Since designers pack a lot of thought, a heap of technical research and a mass of development time into a good set of studio monitors, it's simply worth making sure that you're getting the best possible performance out of them - which exactly where studio monitor isolation comes in.
Get the Best Out of Your Monitors
Even the most expensive studio monitors can sound bad if they're set up on a resonant or even wonky surface. When sitting directly on a table or cabinet, the sound waves generated by a monitor can make the wood or metal vibrate and have the effect of amplifying certain frequencies and making them sound more resonant than they actually are. Other frequencies (especially the bass) can also be absorbed to the point that you can hardly hear them. By setting your monitors on a specially designed pad or riser, stand or even set of feet, you're 'isolating' your monitors from the surface of the tabletop and preventing this from happening at all. The result is a wider stereo image with more three-dimensionality because the interplay between the two speakers is less disturbed.
What Kind of Studio Monitor Isolation Works?
When picking out the right isolation for your monitors, you need to be certain that it's going to match the footprint and shape of your speakers and that it's able to handle the weight. Getting a form of isolation that doesn't quite match might actually have a negative effect on the performance of your monitors, so it's best to choose wisely.
Size
If the isolation solution you go for is too small, then your monitors won't be stable, and they need a solid and stable surface to sit on so they can deliver tight and punchy bass with maximum efficiency. You're also running the risk of watching as your monitors are vibrated out of position and fall off your desk or
stand
.
Shape
Some studio monitors have a specially designed shape and come with little isolating feet, like a lot of Genelec and Focal models. So, if you want to place models like these on a set of monitor pads, then you'll need to get a set with a metal plate on top to make sure it's stable. If you want to place them on isolation pucks or isolation stands, then you can just place a thick bit of MDF in between.
Weight
All monitor isolation gear will have a maximum weight capacity. So, if you place anything over that weight limit on top, then you can't guarantee that it's going to be stable. If you're using foam monitor pads, you can layer a couple of sets of pads to help distribute the weight, or go for a set of pads topped with metal plates, which will improve the weight distribution.
Speaker Foam vs. Decouplers vs. Isolation Stands
Using speaker foam is the easiest way to isolate studio monitors. For as little as £20 you can place a set of Devine monitor pads under your speakers to improve the sound. Then there are more advanced monitor isolation pads from names like Primacoustic, which are usually made of more dense foam and have better acoustic properties. Isolation stands made by names like IsoAcoustics double the advantage by raising your monitors to the optimum height and improving the sound at the same time. They're also really flexible because the size and position of your speakers doesn't really matter as much. And, when it comes to decouplers, you'll need at least three or four pucks under each monitor to get the right effect and keep your monitors stable.
