IsoAcoustics Orea, IsoPuck, Gaia - What's the difference?

[Spider27]

Can anyone help me understand what the differences among Orea, IsoPuck, Gaia series of Isolation products?

 

Gaia is to replace existing threaded spike feet but Orea or IsoPuck can be placed under the speakers or subwoofers after removing the spike feet.

 

And, is there any difference between Orea and IsoPuck?

 

If speakers can take any of those, is Orea the best out of all options?

 

Thank you in advance. 

[Muscat]

From what I gathered on the internet, the Orea and Pucks perform that same but the Orea look more premium and are priced accordingly.  I'm using Pucks under my speakers and am happy with the improvement and cost.  I found the sound was a little more focused than without them.

Never tried the Orea so can't offer a comparison.

[Spider27]

1 minute ago, Muscat said:

From what I gathered on the internet, the Orea and Pucks perform that same but the Orea look more premium and are priced accordingly.  I'm using Pucks under my speakers and am happy with the improvement and cost.  I found the sound was a little more focused than without them.

Never tried the Orea so can't offer a comparison.

Thank you Muscat. Appreciate your feedback.

[Spider27]

Has anyone compared between Gaia vs Orea/IsoPuck? 

[MrBurns84]

18 minutes ago, Spider27 said:

Can anyone help me understand what the differences among Orea, IsoPuck, Gaia series of Isolation products?

 

Gaia is to replace existing threaded spike feet but Orea or IsoPuck can be placed under the speakers or subwoofers after removing the spike feet.

 

And, is there any difference between Orea and IsoPuck?

 

If speakers can take any of those, is Orea the best out of all options?

 

Thank you in advance. 

@Spider27 different weight bearing ratios on the Oreas and IsoPucks.  But the Oreas look nicer as muscat mentioned above.  I personally cannot tell the difference in sound between the two.  Gaias are for speakers/subs.  I wouldnt recommend using Oreas and IsoPucks for speaker isolation.  Even though the suction effect that the Orea and IsoPuck have to stabilize equipment, speakers have moving parts and the Gaia's effectively decouples the speaker to the surface its located.  Im assuming you're looking at this option because your speakers arent heavy?

[Spider27]

17 minutes ago, MrBurns84 said:

@Spider27 different weight bearing ratios on the Oreas and IsoPucks.  But the Oreas look nicer as muscat mentioned above.  I personally cannot tell the difference in sound between the two.  Gaias are for speakers/subs.  I wouldnt recommend using Oreas and IsoPucks for speaker isolation.  Even though the suction effect that the Orea and IsoPuck have to stabilize equipment, speakers have moving parts and the Gaia's effectively decouples the speaker to the surface its located.  Im assuming you're looking at this option because your speakers arent heavy?

Thank you Burns. That helps a lot. My speakers aren't that heavy and I have bookshelf speakers and floorstanders.

If I understood correctly, Bookshelf speakers on stands can be benefited by using either IsoPuck or Orea between speakers and stands.

For floorstanders, Gaia is the one. I use wooden board on the floor and put floorstsanding speakers so it is kinda hard surface so I can put either Orea or Gaia between speakers and wooden board Hence wondering what may be better between Gaia and Orea if both can be used.

Edited December 12, 2024 by Spider27

[Spider27]

I just watched this video and quite helpful.
 

 

 

If I understood correctly, Gaia is to be used with floorstanding speakers and subwoofers.

Orea is to be used for audio components and standmounting speakers.

 

And, Orea and IsoPuck is pretty much cosmetic. Orea is targeted to audiophiles who don't mind paying premium with better look.
IsoPuck is targeted to Pro Audio crowd who do not care o fancy appearance but performance hence in black.

Does this pretty much sum it up?

 

 

[Guest]

I use Iso pucks extensively and also the stands, both the pro audio and consumer Aperta.  Could not hear a difference between the pro audio and consumer stands.

 

3 minutes ago, Spider27 said:

And, Orea and IsoPuck is pretty much cosmetic. Orea is targeted to audiophiles who don't mind paying premium with better look.

IsoPuck is targeted to Pro Audio crowd who do not care o fancy appearance but performance hence in black.

Does this pretty much sum it up?

Yes...

[Spider27]

Is it better to choose just enough weight bearing model among Orea 1 ,2 ,3 or it does not matter as long as tolerance of weight is within the spec?

