At Townshend Audio, our mission has always been to remove the barriers that prevent music from reaching its full emotional and sonic potential. We are deeply honored to announce that the Townshend Seismic Isolation Podium was awarded the Hi-Fi+ Editor’s Choice Award 2020, a prestigious accolade that celebrates its revolutionary approach to vibration isolation. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to engineering solutions that elevate high-fidelity audio to unprecedented levels of clarity and realism.

Redefining the Art of Speaker Isolation

For too long, audiophiles have relied on conventional rigid couplers—spikes, cones, or similar devices—that promise stability but fall short of true isolation. These methods, limited to addressing vibrations above 10-15Hz, often allow low-frequency disturbances to infiltrate the audio signal, resulting in muddied bass, veiled details, and a compressed soundstage. The Seismic Isolation Podium breaks this mold with a damped mass spring system powered by our proprietary ‘Captive’ Load Cells, achieving isolation from an ultra-low 3Hz—well below the audible spectrum.

This innovative design floats the speaker, severing its acoustic connection to the floor and blocking both microvibrations (from sound waves or electronics) and gross vibrations (from footfalls, traffic, or structural resonance). The result is a transformative listening experience: bass becomes tight and articulate, midrange clarity blossoms, and the soundstage expands into a vivid, three-dimensional space. The Podium doesn’t just enhance your speakers—it reveals their true capabilities, regardless of type or size.

Hi-Fi+ Editor’s Choice Award: A Testament to Innovation

The Hi-Fi+ Editor’s Choice Award 2020 is a mark of distinction, awarded to products that set new benchmarks in performance and design. In his review for Hi-Fi+ (April 2020), renowned reviewer Jason Kennedy was struck by the Podium’s impact, describing it as a revelation in speaker performance. His experience with the Podium underscored its ability to unlock sonic qualities that conventional coupling cannot achieve.

Kennedy wrote:

“I couldn’t quite believe the improvement in coherence and timing it wrought, and the extent to which the sound is able to escape the boxes. Then there’s the bass, which is suddenly incredibly articulate, three-dimensional and powerful.”

He concluded, “In all honesty, I’d say you don’t know how good your speakers are until you isolate them from the floor.” This powerful endorsement highlights the Podium’s ability to redefine expectations, delivering benefits that extendbeyond the listening room by reducing floor-borne vibrations—a boon for neighbors, too. The Hi-Fi+ award recognizes not just the Podium’s technical prowess but its universal appeal, enhancing systems from modest to world-class with equal finesse.

Why the Podium Stands Alone

The Seismic Isolation Podium is engineered for practicality and performance, making it a seamless addition to any audio setup. Its key features include:

• Universal Design: Available in six standard sizes and customizable for any speaker, it supports weights from 5kg to over 200kg, accommodating standmounts, floorstanders, and subwoofers.
• Seismic Load Cells: Four adjustable cells ensure precise leveling and stability on any surface—wood, tile, or carpet—while adding just 20mm to speaker height for minimal aesthetic impact.
• Full-Spectrum Isolation: Starting at 3Hz, it eliminates vibrations across the entire audio bandwidth, unlike rigid couplers that fail to address low frequencies.
• Sonic Benefits: Expect tighter bass, enhanced detail, and a holographic soundstage that brings music to life with newfound realism.
• Environmental Flexibility: Even on concrete floors, where vibration transfer is often underestimated, the Podium’s measured effectiveness ensures optimal performance.

These qualities make the Podium not just an accessory but a fundamental component of a high-fidelity system, as Kennedy’s review and the Hi-Fi+ award affirm.

A Legacy of Sonic Excellence

The Hi-Fi+ Editor’s Choice Award 2020 is one of many honors for Townshend Audio, joining accolades like The Absolute Sound’s Accessory of the Year 2020, Stereo Times’ recognition, and awards for our Allegri+ Preamplifier and Fractal Interconnect. Each reflects the vision of our founder, Max Townshend, whose pioneering work in vibration control—from the Seismic Sink to the Rock 7 turntable—has reshaped audio engineering. The Podium is a culmination of this expertise, offering a solution that is both scientifically rigorous and musically profound.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hi-Fi+ and Jason Kennedy for this recognition, which validates our belief that vibration isolation is essential to unlocking a system’s potential. Their commitment to rigorous evaluation mirrors our own dedication to excellence.

Hear Your Speakers as Never Before

The Hi-Fi+ Editor’s Choice Award 2020 is more than an honor—it’s an invitation to experience your music with a clarity and depth you may not have thought possible. The Seismic Isolation Podium doesn’t alter your speakers; it liberates them, revealing details and dynamics that were always there, waiting to be heard.

We invite you to explore the Podium on our website and contact an authorized dealer to arrange a demonstration. Discover why Hi-Fi+ celebrated this breakthrough—and why it belongs in your listening room.

Thank you for trusting Townshend Audio to bring you closer to the music you love.

Townshend Audio Team