# Alternative to spikes on speakers or speaker stands **URL:** \ **Category:** Hi-Fi Corner\ **Created:** [January 12, 2021, 11:14am UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860 "2021-01-12T11:14:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charles](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/charles/32/431_2.png) [@Charles](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 11:14am UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/1 "2021-01-12T11:14:03Z")
We are about to get new carpeting and I want to avoid using spikes on it. Obviously I need to pay attention to stability and also the ability to move then easily would be useful. Are there any suggestions that can be made, I have searched the site for any suggestions but can’t seem to find anything. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Suedkiez](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/suedkiez/32/192509_2.png) [@Suedkiez](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/Suedkiez)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/2 "2021-01-12T11:21:31Z")
For this topic, the titles of existing threads and useful search keywords are maybe not very obvious unless you already know what to look for. Common favorites are Townsend Podium, Finite Elemente Cerabase, and IsoAcoustics Gaia. I’m sure someone will offer their experiences but you will also find discussion in these threads: > [@Townsend Podiums, and a few Facts](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/townsend-podiums-and-a-few-facts/11285): > > Hi Folks. I received my Facts back from PMC HQ yesterday via their delightful rep. Tom Barron after a repair ( replacement of both mid domes). In preparation I had installed 2 Townsend Podiums size 2 in the exact position they were at before. Once you get over their intrusive looks and the fact that the speakers wobble when pushed, like an old barge on the open sea they were a revelation from the first few notes. I know I’m listening through a pair of fresh factory domes, which I’ve now put prob… > [@What to put SL2s on?](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/what-to-put-sl2s-on/7890): > > I have a pair of SL2s. Tried them on slate roof tiles first, to move them around as part of positioning. They sounded ok on those, but a bit sluggish- and the surface isn’t exactly flat. Then I spiked them through the thick carpet and underlay onto the concrete floor. The underside of the base cabinet touched the carpet and the sound was really dead. To get the speakers fully clear of the carpet would require them to be on very long spikes, which I think will be detrimental to the sound. They… > [@Gaia III with Proac](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/gaia-iii-with-proac/12324): > > Anyone here uses the Gaia’s with Proac speakers? I find them to suck the life out of my speakers and removed them after a few months. Should the top locknut be against the bottom one or should there be space between them? On some photos on their website they are against each other and on others they have space between them. Searched everything but can’t find an answer anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![TOBYJUG](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/tobyjug/32/478979_2.png) [@TOBYJUG](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/TOBYJUG)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 11:33am UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/3 "2021-01-12T11:33:14Z")
What speakers are you using ? ---
**Author:** ![Neilb1906](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/neilb1906/32/391833_2.png) [@Neilb1906](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/Neilb1906)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 11:45am UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/4 "2021-01-12T11:45:35Z")
Spikes will probably cause the least marks to your new carpet. Any type of support that is designed to enhance the sound will leave some marks. Alternatives would be Gaias on their carpet discs , but these are just multi spiked discs, so no less damaging really. As Toby has asked, what speakers? Gaias really only work best on speakers with lateral facing drivers, ie not downward. You could consider spikes or Gaias (without the discs) on some sort of smart solid marble slab? ---
**Author:** ![anon77199223](https://community.naimaudio.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@anon77199223](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/anon77199223)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 12:10pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/5 "2021-01-12T12:10:56Z")
Herbie’s Big Fat Gliders?? ---
**Author:** ![Neilb1906](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/neilb1906/32/391833_2.png) [@Neilb1906](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/Neilb1906)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 12:26pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/6 "2021-01-12T12:26:15Z")
Is that a 70s film Jim? ---
**Author:** ![anon77199223](https://community.naimaudio.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@anon77199223](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/anon77199223)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/7 "2021-01-12T12:29:44Z")
Probably. Also, maybe a thing sold in the US that you can put speakers on and slide them around?? I have never seen one, but once looked at the website… ---
**Author:** ![anon77199223](https://community.naimaudio.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@anon77199223](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/anon77199223)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 12:31pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/8 "2021-01-12T12:31:17Z")
Is it Naim approved carpeting? Otherwise you’re screwed! ---
