Spikes and hardwood floors..

[amnesiacv2]

Apparently I should be getting my new VTF-3 in tomorrow, and according to Dr. Hsu they come with brass spikes built-in. I have hardwood floors.

Now, what's the best way to protect my floors without compromising sound? I've heard the following suggestions from various sites:

1. Put pennies under the spikes
2. Use felt pads from a hardware store
3. Put a throw rug under the subwoofer (as per Dr. Hsu)
4. Linn Skeets or other proprietary dampeners

From what I gather, anything that protects the floor should do fine, but how about putting a rug or doormat under the subwoofer? Is that going to improve the sound?

[tdekany]

yes put a rug underneath the sub

[Lwang]

The spike would eventually pierce the rug and anchor itself on the wood floor. That is the whole purpose of spikes, where when you have wall to wall carpeting, you still could get a stable and secure footing.

You should probably put pennies under the rug so that the spike rest on it.

[Dr_Hsu]

I have not tried to put the spikes on a metal surface. My initial reaction would be no - you have given the spikes a hard surface to buzz against. Rubber pads in addition to the rug would be best.

[young]

i tried some rug/carpet samples and during the short testing period (about an hour), i could tell that the plastic spikes were going to eat thru it to the hardwood.

i'm thinking about rubber pads.

doing some research, i see that some spikes come w/ a metal disc w/ an indent in the center for the spike. they say that that is specifically for hardwood floors.

pennies don't work for me b/c they inevitably move and then slip out. (my floor is probably uneven).

--
so, what i'm thinking of doing is to make a 20"x20" pad out of wood. put some thin rubber feet on it at the bottom. drill slight indents for the spikes. paint it black.

--
i know that HSU doesn't like comparisons to another brand subwoofer, but their subs have a full pad at the bottom. sort of a built in system as i described above.

[mtmason]

The manual explicitly says it's designed to fire downward onto a carpet. If you have hardwood floors, use a throw rug. That's besides your spike issue. They aren't attached. You do have to screw them in, but don't be tempted to run the sub without them. Just do as Dr. Hsu suggests and put some rubber pads under them. Have Fun!

[young]

i might put some rubber pads on, but i still resist the use of a throw rug underneath the sub. i don't think it makes that much of an acoustic difference, but it will certainly make an aesthetic one.

if i inlay-ed a piece of carpet into the wood base, would dr hsu approve? ;)

[Dudley]

If you use a dark carpet, and cut it to the same size as the sub, then it will just look like the subs shadow. It will be practically invisible.

[Retread]

If you use a dark carpet, and cut it to the same size as the sub, then it will just look like the subs shadow. It will be practically invisible.

The spikes are narrower than the overall sub. I cut a piece of throw rug to a size just large enough so the spikes could fit into hard-rubber furniture cups that fit onto the piece of rug. Works fine, and I don't see either the cups or the rug. My floor is cushion-vinyl over concrete.

[young]

one final suggestion. the company rep just demo-ed leather tiles
http://www.spinneybeck.com/main.cfm?vPage=New

i have samples of it and it looks like it may work out very well. she said they get odd sizes/leftovers so i can pick up a small piece. (although, i'm also interested in the product for other uses as well).

http://www.spinneybeck.com/images/new/Neocon%20Showroom%202003.jpg