What are Super Spikes

[HoustonD]

I saw a reviewer mention Super Spikes that he put on his Mirage speakers. What are these things? I notice that on my Mirage speakers there are 4 holes to receive a bolt.

I assume this is something to get the speaker off the ground but I cannot find an actual picture of them.

The thought of lifting my speakers off the ground is intriguing. To handle the weight whatever they are must be pretty darn sturdy.

Anyone have spikes supporting their speakers? And can you point me to a website to see them?

Thanks

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by HoustonD

I saw a reviewer mention Super Spikes that he put on his Mirage speakers. What are these things? I notice that on my Mirage speakers there are 4 holes to receive a bolt.

I assume this is something to get the speaker off the ground but I cannot find an actual picture of them.

The thought of lifting my speakers off the ground is intriguing. To handle the weight whatever they are must be pretty darn sturdy.

Anyone have spikes supporting their speakers? And can you point me to a website to see them?

Thanks

They came with my speakers, still not sure if there is a true advantage to having them. Maybe on a subwoofer i can see more but.... Oh, i mean speaker spikes...

[Johnny Vinyl]

If you bought your Mirages new, they would have included the Spikes. If that wasn't the case, I suggest you contact them.

Failing that, visit a local high-end audio shop and they'll be sure to have a selection of spikes to choose from.

[allstar780]

I put the spikes on my klipsch speakers for 2 reasons

1. Vibration isolation
2. They grip the carpet and make it hard for anyone to move the speakers (and ruin my hard work creating my sweet spot)

[HoustonD]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

They came with my speakers, still not sure if there is a true advantage to having them. Maybe on a subwoofer i can see more but.... Oh, i mean speaker spikes...

I did purchase them new. I am trying to remember back as to whether I had them or not. I am on carpet now but back then I was on hardwood so I would not have attached the spikes. I have all the paperwork and the boxes. I haven't looked in the box in a long time, maybe I have them in there. Otherwise I either lost them or they were not in the box. That frustrates me.

I contacted Mirage and they do have a set of spikes. If I cannot find mine I'll purchase a set. I like the idea of locking down the sweet spot mentioned in a reply.

Thanks to all.

I also saw these at parts express. They look interesting but it looks like they are just going to rest on the metal pad. Would a push send the speaker toppling over?

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=240-715

[Johnny Vinyl]

My speakers sit on hardwood and I still use spikes! I prefer it. The main reason is vibration isolation, no damages to the underside of my speakers and stability. YES, stability.

Additionally, I also beleive it improves the sound. My Totems are excellent at reproducing bass and I find there is less resonance by using the spikes. The sound appears cleaner. (Placebo? Perhaps, but I like the way they sound).

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by allstar780

I put the spikes on my klipsch speakers for 2 reasons

1. Vibration isolation
2. They grip the carpet and make it hard for anyone to move the speakers (and ruin my hard work creating my sweet spot)

What do you mean by Vibration Isolation exactly. I can agree with #2..

[HoustonD]

Originally Posted by John72953

My speakers sit on hardwood and I still use spikes! I prefer it. The main reason is vibration isolation, no damages to the underside of my speakers and stability. YES, stability.

Additionally, I also beleive it improves the sound. My Totems are excellent at reproducing bass and I find there is less resonance by using the spikes. The sound appears cleaner. (Placebo? Perhaps, but I like the way they sound).

What do you think of the spikes I linked to in my previous reply? Would those give the stability you want? I wonder how they'd stand at all.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by HoustonD

What do you think of the spikes I linked to in my previous reply? Would those give the stability you want? I wonder how they'd stand at all.

They look like they'll do the job just fine.

Now, what I would do is NOT use the floor discs. I think it'll give your speakers MORE stability without them. Manaufacturers include them, because there are many consumers that "don't want to damage their floors". From what? 4 tiny puncture marks at worst? I'd much rather protect my speakers. Experiment with both and decide from there.

