Great review Paul A few years ago I bought a second hand Seismic Sink Hi-Fi rack from the late 90s, that came without instructions, I got on the Townshend website to put in a request for them around lunchtime on a Saturday afternoon. 30 minutes later my phone rang, it was Max Townshend, on a Saturday!, to help me properly set the rack up and tell me about his new product that he was so excited about, the Podiums. I haven't got them yet but they will be my next purchase when funds allow, got a pair of upgraded Wilson Benesch ACT ONEs waiting. Max was such an absolute gent and true Hi-Fi hero that I had to share this with you all.
I bought a pair in 2019 and they completely transformed the sound of my speakers which I’d owned for over 20 years so I thought I knew their sound. The podiums made them sound so much better in every area. Probably the most impressive upgrade I’ve experienced
Ditto with me. Down to using over 20 year old speakers. They took my sytem to a level I never thought I would attain. I would say they are so good that even if you did a major pre or amp upgrade your system would obviously get better. But not in the way the Townshend Podiums do. For the improvement they provide, and even at their price, they are flat out bargain. I feel like a pied piper telling anyone who is the least bit into hi fi that this is a must have accessory The end of spikes as we know it.
I totally agree with you little things make a huge difference I put sixteen sorbathane bumpers under a 1.5 inch butcher block cutting board and placed my amplifier on it and noticed a immediate difference in sound quality more focus more energy it seems idk but it was a nice difference for not much dough.
Any material change under a piece of equipment will alter the sound, not necessarily for the better. Townshend products are very good. Balls and cups also work very well to reduce seismic vibration, for best results the balls/cups need to be combined with springs or pneumatic tubes for vertical vibrations.
Waay back, during a visit to London, I bought a pair of Seismic Sinks by Tounshend! I still use these under various audio equipment. I took a couple of photos but don't know how to post these here.
Great review Paul. I'd been toying with the idea of these for a while but couldn't justify the price to myself,then moved to a flat with a flimsy floor and a seismograph for a downstairs neighbour...hmmm,time to do something. So,off to ebay and got a set of the cheaper speaker bars for a great price. Result! Neighbourly relations more harmonious and my system now sounds amazing. Interestingly,l'd been having great results with Black Ravioli feet,collected over the years from ebay and l must say that the two combined have a great synergy. The Townshend bars and pods isolating brilliantly and the BR's acting as tuned absorbers working to great effect under anything with a transformer in it for resonance control. I have drunk deep from Max's Koolaid for a while now;have had a pair of his Supertweeters for a while and finally took the leap last year for his Allegri Reference preamp and his Fractal interconnects. All l can say is WOW! Max is a genius, and the other end of my room has disappeared,not just the speakers or the system. Some of my mates have found the effect positively spooky-l love it!
Thanks for this. With my speakers spiked into a concrete floor, I still find it hard to believe this kind of upgrade would make a significant difference, so i guess ill never know, as the entry cost means im unlikely to take a punt! Shame, as im always up for trying stuff xD I am thinking of trying an isolation platform under my Naim Atom, which currently sits on sorbathane half domes, but of course thats looking to fix the effects of microphany and its a different issue than what you are trying to do for speakers. Always lots of respect for this company and their products.
even with your speaker Spike to a concrete floor get a seismograph and stamp on the concrete floor and you'll see the vibration going into your speaker the Townshend podiums are a revelation, biggest improvement you'll ever get in an upgrade all I can say is HF which I can't say on here because they'll take my comments off but it's like I've got a whole new better sounding system, I'll never take these from under my speakers, they blow the isoacoustic Gaia out of the water.
After hearing the difference in much cleaner and tidier bass, I'd be happy to get a pair eventually. Especially as I have suspended floorboards in my living room.
So I'm a poor man but I did purchase a set of feet for my speakers. they are two pieces of aluminum with springs in between I no longer feel the floor vibrations and the music seems more focused thank you sir everytime I isolate components it seems to makes a positive difference
Two pairs are better than one! Specs that is lol✌️🌹🇦🇺
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Bravo Paul, my man, “Living in The Past”, you have become a pro in making high quality, not only informative but entertaining too CZcams videos. I’ve always been wondering who was the smart inventor who invented using spikes for speakers damping? It never made any sense for my perception of sound and It’s even better to use simple silicon gummy pads than spikes. Excellent product, as well as video, what more to say?
