We’ve already talked – at great length – about the science and reasoning behind speakers stands and speaker stand spikes (‘support solutions’ in their own words) and how they offer benefits in stability, purging and isolation. So we shan’t go on too much about that. Instead, we’re going to introduce you to one of the leading names in the spikes business: Track Audio.
Track Audio are a UK-based company and the purveyors precision-made and gloriously crafted speaker stands, isolation feet, spikes and spike shoes, all designed with the purpose of eliminate the multiple effects of floor resonance, ergo making the absolute most out of your system. Track are an off-shoot of a British machining company who boast clients in the military, aerospace, medical and automotive industries – which probably tells you everything you need to know regarding the level of quality you can expect! It’s this extraordinary engineering pedigree that lends itself beautifully to an upgrade which can lead to hi-fi perfection! Well, at the very least, inching a little bit closer to that goal with a tried and tested upgrade of the highest quality.
What Makes Them Stand Out?
In their own words, it boils down to the three staples of high fidelity: precision, quality and control. Their entire range, from their jaw-dropping speaker stands to their tiny spike shoes, is the result of detailed analysis into the detrimental effects of floor resonance caused by high-output loudspeaker designs. Each and every component, down to the tiniest microfiber, is designed and manufactured in-house, with equal attention paid to the sourcing of the highest quality materials.
They take their designs and the materials and use detailed computer modelling with ultra-precision machining to ensure meticulous attention to detail and an excellent performance. If you want the absolute best for your hi-fi system – these guys are worth your consideration for your isolation needs. The finest purveyors of hi-fi gear, whatever its function, this is a brand that takes serious ownership of their products and oversee every element, obsessing over the tiniest details until perfection is achieved. Track Audio epitomise this very notion.
The Stands
Hand built to order all-the-while incorporating their isolation feet – which we’ll come to in a moment – and available as a resonance-damped pillar stand for bookshelf loudspeakers and as a plinth for floor-standing speakers and sub woofers. Each stand is CNC machined to exact specifications… and the result is something truly special. Attention to detail is phenomenal
A glass spirit level is built into each stand allowing exact leveling, and a sprung-ball click system allows easy and repeatable adjustments for experimentation with tilt, to fine-tune phase coherence adding that last scintilla of reality to the sound. the pillar stands incorporate damping layers to prevent internal resonance within the stand itself. Each pair of stands contains over 160 precision-machined parts. What makes them unique, is the entire range is the same stand: the Track Audio Precision 600. Yes, it comes in a range of heights (from 200mm to 600mm) a range of top plate options for each height and two different finishes, but other than those variables it is the same basic stand.
Each one features:
– Height adaptability
– Ball-locking finely adjustable feet
– Uniquely designed spikes
– Built-in bubble spirit level (… for flatness. A happy speaker is a level speaker!)
– Hard floor spike protectors
– High specification certificated materials
Put simply, these are among the finer examples of ‘support solution’ (totally stealing that terminology) that money can by, and their keen levels of adjustability really appeal to our sentiments.
The Spikes & Feet
There is a little more variety in Track’s impressive selection of spikes, spike shoes and isolation feet. Gorgeously machined and a huge sonic upgrade their approach to speaker spikes was entirely new, and what ultimately defined Track’s ethic. Track Audio creates astonishingly high-quality products from high grade steel. And they last. Oh. do they last. Track are so sure of this, they offer a 10 year warranty on all of their shoes, spikes, feet and cups. But we would be surprised if you’d ever need to invoke such a thing! Track’s selection are very much built to last, and are an excellent way of ensuring that small – yet effective – tweak to your system will work to its absolute best.
One of the best things about the range is their versatility. Yes, they can be used with Tracks own stands (their stands come with isolation feet as standard – but you can always customise!) they’re designed to work in conjunction with pretty much anything, so chopping and changing is always an option. Always an attractive element in a high fidelity upgrade.
Sometimes, you don’t need to say very much on a subject to hammer the message home. High-grade components are essential in the pursuit of perfect hi-fi, and that boils down to even the tiniest detail. The higher end your system, the more such details will matter, so why not treat it to something truly outstanding… pun very much intended.