IsoAcoustics provides the kind of demo that’s unique in audio. You sit in front of two pairs of identical speakers, and the signal runs through an A/B switch so you can switch, in real time, between one pair that’s spiked directly to the floor and another pair fitted with IsoAcoustics’ footers. There are no tricks here—I’ve looked behind the rack and both speakers are wired directly to the switcher.
The system on demo at High End 2025 was highly resolving: two pairs of Marten Parker Quintet Diamond Edition speakers running off the same Audia Flight FLS 10 integrated amp.
As at previous shows, IsoAcoustics founder and president Dave Morrison handed me the clicker so I could swap between the two pairs of speakers. We listened to some well-recorded jazz, laden with juicy female vocals. I’d sat through this demo before, and even in a crowded room with lots of people talking, I could clearly hear how the isolation footers earned their keep.
This time, though, the differences between the two pairs of speakers were huge. IsoAcoustics was introducing their new Gaia Neo series of footers, a refinement on the still-in-production Gaia footers. The Gaia Neo footers feature new cosmetics and—more importantly—an improved mechanism by which the footers make contact with the speaker and provide easier leveling.
The non-Gaia’d speakers presented amorphous, wide, unfocused voices that sounded phasey, almost like headphones. With the Gaia-footed speakers playing, the voices tightened up and gained physical clarity. This was a dramatic difference, a massive improvement.
Again, the ability to swap the two systems in real time meant that there was no room for trickery. This was an honest, clear demonstration, one that more manufacturers should emulate, if they dare. That a simple footer change wrought this sort of improvement is almost unbelievable. But there I was experiencing it.
Why was this run-through of the IsoAcoustics demo so much more impressive? Well, the Marten speakers are resolution monsters, there’s no doubt. The new Gaia Neos are a refinement over the previous Gaias, so there’s that. Whatever the reason, this was an eye-opener.
As of now, prices are not set for the Gaia Neo footers.
I’ve been aware of IsoAcoustics and their reasonably priced, highly effective equipment footers for several years. The company is based in Markham, Ontario, just north of my hometown of Toronto. It’s been a source of vicarious pride that I feel whenever I run into Morrison at an audio show.
Until now, the IsoAcoustics supports have been mostly an add-on product, one that you and I can use to improve our own systems. A notable exception has been PSB’s Synchrony B600, T600, and T800 loudspeakers, which have had integrated isolation feet supplied by IsoAcoustics for some time. But at High End 2025, IsoAcoustics announced OEM partnerships with an extensive list of speaker manufacturers who now equip their products with IsoAcoustics footers.
This isn’t a licensing arrangement. IsoAcoustics will manufacture the footers to the cosmetic and dimensional specifications of the speaker companies. These include ultra-rarefied, boutique brands such as Marten, larger companies like Sonus Faber and Dynaudio, and massive players like JBL. Add in Perlisten, Amphion, and others. This is a huge expansion for IsoAcoustics, one that’s like (I hate this expression) going viral.
Dave Morrison
I could sense Morrison’s pride in this announcement, and he should be proud. His company’s demo is so utterly convincing, I’d expect it would be an easy sell for all of these speaker manufacturers. In our fragmented, confrontational world, it’s gratifying to see a company from my corner making out so well.
Jason Thorpe
Senior Editor, SoundStage!