Hello Paul, I bought Nobosound springs which are slightly cheaper. They also suspend the speakers off the floor. They are now bobbing around. Not sure if im that impressed. I was going to try these but I guess these work in exactly the same way. What do you think
I have a question, once you put your speakers on the podium when they're leveled for the floor do you undo the top adjustments all the way to let them float freely and then I adjust them after that for level?
Paul, did you have your 'speakers pointing straight forward (looks like it from the pictures) or were they toed-in? I'm just curious how that works - normally straight on is more open but less defined, of course. I have mine toed-in and a pair of podiums are on their way. As my speakers are large and heavy, it would be good to know in advance if it is even worth trying them pointing straight forward or I should just use the toe-in that I currently have. Thank you.
Hi Paul- I’m looking to add isolation to my Avalon PM1 speakers and are looking at both Stillpoints and the Franc Audio Fat Foots, just wondered how these compare as they are similar money?
I haven't done serious listening tests with those products you mention but have had casual listens, you might say. I also own other Franc products so am aware of the direction they move in. Personally? I'd plump for these Podiums.
Great review! Any chance of comparing them to isoacoustics' gaia range? The townshend must be better but I'm looking for a more economical upgrade for my scm40s and I'm curious:)
Don't be thifty here, get the Townshends. After 20 minutes of listening to the podiums you'll say to yourself..."and I didn't want to get these things." Guaranteed. The money will be gone but the listening enjoyment will go on for a long time.
Townshend starts at 2,5 Hz, Sorbothane from 35 Hz and Gaia somewhere in between. Earth seismic background is 4-7 Hz, traffic 6-12 Hz. Townsend cost more but do more. To maximize performance, electronics should have Townsend at the bottom, a massive block in the middle, Gaia under the electronics and Entreq Vibbeater on top of the electronics.
@@NiclasMardfelt Very much agree, the only difference I do is use Black Ravioli footers instead of the Gaia's as they address resonance control which the Gaia;s don't. Never tried the Entreq Vibbeater yet-l just use a bit of extra mass loading to increase the mechanical coupling to the Black Ravioli's. I find it truly astonishing how the synergy between isolation and resonance control can really transform performance
Although this video is 2 years old, I am posting this comment in the event that people are still watch After all I just watched it so it's not unreasonable to think that others will too. To me it was worth watching because it offers an excellent description of what the Podiums do. But If anyone wants UNDENIABLE PROOF-POSITIVE of what the Townshend Seismic Podiums accomplish, here it is. It isn't a graph it's an actual visual demonstration done by Max Townshend using seismographs. czcams.com/video/dW9-r83IvhI/video.htmlfeature=shared
They do cheaper alternatives called seismic bars. I have them under both my subs and KEF stand mounts....expensive but well worth the investment but only after you've finalised your system...think of them as the finishing flourish. If you live in a flat or an upper floor these are essential as they do a fantastic job of stopping vibrations into the floor...your neighbours will thank you.
You should never use CZcams as a source of judging sound quality. Any sound/music you hear will not derive from the item under test. It will reflect the device you’re using to view the video. Nothing more. I’m not in the business of deceiving my channel viewers. Also, I would endeavour to source a demo from a dealer or, even better, a home demo using your own hifi chain (especially at these prices) Call Townshend to discuss the possibility of doing that. Hope that helps.
thanks for the reply.i dont use you tube to purchase hifi equipment.i use it to gain more knowledge and to get a rough idea of what a product does.i think im right in saying that we all listen to speakers from different manufacturers on here to gain a little insight. thats all i was commenting upon.talking about an A -b comparison then not doing the practical seems a little odd.its like half of a job. it was just a comment mate.no issues.thanks for the vid.
A speakers isolation base that are more EXPENSIVE then 99.99% of all the speakers on the planet, how do you figure that? Further more if this engineering works why haven't those stupidy super expensive speakers adapt it/ or include it in their design.
Well that depends on what you’re comparing them to. I spent around £1k on an ex dem pair and I can’t think of a component I’ve bought for anywhere near that amount which has made such a difference so by that rationale they are great value.
