I've known Wilson was going to release a new footer but thought it would be a general release. The Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode (WAAD?) will debut with the Alexx V and become available for other speakers, I believe - at least Wilson intimates that but has not announced separate product. Below is information in the Alexx V press kit.
The Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode™
The Process
The Wilson Audio Special Applications Engineering® (WASAE) Team has always
approached the challenge of vibration mitigation from a scientific perspective. Once the
science surrounding the elements to be deployed is acutely understood, the art of the
project can begin.
While designing the Pedestal®, a very effective tool used under audio equipment, the
objective of this device was to isolate the equipment chassis from vibrations entering
the gear from the surface it’s installed on.
Wilson Audio has successfully employed extremely precise laser vibrometer testing
equipment for well over a decade and a variety of other analysis systems previous to
these tools. Valuable data collected from this equipment during dozens of product
development cycles, including the R&D of Pedestal, gave the WASAE Team greater
insights into the complexities of vibration management under loudspeakers. Putting to
use their industry-leading understanding and material measurement database, the Team
set the lofty goal of improving upon an element of the loudspeaker that traditionally has
been very good for Wilson Audio.
The Mechanics
Loudspeakers interact with their environment in two primary ways. First, with pressure
originating from the driver’s diaphragm and second, the vibrations directed into the
floor from the enclosure through the speaker’s footers, or “spikes.” The first is what
audiophiles and music lovers hope to experience in its most powerful, engagingly
elegant, and intimately emotion ways when their system is turned on. The second is the
area of exploration, and the primary focus, of this amazingly functional Acoustic Diode
system .
An improved spike system would have to minimize vibration from the enclosure going
into the ground while simultaneously diminishing unwanted vibrations from be
transmitted up into the enclosure. We have seen and scrutinized many ways the
interface of loudspeakers to the floor are addressed. Many companies simply develop
spikes to isolate the loudspeaker from the floor. These methods with elastomeric
materials, ceramic bearings, and a wide variety of other designs can allow the
loudspeaker to move in parallel with the drivers. Unfortunately, these micromovements
can sonically present themselves as smearing, colorations, and various forms of
distortion during musical playback. These artifacts can add an effect to the music that
may be initially interesting and possibly exciting. The reality, however, is the fidelity of
the recording has been altered.
To remedy this, direct coupling to the floor is needed while, at the same time, not
providing an easy path for vibrations to be injected into the ground.
The Science
Building upon the research and development of Pedestal, the Special Applications
Engineering Team is excited to announce the Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode™ (AD Spike
for short). At the heart of the Acoustic Diode is our proprietary “V-Material.” This
superior constrained layer damping composite is unsurpassed in vibration absorption
and resonance control.
Energy from the enclosure migrates into the V-Material where it is faced with the
effective damping properties of this efficient material. The mass of the loudspeaker
concentrated onto the very small ends of the spike tips results in significant levels of PSI
that prevent detrimental vibrations from traveling upward into the footer. Those
vibrations that do travel up the spike are absorbed by the mass of the Acoustic Diode
and have to travel through the V-Material to have a chance to influence the enclosure.
Keeping the spike and threaded post separate prevent a direct path for vibrations to
travel, or interplay, and are therefore dissipated and absorbed in either the V-Material or
the footer housing.
This distinctive design, combined with advanced vibration-mitigating materials, provides
the best of both worlds; a solid base from which the drivers can launch as well as
preventing the transmission of energy from the floor to the loudspeakers.
Separation in the Assembly
A machined V-Material insert is inset into the robust austenitic stainless-steel diode
housing. A stainless-steel post is then threaded into this exclusive V-Material, never
touching the diode component. On the bottom of the diode, a spike is threaded into the
diode housing, but it does not couple with the V-Material insert. Once the Acoustic
Diodes are installed into the loudspeaker, only the V-Material section of the diode comes
in contact with the bottom of the loudspeaker.
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