Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Auralex GRAMMA Sound Isolation Riser (Subdude) Speaker Stands by SmokeTest

Model:	GRAMMA Sound Isolation Riser (Subdude)
Category:	Speaker Stands
Suggested Retail Price:	$59.95
Description:	Short platform to isolate equipment
Manufacturer URL:	Auralex
Model Picture:	View

Review by SmokeTest ( A ) on June 05, 2005 at 13:17:59
IP Address: 66.81.26.81

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This Gramma Sound Isolation Riser is a short stand designed to place speakers, subwoofers, amps, etc. The Asylum makes me assign a category so I put it in speaker stand becasue that's where I applied them, but it could be any equipment stand. I also found a product called a "Basedude" by Auralex which looks the same except the top has no logo. I'm guessing it was an earlier version or is made for a marketing nitch. Auralex primarily markets sound controlling products to the pro-audio community. It is a board covered in material like industrial carpeting. Underneath on the two long sides are wide strips of dense foam that sit on the floor, thus making a bridge. The area between the dense foam strips is filled with Auralex sound absorbing foam. And a handle.
From the website:
"Dimensions: 23" long x 15" wide x 2.75" high; Weight Limitations: 300lbs.
Gig & Recording Amplifier & Monitor Modulation Attenuator
The GRAMMA Sound Isolation Riser is an incredibly effective device that's used to float an amp or loudspeaker and yields nearly total acoustic sound isolation, resulting in a purity of tone that has to be heard to be believed!
GRAMMA comes complete with a carrying handle, road-ready carpet, Studiofoam Wedges (underneath), PlatFoam (underneath), and an optional GRAMMA Gigbag. 1-2 GRAMMAs will support most amps, speaker cabinets, theater subwoofers and monitors."
My application: 82 pound floor standing Linaeum 10 speakers on a suspended hardwood floor. The problem: the floor acts like a resonator. Advice here and other places was contradictory: use spikes, don't use spikes-use soft absorbing things. When I first acquired the speakers I placed the speakers on floor with some automobile sound foam sheets underneath. After a period of tweaking and fussing, I tried the factory spikes on the floor. That was an big improvement. But, I still wondered.
After reading about this product I bought a pair. (Street price can be about $50 each). I placed the speakers with the spikes on the stand. Big, and I mean big improvement in my situation. I repeat, in my situation, it works great. At first, with Phillip Glass Koyaanisqasti I thought that, although more refinded it was a little too lacking in the bass. But then I put on Miles Filles de Kilimanjaro and instantly knew that there was a great improvement. Several hours with a variety of music confirms that conclusion. YMMV.
Just for fun, there is one aspect I find lacking. There is no information telling you how this was made with extremely clever enginnering taking advantage of a loophole in the Laws of the Universe the no one else figured out, or that a special material of exoticanium, etc. etc. In fact, there is no information at all. And at a little more than $100 for two, I'm wondering if I can keep up my audiophile snob/elitist attitude!

Product Weakness: None.
Product Strengths: Extremely effective with speakers on my hardwood floor. The whole frequency range is improved. You would expect bass definition to improve, but brass, cymbals, voices, spatial imaging, clarity, and more are all signifigantly better. Frequency range is improved-not necessarily more extended but more 'intelligible.' A nice solution at a very reasonable price.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Golden Tube SE-40 SE (modded)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Golden Tube Sep-1 SE (modded)
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Rega Planet 2000, Well Tempered Turntable, Grado Platinum
Speakers:	Linaeum 10
Cables/Interconnects:	variety
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	rock, jazz, classical
Room Size (LxWxH):	17' x 9' 6 x 9'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Auralex bass traps
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Hours
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	None.
Product Strengths:	Extremely effective with speakers on my hardwood floor. The whole frequency range is improved. You would expect bass definition to improve, but brass, cymbals, voices, spatial imaging, clarity, and more are all signifigantly better. Frequency range is improved-not necessarily more extended but more 'intelligible.' A nice solution at a very reasonable price.