Studio Monitor Decoupling

[brandondrury]

I don't think we've fought about this one, so put 'em.

There are various products out there that claim immense improvement by decoupling the monitors from the surface they sit on.

The Auralex Mopad things come to mind....although I can't ever see myself buying anything with that brand name attached.

People are raving about the https://www.axemusic.com/product.asp...8024&PT_ID=275 but I can't see myself spending $250 on a piece of metal on top of some foam....even if there is more to it than that.

Then there is Shock Absorbing Sorbothane® - Edmund Optics Sorbothane sounds more like something that NASA would use. That's a good start. It seems like pretty awesome stuff. It's not super cheap.

Some guys seem quite content with mouse pads.

Any thoughts?

Brandon

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

The Auralex Mopad things come to mind....although I can't ever see myself buying anything with that brand name attached.

Any thoughts?

Brandon

I use these for my monitors in the CR and they work well. I bought them in a pile of other studio equipment I bought from Sweetwater. I think they were on sale. They are angled (I forget what degrees). They also come with an extra wedge in case you need to have them angled a bit more (if they happen to be sitting higher than usual on the desk).

As was suggested in the other thread, I use some old foam packing material for my "run-of-the-mill" Bose home stereo speakers on the live floor for "casual listening" to my "almost final mixes."

And "did' "I" "use" "enuough" "quotes."

[String7th]

I got an Auralex "roominator" kit for $100 a year or 2 ago and had 2 extra square foot pads I stuck underneath my monitors. From what I see in the ads, it's the exact thing they sell as Mopads.

[mmoorhead]

I use the mopads as they were a gift. I love these things they have made a huge difference in my mixes. They are also relatively inexpensive and can give your sound a boost.

[jagcmos]

I would think that if monitor decoupling made a significant difference in mixing, then the companies that make the monitors would be adding some device to the monitors and using it as a selling point.

[mmoorhead]

Some do claim to have some decoupling but they also assume you are going to use stands.

[String7th]

Originally Posted by jagcmos

I would think that if monitor decoupling made a significant difference in mixing, then the companies that make the monitors would be adding some device to the monitors and using it as a selling point.

It's important but it's the last 1-2% of the whole "perfect listening envioronment"
Monitors=50%, D/A conversion=10%, Room acoustics=20%, Cables=2%, etc.

This little example breakdown will probably be quoted and retorted by; "Nuh-uh!"

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by String7th

It's important but it's the last 1-2% of the whole "perfect listening envioronment"
Monitors=50%, D/A conversion=10%, Room acoustics=20%, Cables=2%, etc.

This little example breakdown will probably be quoted and retorted by; "Nuh-uh!"

Nuh-uh!

Monitors=cost/how they look, D/A conversion=WTF is that?, Room acoustics=what happened to my mom's curtains, Cables=Radio Shack baby!, etc.

All seriousness aside...they're all critical for sure and add up to the final desired product. You definitely need to know the dimensions and layout of your listening environment and choose the optimum of the elements described above. Good luck, because I'm never sure if I got it right.....although I know where the sweet spot is in my CR (move 6 inches either way and it's lost).

[midKnight]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this but...

I have two sets of the auralex mopads for my monitors and honestly...

I can't hear any difference at all between when I wasn't using them, and now that I am.

Perhaps it's doing something subtle that I'm unaware of, but they're kinda pricey for a "subtle" enhancement..

just my experience..

[brandondrury]

It's important but it's the last 1-2% of the whole "perfect listening envioronment"
Monitors=50%, D/A conversion=10%, Room acoustics=20%, Cables=2%, etc.

This little example breakdown will probably be quoted and retorted by; "Nuh-uh!"

Nuh-uh.

I'd change it to this:
Studio Monitors 30%
Room Acoustics 69%
What you had for lunch: 0.5%
D/A Conversion: 0.5%
Cables: .......just use TonyB's curtains.

I can't hear any difference at all between when I wasn't using them, and now that I am.

You won't get slammed for that here, dude.

If you can't hear a difference, there is no difference. PERIOD.

Whenever there are people who say "Holy shit!!!!" and then people who say "I don't hear a different" I'm always inclined to lean in the direction of that which costs the least $$$$.

There are a few possibilities to this decoupling situation.
a) People are sensationalizing the effects. (Gee, when does that EVER happen in audio??? )

b) The effects of the decoupling are dependent on the situation. Two monitors placed on a 1/4" sheet of plywood are going to vibrate the crap out of that thing and this will induce resonant comb filtering of some kind. Two monitors placed on the Jefferson Memorial aren't going to be so effective at shaking it.

It seems the situation would be different for people using stands vs people using a desk or table....maybe not.

Brandon