Marshall 2x12 on it yesterday and I use our studio-owned 4x10 DeVille on it all the time.

Frank