Monitor isolation pads... useful or snake oil?

[EdRyan]

It reminds me of people fillng their stands with sand, in an attempt to add mass and stop them 'ringing'. That was actually quite a hard thing to get right though becuase you effectively had to tune the stand to match the speaker. Too little sand = stand still rings, too much sand = dull sounding bottom end.

The key word with any things like these is 'isolation'.

The theory is that if your speakers are properly decoupled from the surfaces immediately surrounding them, it preserves the sound they are trying to reproduce. Especially the low end, which thanks to long wavelengths... tend to resonate in large surfaces. Like desks, supports etc. its also the bottom end that is more difficult to control in regards to room modes and standing waves... but we're moving onto another subject there.

The idea behind these systems is that by artificially raising your speakers and placing them on these devices, they effectively focus the vibrations. They disperse quicker, and as a result the vibrations don't colour the sound as much..

How well do they work....depends on how well your speakers are designed and where you place them. On a good surface point and speakers with a good enough suspension...they aren't really worth worrying about.

And what most people don't realise about their speakers is the bass port on the back. I think they should include a description of the proximity effect with every pair of speakers sold. If you set them up right, you'd get a lot better bottom end anyway !

[I_Am_Bic_Pentameter]

I use them.

No idea if they make a difference. If they are then great. If they are not then my speakers are standing on expensive foam which is doing nothing.

That's how it is.

[sureno]

lol i just use the polystyrene that packed the monitors

[Meander]

I bought auralex mopads and it was the best forty notes I'd ever spent. Took me long enough to part with the cash though, but wished I'd done it sooner