[naturephoto1]

You may wish to have a look at this thread that I started yesterday about footera (a wide variety) that will probably do better than the regular spikes (but will probably be more expensive):

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=75407

Rich

[mdabb]

If there is already a spot to screw the spikes into the bottom of your speakers make sure you get the proper size. Not all "spikes" are created equal either.

There are sonic benefits having your speakers isolated from the floor.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

You may wish to have a look at this thread that I started yesterday about footera (a wide variety) that will probably do better than the regular spikes (but will probably be more expensive):

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=75407

Rich

I have no doubt these will work admirably and just as they were intended to perform. However, they are overkill in terms of price for many members here. When you're spending $1,000, or sometimes much less, on a 5.1 speaker setup, these feet or cones or spikes will not improve the quality of sound to any significent degree, as the speakers themselves cannot identify the nuances of the tweek.

Once you get to a mid-fi level of speaker (like my Totem Sttaf floorstanders), the advantages of incorporating more expensive tweeks become more realistic and price-proportionate. As such, in my case, I would certainly investigate the products from Herbie's, were I in the market for them.

I thank you for the link and have bookmarked it in my Audio Accessories Favourite folder for future reference.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by mdabb

If there is already a spot to screw the spikes into the bottom of your speakers make sure you get the proper size. Not all "spikes" are created equal either.

There are sonic benefits having your speakers isolated from the floor.

Agreed 100%. Less surface contact is key. And not just for speakers either.

[philwell]

Originally Posted by allstar780

I put the spikes on my klipsch speakers for 2 reasons

1. Vibration isolation
2. They grip the carpet and make it hard for anyone to move the speakers (and ruin my hard work creating my sweet spot)

I can understand the sharp points for keeping the speakers from moving. But is there science that makes the points better from an audio reason? Would three jack screws with swivel feet or pads work equally as well?

Exsample http://www.carrlane.com/Catalog/inde...3C3B285352445E

[CasualKiller]

When you have no spikes on your speakers and you crank the volume you may notice that you can feel it all over the floor, stuff rattling etc.

When you have spikes fitted it minimizes the contact between speaker and floor keeping the vibrations in the air where they belong.

The end result: clearer mid range and improved bass response.

[allstar780]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

When you have no spikes on your speakers and you crank the volume you may notice that you can feel it all over the floor, stuff rattling etc.

When you have spikes fitted it minimizes the contact between speaker and floor keeping the vibrations in the air where they belong.

The end result: clearer mid range and improved bass response.

yup... basically summed up what i was gonna say lol

[JJ]

Wait, hold on - so I should use the spikes it came with? I didn't want to simply because I thought it would make the old girls much more tip prone and less stable, I just use the little cushiony rubber pads it came with instead. I honestly thought the only difference was the flooring material they were going to go on! You learn something new everyday, great thread chaps. I'm going to have to give it a whirl.

[allstar780]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Wait, hold on - so I should use the spikes it came with? I didn't want to simply because I thought it would make the old girls much more tip prone and less stable, I just use the little cushiony rubber pads it came with instead. I honestly thought the only difference was the flooring material they were going to go on! You learn something new everyday, great thread chaps. I'm going to have to give it a whirl.

I've seen some speakers (including my own) that come with what is equivalent to a rubber spike... basically a bolt with a round rubber pad on the end which has minimal contact surface

the only way you would lose stability is if the spikes were closer to the center of the speaker than your rubber pads... mine give the speakers a wider stance by about 2 inches

[SDBlu]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Wait, hold on - so I should use the spikes it came with? I didn't want to simply because I thought it would make the old girls much more tip prone and less stable, I just use the little cushiony rubber pads it came with instead. I honestly thought the only difference was the flooring material they were going to go on! You learn something new everyday, great thread chaps. I'm going to have to give it a whirl.

Same Here...Mine came with both options as well


I just used the rubber ones due to hard-wood floors. Didn't know there was a difference, but now i see the light