Another 'entertaining video' but I went in and left with a very cynical view. My speakers are £4500 for a reason, these podiums dictate you remove the spikes on your speakers and have them bobbing around your listening room like a buoy in the ocean. Provided spikes on 2 inch marble works just as good, isolating & solidifying your sound. Bathing in snakeoil time I am afraid......
Snake oil eh? When mine were delivered I thought about just selling because I've got Parkinson's Disease. After they arrived I thought do I have the strngth to really want to want to move my very heavy speakers to remove the spikes and then put them on the the podiums. Had my apetite exeded my ability to do what had to be done? Well, I mustard the strength to do what needed to be done. So I turn on my stereo. I'm not expecting much, maybe a little improvement. The first couple of minutes I didn't really notice much impovement. Then suddenly, I was hearing what they were doing and then from then on it was nirvana. They have taken my sytem to a place I never thought I'd get to. And no electronics, or phono cartridge, or turntable upgrade can equal what they do. I've had them now for a few months and every time I sit down to listen I am still amazed at what my system sounds like. I tell eveyone that I know or who comes by for a listen that the magic in the sound is from the podiums. At first I think they think I'm nuts. But then... Yes, "bobbing around your listening room like a buoy in the ocean" is where it's at!
Snake oil they definitely are not. They made a massive and I mean massive difference to the sound of my Living Voice Auditoriums which new retail for around £3k. Granted the difference may depend on whether you have a suspended floor or concrete floor but I can’t recommend them highly enough. I recommend you try them for yourself before branding then as snake oil
Great review Paul
A few years ago I bought a second hand Seismic Sink Hi-Fi rack from the late 90s, that came without instructions, I got on the Townshend website to put in a request for them around lunchtime on a Saturday afternoon. 30 minutes later my phone rang, it was Max Townshend, on a Saturday!, to help me properly set the rack up and tell me about his new product that he was so excited about, the Podiums. I haven't got them yet but they will be my next purchase when funds allow, got a pair of upgraded Wilson Benesch ACT ONEs waiting. Max was such an absolute gent and true Hi-Fi hero that I had to share this with you all.
I bought a pair in 2019 and they completely transformed the sound of my speakers which I’d owned for over 20 years so I thought I knew their sound. The podiums made them sound so much better in every area. Probably the most impressive upgrade I’ve experienced
Ditto with me. Down to using over 20 year old speakers. They took my sytem to a level I never thought I would attain. I would say they are so good that even if you did a major pre or amp upgrade your system would obviously get better. But not in the way the Townshend Podiums do. For the improvement they provide, and even at their price, they are flat out bargain. I feel like a pied piper telling anyone who is the least bit into hi fi that this is a must have accessory
The end of spikes as we know it.
I totally agree with you little things make a huge difference I put sixteen sorbathane bumpers under a 1.5 inch butcher block cutting board and placed my amplifier on it and noticed a immediate difference in sound quality more focus more energy it seems idk but it was a nice difference for not much dough.
Any material change under a piece of equipment will alter the sound, not necessarily for the better. Townshend products are very good. Balls and cups also work very well to reduce seismic vibration, for best results the balls/cups need to be combined with springs or pneumatic tubes for vertical vibrations.
Waay back, during a visit to London, I bought a pair of Seismic Sinks by Tounshend! I still use these under various audio equipment. I took a couple of photos but don't know how to post these here.
Max stayed at my house once and I told him about speaker coupling decoupling and did a demo with some JBLs to prove it. He ran with it and made some 💰
Great review Paul. I'd been toying with the idea of these for a while but couldn't justify the price to myself,then moved to a flat with a flimsy floor and a seismograph for a downstairs neighbour...hmmm,time to do something. So,off to ebay and got a set of the cheaper speaker bars for a great price. Result! Neighbourly relations more harmonious and my system now sounds amazing. Interestingly,l'd been having great results with Black Ravioli feet,collected over the years from ebay and l must say that the two combined have a great synergy. The Townshend bars and pods isolating brilliantly and the BR's acting as tuned absorbers working to great effect under anything with a transformer in it for resonance control. I have drunk deep from Max's Koolaid for a while now;have had a pair of his Supertweeters for a while and finally took the leap last year for his Allegri Reference preamp and his Fractal interconnects. All l can say is WOW! Max is a genius, and the other end of my room has disappeared,not just the speakers or the system. Some of my mates have found the effect positively spooky-l love it!
