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Post by MartinT on Jun 7, 2019 18:11:27 GMT
The Podiums are an isolation platform designed for speakers and other large components. They work by isolating vibrations from 3Hz upwards, either preventing them from getting out (speakers) or getting in (components). At each corner is a large pistonic suspension foot using spring/rubber damping, complete with adjustment wheel. The bottom plate is made of very thick steel and has a sturdy black hammer finish. The Podiums are heavy - my custom ones are 20kg each. They appear to take the 160kg weight of my Ushers with ease, the complete assembly wobbling gently at about 1Hz and coming to a stop fairly quickly due to the damping in the feet. The speakers essentially 'float' independently of the floor and isolate vibrations from loading up the floor and the rest of the room.   Since there is no 'burning in', I just kicked off with music I know well, getting to know the rather dramatic differences in how my music is being presented. The first and most obvious change is how the music completely disassociates itself from the speakers - the final move towards full independence! The soundstage is amazingly deep and wide, while music has gained an unusual vibrancy, dynamics being prominent but natural - and very realistic. The next obvious improvement is in the bass. This gives the least loading up of the room and the most texture, tunefulness and tightness to bass I have yet heard from my speakers. Music that accentuated room nodes is now more natural with no 'one-note' boominess, while music with deep bass is incredibly potent. Finally, all that wonderful fine detail coming from my LKS DAC is presented throughout the soundstage, pervading it with sounds that were just not brought to the fore previously. Everything I have tried, without exception, sounds better. The Ushers are free to do their radiating - free of the encumbrance of floor interactions. I was able to raise the volume by 2dB with greater impact but no other adverse effects. Based on my experience and having heard them in MikeMusic and petea systems, I recommend them unhesitantly. www.townshendaudio.com/hi-fi-home-cinema-equipment-vibration-isolation/hi-fi-home-cinema-vibration-isolation-speaker-podiums/ |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 7, 2019 18:20:30 GMT
I haven't added music examples only because I've been enthralled all afternoon listening. Suffice to say I haven't heard anything yet that hasn't been improved.
They just bring you closer to the music.
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Post by John on Jun 7, 2019 18:52:24 GMT
I guess that is part of the journey taking you closer to the music
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 7, 2019 19:09:45 GMT
Brilliant !
I was staggered when I first heard them under Montans
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Post by MartinT on Jun 12, 2019 20:40:24 GMT
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Post by Slinger on Jun 12, 2019 21:37:09 GMT
If you look here... you can see the complete range. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 13, 2019 9:42:25 GMT
If you look here... you can see the complete range. Impressive looking kit and solutions They are serious ! |
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Post by shuggie on Jun 13, 2019 11:58:20 GMT
The Townshend Podiums pretty much always yield significant improvements in all aspects of musical reproduction and certainly challenge established thoughts on the need to always 'hard couple' speakers to the floor for best bass performance. While Townshend do talk about isolating the speakers from the floor/room structure, actually a great part of their benefit is in isolating the room from the speakers. When you do that, you stop transmission of sound vibrations into the floor, walls and into other parts of the house (and to neighbours too). Breaking that transmission path means that the room structure is no longer singing along to the speakers' tune and you then get to better hear what the speakers are doing, without accompaniment, as Martin notes.
Cutting unwelcome sound transmission into other parts of the house and into neighbouring properties is a big plus with the Podiums. You do of course get some isolation from simpler products like Auralex, but not total isolation at the low frequencies that are most troublesome in terms of structural sound transmission. In short, the Townshend Podiums are very expensive but they are by far the best performing and best thought out speaker isolation products available.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 13, 2019 12:18:55 GMT
Thanks, Hugo, and nice to see you around again  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 13, 2019 13:33:35 GMT
Thanks Hugo and good to see you around also
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Post by mayebaza on Jun 14, 2019 22:50:59 GMT
I have a pair of earlier incarnations called audio podiums. The work on a multi-pivot principle to an astonishing effect on Usher X718.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 14, 2019 23:24:28 GMT
Nice. Do you have a photo of the Ushers on the Podiums?
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Post by mayebaza on Jun 15, 2019 23:10:45 GMT
As requested please see below :  |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 15, 2019 23:20:03 GMT
Oh yes, those are quite different from the later Podiums. Nice Ushers, too. Supertweeter on top?
You may find that your sub benefits from SVS feet. They're pretty good.
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Post by mayebaza on Jun 15, 2019 23:24:53 GMT
Oh yes, those are quite different from the later Podiums. Nice Ushers, too. Supertweeter on top? You may find that your sub benefits from SVS feet. They're pretty good. I don't use the sub anymore, I find it drains the musicality through lack of speed and agility compared to the Ushers via Densen B100 /DM30 Bi-Amped. |
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Post by tarzan on Jun 27, 2019 18:03:04 GMT
Podium user here- was unsure about purchasing a pair ( cost and performance etc) so got a home loan from the nice folk at Townsend which was painless and they were very helpful.... they turned up and the fit and finish was superb! Adjustable too, very easily in fact......l have a small listening room that has a laminate floor over suspended timber floor.... the Podiums brought my music to life.... where do l sign! One of the best things l have ever purchased in the hifi world, they actually represent pretty good value for money, highly recommended.
Previously had tried the Gaia footers these did not have no where near impact of The Podiums, also moving the speakers was a pain, however with the Podiums this is easy. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2019 18:05:49 GMT
The work very well chaps, but do remember you can further improve them be decoupling your speakers from the podiums themselves with a suitable device of your choosing. Though some of you may find it easier than others due to not have 160Kg speakers!
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Post by MartinT on Jun 27, 2019 19:04:24 GMT
I used big felt furniture stick-on feet where the brass ferrules for the screw-in cones are under the speakers. This gives a little decoupling although they are likely crushed to death by now. However, the two surfaces have a gap so no nasty vibrations between them.
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Post by tarzan on Jun 28, 2019 3:07:57 GMT
The work very well chaps, but do remember you can further improve them be decoupling your speakers from the podiums themselves with a suitable device of your choosing. Though some of you may find it easier than others due to not have 160Kg speakers! This is a good point, l purchased some Soundcare Superspikes for between my Target R4 stands and The Podiums ( just to stop getting impaled on one of the speaker stand spikes when swapping speakers around) and to my great surprise got a further increase in sound quality..... one cannot have enough loudspeaker isolation. |
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Post by tarzan on Sept 17, 2019 11:22:22 GMT
Haaving established that the Townsend Audio Podiums are best things for loud speaker since sliced bread- do any members own the current platforms that fit under T/Ts, electronics etc and care to share their thoughts?
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