 

For example, if the speakers is 10kg then 4 x Orea Bronze (Weight Capacity 8lbs (3.6kg) per unit) or 4 x Orea Indigo (Weight Capacity 16lbs (7.2kg) per unit) is okay if price is not matter? 

 

My guess is that it does not matter which model as long as it is under weight capacity.

 

And, anyone know if Orea is spring loaded inside or sorbothane piece that squeeze in when weight is on?

 

I see the video that it pressed in a bit when speakers or component is on. From my past experience, sobothane works better than spring loaded for isolation solution.

 

 

[Guest]

There are no internal springs.  Don't overload but it is OK to underload.  

[Rhymenocerous]

Pucks are designed for pro use where the aesthetics are not really an issue, Orea are for Hifi where they are.

[Spider27]

Just now, Rhymenocerous said:

Pucks are designed for pro use where the aesthetics are not really an issue, Orea are for Hifi where they are.

 

Thanks for confirming. If I go with Isoacoustic solution, may go with IsoPuck. 

[Spider27]

Does anyone know how it isolate? I see mechanical drawing from IsoAcoustics website but could not figure out what is inside aluminium case to isolate.

 

 

[colinm1]

It seems to be some sort of rubber compound that compresses under weight ,

And with in its weight limits ,still moves in all directions ,,

just like a spring ,it works under a pre determined load range , the best 

[JD1]

Could it be sorbothane. This stuff is quite expensive and is good for isolating vibration effectively when the correct type is used for the weight range it's graded to work within. It apparently is one of the best materials for isolating vibration in industry. Amazon is one source of availability.

[Blooloo]

Use the Gaia II under my heavy GE Triton Ones - made a massive difference in tighter bass and cleaner mids.

Would recommend for any heavy speaker.

[colinm1]

49 minutes ago, Blooloo said:

Use the Gaia II under my heavy GE Triton Ones - made a massive difference in tighter bass and cleaner mids.

Would recommend for any heavy speaker.

Did much the same for my pmc ib2 speakers 

there about 45 kg each 

[Spider27]

51 minutes ago, Blooloo said:

Use the Gaia II under my heavy GE Triton Ones - made a massive difference in tighter bass and cleaner mids.

Would recommend for any heavy speaker.

 

Great to hear. Thanks for sharing.

 

Just wondering. What was it compared with to notice massive difference? Was it compared with no feet at all or original spike feet?

 

The reason for asking is that if it was no feet, then Gaia feet will lift the speaker up from ground so would make noticeable difference.

 

Wondering if it was compared with another feet so both were lifted up from the ground.

 

Thanks again

[colinm1]

Mine were on factory wooden ,pmc stands ,

so height from the ground,would not be not an issue , 

as such,

[Whites]

I have the Gaia 2 under my speakers, which were originally on spikes sitting on those little metal discs. Same positive effect as noted by others.

 

 

[Blooloo]

18 hours ago, Spider27 said:

 

Great to hear. Thanks for sharing.

 

Just wondering. What was it compared with to notice massive difference? Was it compared with no feet at all or original spike feet?

 

 

I first had the Tritons on their own basic plastic base for a year, the floor is carpet and thick underlay over sprung hardwood with 1 meter free space under the floor.

Seeking tighter, more defined bass I then moved to a basic threaded, brass spike. This made a noticeable difference in bass extension but for some reason I lost the sound-stage I used to enjoy. By moving to the Gaia IIs the bass and extension were improved even from the brass spikes AND my sound-stage returned. Win-win.

[Spider27]

@colinm1 @Whites @Blooloo  Thank you for sharing your feedback based on experience. Great to hear that it makes noticeable positive difference. 

[Spider27]

Has anyone tried EVP Footers https://avroomservice.com/evp-2/  or Stack Auva Footers https://stackaudio.co.uk/shop-auva-isolators/

and compared with Gaia?

 

I know that several members are really pleased with Stack Footers and a few members also really like EVP footers and would like to hear user experience and possibly comparison with Gaia.

 

If I understood correctly, Gaia uses Sorbothane material (?) to isolate when Stack footers use particle impact damping solution with custom silicone absorber to isolate.

And, EVP uses some kind of foam block with felt or rubber on surface.

 

All three are highly reviewed and uses different materials and technology to manage vibration absorbtion and isolation.

 

It would be awesome to hear actual users feedback on alternative solution such as Stack and EVP.

 

Thank you.