Thanks Paul, I for one enjoy your learned, complete, and in depth reports. You have imaginative descriptive powers.
Thanks for this. With my speakers spiked into a concrete floor, I still find it hard to believe this kind of upgrade would make a significant difference, so i guess ill never know, as the entry cost means im unlikely to take a punt! Shame, as im always up for trying stuff xD
I am thinking of trying an isolation platform under my Naim Atom, which currently sits on sorbathane half domes, but of course thats looking to fix the effects of microphany and its a different issue than what you are trying to do for speakers.
Always lots of respect for this company and their products.
even with your speaker Spike to a concrete floor get a seismograph and stamp on the concrete floor and you'll see the vibration going into your speaker the Townshend podiums are a revelation, biggest improvement you'll ever get in an upgrade all I can say is HF which I can't say on here because they'll take my comments off but it's like I've got a whole new better sounding system, I'll never take these from under my speakers, they blow the isoacoustic Gaia out of the water.
After hearing the difference in much cleaner and tidier bass, I'd be happy to get a pair eventually. Especially as I have suspended floorboards in my living room.
So I'm a poor man but I did purchase a set of feet for my speakers. they are two pieces of aluminum with springs in between I no longer feel the floor vibrations and the music seems more focused thank you sir everytime I isolate components it seems to makes a positive difference
Nice one Jon. Sounds good to me!
I want to try a bike tire and a chunk of cutting board for my jbl 570 and see if i get good results.
Excellent Video - well done :) I'm looking forward to getting my podiums soon!
I heard many successful stories about this even for those speakers with stands
Two pairs are better than one! Specs that is lol✌️🌹🇦🇺
Bravo Paul, my man, “Living in The Past”, you have become a pro in making high quality, not only informative but entertaining too CZcams videos. I’ve always been wondering who was the smart inventor who invented using spikes for speakers damping? It never made any sense for my perception of sound and It’s even better to use simple silicon gummy pads than spikes. Excellent product, as well as video, what more to say?
Very nice of you to say. Thank you.
Hello Paul, I bought Nobosound springs which are slightly cheaper. They also suspend the speakers off the floor. They are now bobbing around. Not sure if im that impressed. I was going to try these but I guess these work in exactly the same way. What do you think
I have a question, once you put your speakers on the podium when they're leveled for the floor do you undo the top adjustments all the way to let them float freely and then I adjust them after that for level?
Paul, did you have your 'speakers pointing straight forward (looks like it from the pictures) or were they toed-in?
I'm just curious how that works - normally straight on is more open but less defined, of course.
I have mine toed-in and a pair of podiums are on their way. As my speakers are large and heavy, it would be good to know in advance if it is even worth trying them pointing straight forward or I should just use the toe-in that I currently have.
Thank you.
I'll address this one in Friday's video - watch the skies!
'Weebles wobble but they won't fall down'
Wow when I win the lottery !!!
Hi Paul- I’m looking to add isolation to my Avalon PM1 speakers and are looking at both Stillpoints and the Franc Audio Fat Foots, just wondered how these compare as they are similar money?
I haven't done serious listening tests with those products you mention but have had casual listens, you might say. I also own other Franc products so am aware of the direction they move in. Personally? I'd plump for these Podiums.
Great review! Any chance of comparing them to isoacoustics' gaia range? The townshend must be better but I'm looking for a more economical upgrade for my scm40s and I'm curious:)
Don't be thifty here, get the Townshends. After 20 minutes of listening to the podiums you'll say to yourself..."and I didn't want to get these things." Guaranteed.
The money will be gone but the listening enjoyment will go on for a long time.
Townshend starts at 2,5 Hz, Sorbothane from 35 Hz and Gaia somewhere in between. Earth seismic background is 4-7 Hz, traffic 6-12 Hz. Townsend cost more but do more. To maximize performance, electronics should have Townsend at the bottom, a massive block in the middle, Gaia under the electronics and Entreq Vibbeater on top of the electronics.
@@NiclasMardfelt Very much agree, the only difference I do is use Black Ravioli footers instead of the Gaia's as they address resonance control which the Gaia;s don't. Never tried the Entreq Vibbeater yet-l just use a bit of extra mass loading to increase the mechanical coupling to the Black Ravioli's. I find it truly astonishing how the synergy between isolation and resonance control can really transform performance
Did you use the blue horizon spikes in addition to the isolation platforms? I am not clear on that.
