De-coupling... what does it actually mean?

[Peter Brown]

I'm talking about nearfield monitors - I'm evaluating some new-fangled device called China Cones (www.chinacones.co.uk) - basically a set of ceramic feet that sit under the speakers, that are meant to improve accurate monitoring.

there are some quotes on the website:

The Cones de-coupled my B&W's from the speaker shelf and saved me having to buy expensive heavy speaker stands" Will Mowat, producer

"China Cones de-coupled the nearfield monitors from the SSL meter bridge. Fantastique! " Eric Levi, artist/producer @ Sarm West

what I don't quite understand is the word 'de-coupled': does it just mean 'separated'?

cheers for any feedback...

Peter

[Dietz]

Yes - _acoustically_ seperated.

/Dietz

[Peter Brown]

bloody jargon.

[*-)]

cheers Dietz

Peter

[csduke]

I use the foam that came inside my FE Cube and Preformance Set boxes to decouple my monitors from the shelves they sit on. Yet another reason to buy VSL.

[Nick Batzdorf]

You know, I've wondered about this. I have my monitors on Auralex MoPads (foam), but only because I don't want the other stuff on the shelf they're sitting on to vibrate sympathetically.

But is it really anatomically correct to decouple the boxes from what they're sitting on? The old "big monitors on chains" set-up is definitely bad for the low end, because the monitors swing. I wonder whether something close to the same principle doesn't apply. It might be better to couple the boxes tightly to what they're sitting on.

There are other factors, of course. The MoPads can tilt the speakers at a convenient angle, and it's certainly better to decouple them than to have them loosely coupled.

I really need to get a life, don't I?