Foam Rubber Speaker Isolation

[ClearFire]

 I bought a pair of R-51M bookshelf speakers for my little breakfast nook just off my kitchen in my second floor apartment. The downstairs neighbors have complained about my big system keeping them awake at night, so I was very surprised that they complained about these little speakers as well. I am thinking that the audio carries through the framing of the building. So... I remembered that I had a roll of foam rubber in my storage closet. I put  1.75 inch layer of the foam under each little speaker and was totally surprised.

 The sound was improved a lot! I mean a lot!! Much more distinction between highs and lows. It is like listening to a  different system. If anyone has any ideas on what is going on, I would really appreciate hearing your ideas.

 

Thanks, ClearFire.

 

[MeloManiac]

Do the R-51M speakers come with sticky rubber feet and did you use them? My RP160Ms do.

They are small, so perhaps you forgot to apply them?

 

Welcome to the forum, btw.

[garyrc]

Welcome to the forum!

 

What may be going on:

1. If the foam extends out in front of the speakers a bit, the foam may absorb some of the treble that would otherwise hit any shelf (or other surface) below and in front of the speakers, and bounce off, interfering with the speakers' original sound.
2. The foam may absorb any rattle or vibration between the speaker bottom and whatever it is sitting on.
3. You might possibly have some over-persnickety neighbors.

[Marvel]

My guess is #3

[ricktate]

You also could try what they use to call ''Grippers'' from dept. store. 

[glens]

The results obtained are 180 degrees put of phase with the "spikes" argument, so it seems that spikes might be merely so much snake oil...