No, I replaced them with the Podiums.
Although this video is 2 years old, I am posting this comment in the event that people are still watch After all I just watched it so it's not unreasonable to think that others will too.
To me it was worth watching because it offers an excellent description of what the Podiums do.
But If anyone wants UNDENIABLE PROOF-POSITIVE of what the Townshend Seismic Podiums accomplish, here it is.
It isn't a graph it's an actual visual demonstration done by Max Townshend using seismographs.
czcams.com/video/dW9-r83IvhI/video.htmlfeature=shared
They do cheaper alternatives called seismic bars. I have them under both my subs and KEF stand mounts....expensive but well worth the investment but only after you've finalised your system...think of them as the finishing flourish.
If you live in a flat or an upper floor these are essential as they do a fantastic job of stopping vibrations into the floor...your neighbours will thank you.
would have been good if we could have heard the difference oursleves.becasue we didnt i still cant purchase this product.
You should never use CZcams as a source of judging sound quality. Any sound/music you hear will not derive from the item under test. It will reflect the device you’re using to view the video. Nothing more. I’m not in the business of deceiving my channel viewers. Also, I would endeavour to source a demo from a dealer or, even better, a home demo using your own hifi chain (especially at these prices) Call Townshend to discuss the possibility of doing that. Hope that helps.
thanks for the reply.i dont use you tube to purchase hifi equipment.i use it to gain more knowledge and to get a rough idea of what a product does.i think im right in saying that we all listen to speakers from different manufacturers on here to gain a little insight. thats all i was commenting upon.talking about an A -b comparison then not doing the practical seems a little odd.its like half of a job. it was just a comment mate.no issues.thanks for the vid.
Speaker aren't the most important part of the system... it's the source... connect a crosley briefcase to high end speakers...try it 😅😅
To quickly skip the intro and move to the Closer Look section hit this timestamp: czcams.com/video/IvTrtMmrfE4/video.html
A speakers isolation base that are more EXPENSIVE then 99.99% of all the speakers on the planet, how do you figure that? Further more if this engineering works why haven't those stupidy super expensive speakers adapt it/ or include it in their design.
Way too expensive
Well that depends on what you’re comparing them to. I spent around £1k on an ex dem pair and I can’t think of a component I’ve bought for anywhere near that amount which has made such a difference so by that rationale they are great value.
If you want to see what this is about get 2 mates to just pickup the speakers whilst you listen
I feel your pain ...... I am forever losing my glasses 😏
I should start a support group :)
I am a poor misguided fool as well!! YAY for us 🤓
:) Absolutely.
Another 'entertaining video' but I went in and left with a very cynical view. My speakers are £4500 for a reason, these podiums dictate you remove the spikes on your speakers and have them bobbing around your listening room like a buoy in the ocean. Provided spikes on 2 inch marble works just as good, isolating & solidifying your sound. Bathing in snakeoil time I am afraid......
Snake oil eh? When mine were delivered I thought about just selling because I've got Parkinson's Disease. After they arrived I thought do I have the strngth to really want to want to move my very heavy speakers to remove the spikes and then put them on the the podiums. Had my apetite exeded my ability to do what had to be done?
Well, I mustard the strength to do what needed to be done. So I turn on my stereo. I'm not expecting much, maybe a little improvement. The first couple of minutes I didn't really notice much impovement. Then suddenly, I was hearing what they were doing and then from then on it was nirvana. They have taken my sytem to a place I never thought I'd get to. And no electronics, or phono cartridge, or turntable upgrade can equal what they do. I've had them now for a few months and every time I sit down to listen I am still amazed at what my system sounds like. I tell eveyone that I know or who comes by for a listen that the magic in the sound is from the podiums. At first I think they think I'm nuts. But then...
Yes, "bobbing around your listening room like a buoy in the ocean" is where it's at!
Snake oil they definitely are not. They made a massive and I mean massive difference to the sound of my Living Voice Auditoriums which new retail for around £3k. Granted the difference may depend on whether you have a suspended floor or concrete floor but I can’t recommend them highly enough. I recommend you try them for yourself before branding then as snake oil