**Author:** ![feeling\_zen](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/feeling_zen/32/315_2.png) [@feeling\_zen](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/feeling_zen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/9 "2021-01-12T12:32:05Z")
Exactly. Spikes protect the carpet. They punch down between the weave to the floor. Heavy speakers on any kind of small but blunt feet, aside from not being hugely stable will leave a lasting dent in the pile. Although when you move a spiked speaker, there is the initial “_oh god! It’s left a hole!_” reaction, it’s just a separation in the pile and easily gets massaged back to how it was. ---
**Author:** ![Beachcomber](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/beachcomber/32/10656_2.png) [@Beachcomber](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/Beachcomber)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/10 "2021-01-12T12:44:00Z")
Don’t know how approved this is or not, but when I had speakers standing on carpet I had a slab of (polished) granite, and stood the speakers (SBLs) on that, using their spikes. Seemed to work perfectly well. Left a slight indentation in the carpet when I moved them, which soon went away. It might depend on what sort of carpet, of course. ---
**Author:** ![TOBYJUG](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/tobyjug/32/478979_2.png) [@TOBYJUG](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/TOBYJUG)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/11 "2021-01-12T12:54:58Z")
If it’s a relatively light speaker, spikes would be better for stability. ---
**Author:** ![MikeD](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/miked/32/168308_2.png) [@MikeD](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/MikeD)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/12 "2021-01-12T13:10:00Z")
![1991](https://d2ikyu8xyuibjx.cloudfront.net/original/3X/7/9/798dfdbc1d47a050fc5d306e83b421a9c1549b3a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![StuW](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/stuw/32/72482_2.png) [@StuW](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/StuW)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/13 "2021-01-12T13:18:28Z")
I use granite chopping boards. The underlay is very thick and this makes it difficult to get a good stable contact with the concrete floor. I use spike shoes which help prevent the speakers sliding around on the granite. My speakers have downward firing ports so I wanted a bit more space for them to work effectively. I can easily move speaker position by sliding the granite across the carpet and any marks are easily removed by brushing over by hand or with the hoover. ---
**Author:** ![anon81636620](https://community.naimaudio.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon81636620](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/anon81636620)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/14 "2021-01-12T13:34:42Z")
Do they do carpet with the naim logo in it, 😂😂 ---
**Author:** ![anon77199223](https://community.naimaudio.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@anon77199223](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/anon77199223)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/15 "2021-01-12T13:40:44Z")
Yes, Naim carpet is woven from the very soft and lanolin-free underbelly hairs of Andean llamas. ---
**Author:** ![Innocent\_Bystander](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/innocent_bystander/32/192292_2.png) [@Innocent\_Bystander](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/Innocent_Bystander)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/16 "2021-01-12T13:43:33Z")
Spikes can actually be good on carpets, potentially reaching through to the floor enabling good stability without damage, especially with heavy speakers. ---
**Author:** ![anon81636620](https://community.naimaudio.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon81636620](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/anon81636620)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/17 "2021-01-12T13:51:42Z")
Bugger me really and woven by naked goddesses whilst listening to to Bob segar on a statement system, please do tell how much ---
**Author:** ![bailyhill](https://community.naimaudio.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@bailyhill](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/bailyhill)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/18 "2021-01-12T14:16:02Z")
Townshend Podiums mentioned already, may a big difference is the sound for me. Worthy upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![GadgetMan](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/gadgetman/32/204098_2.png) [@GadgetMan](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/GadgetMan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/19 "2021-01-12T14:46:28Z")
The exact centre of this photo (where the pattern crosses) is where I had a Naim Credo spike inserted for \>10 years. You can feel an indent with your hand, but cannot see it when 2+ feet away. ![IMG_3011](https://d2ikyu8xyuibjx.cloudfront.net/original/3X/e/6/e6854cab76b2fe743e4b0cf69bb4d5984d9a70fa.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Charles](https://community.naimaudio.com/user_avatar/community.naimaudio.com/charles/32/431_2.png) [@Charles](https://community.naimaudio.com/u/Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860/20 "2021-01-12T14:53:37Z")
Either Proac Tablette 10 or PMC 20.21 on oak stands. Not that heavy really so looking at some of the comments after this question perhaps spikes may after all be better on a carpet. Thanks to all for the sensible suggestions. [Next page](https://community.naimaudio.com/t/alternative-to-spikes-on-speakers-or-speaker-stands/13860.md?page=2)