Isoacoustics Gaia Isolation pods

[Hifi_swlon]

Nothing to do with cartriges, but I also noticed that Oxford Audio were running the Blades using Isoacoustics Gaia isolation supports.

Confused's quote above from the Oxfird Audio Ortofon event coincided nicely with me coming across these the same week.

I've recently reversed the spikes on my facts to use the rubberised side in another trial of isolating them from the suspended wooden floor. I tried ages ago, and went back to spikes, but didn't really give it a fair trial and lots has changed since - including the amp. So I figured its time to try again.

The idea is to try and isolate, and then re-measure and setup new convolution filter for Room Correction.

The PMC included 'rubber' feet (no idea what they're actually made of) just slip over the rounded end of the spike, and are very small so they probably don't offer a huge amount of isolation. But that said, I was careful to keep the position identical and the sound has changed. It feels like there's less bass, which is exactly the opposite of what I wanted to happen, but it also feels less boomy and I can turn SAM higher, so there may be something in it if I do new Room Correction with 100% SAM - which is what I intend to try next.

Anyway, that's the back-story. I'd ruled out things like Anzus and any other 'audiophile only' products with stupid prices and constant talk of rhodium, diamond, platinum, unobtanium etc, and started looking at pro products. Which is where I came across isoacoustics, and after asking around a friend who is a composer uses then under his speakers in his studio. Then I saw the GAIA range and figured since they'd entered the 'home hifi' or 'auidiophie' market they'd be stupidly expensive, but in fact the GAIA III which a set of (for one speaker) costs £199 and can support well over my facts 20kg, is less expensive than four of their pro pucks.

So, I'm probably going to give these a try if I can find a dealer that will loan me a couple of sets to experiment with.

The one thing I'm most unsure about is them raising the speakers up 30-40mm. One because the tweeters are already a touch high for my setup, and also it might just make the facts look a bit dumb - sitting up on four 'blobs' (albeit reasonable looking blobs) rather than nice and low to the floor like they are now. The Townshend platforms were on my radar previously and get round this by designing them into a whole support, but then they're also quite ugly and would stick out well beyond the speakers and aren't very lounge friendly. Plus they're much more expensive and make the speakers really 'wobbly' which isn't what I want. I do hear they're good though and 'do what they say on the tin'.

So, anyway, figured I'd start a topic rather than clutter Confused's one, for any other feedback/thoughts about these, would be interested to hear.....