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Tweakers' Asylum Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ. |
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In Reply to: Spikes question - any real differences between brands? posted by hukkfinn on July 25, 2005 at 08:51:35:
Gawd, how did I land on this planet???well as long as I am here I should impart some practical knowledge and then DUCK FOR COVER!
Look all the guy asked is why should he pay more for one brand of spike than another brand of spike? This is a worthy question of any critical listener.
The better sounding spikes should have NO SOUND. They are there just to take the weight of the item on top and concentrate that down to about a millimeter of area. This is MASS LOADING. The cone or spike should never provide a sound characteristic EVER or you are using the wrong damn stuff.
The most neutral sounding cones I have ever heard are ceramic. They have no sound of their own. Kind of like Carbon Graphite. You can replicate the sound of these cheap by making your own cones from a good quality bondo material. I like the kitty hair. This has fiberglass mixed in for added strength. Works really really well but wear a mask if you sand these. Seriously this stuff is CANCER city to breath.
For looks on speakers, I use the Dayton Black Chrome which I think are plated brass. These sound fine for speakers. Believe me you will hear a lot more junk resonating from your cabinets than the cones or spikes will exhibit or inhibit.
I just think these look bitchin! Way ultra COOL.
Where sound difference might be heard most is on sources like CD and DVD players and Turntables. Here is where the Kitty Hair cones work very nicely. You can make a hundred ultra cool cones for 10-20 bucks....whatever the bondo costs you. Wear a mask when sanding!!!
I have used many brands of cones and spikes over the years. I have yet to find any one that is BEST. I like steak, some girls I have dated thought that made me a Neanderthal Man. Maybe I am old school...who knows and why should you care.
Basically don't spend a fortune on stuff that makes only minimal differences when money spent on good interconnects, quality speaker wire and transformer based line conditioning could make your system really rock.
Hope this helps some. Send me an email address and I will send you some pics of the Dayton spikes on my Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor Wanna Be DIY speakers. These speakers ROCK and I am a believer in mass loading and that is what a cone or spike allows you to accomplish.
Cheers!
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Follow Ups
- Vampires, Spikes, and Silver Bullets - tubesforever 12:17:09 07/26/05 (1)
- Thank you! Wow, a helpful reply. - hukkfinn 13:09:03 07/26/05 (0)