A major advance in piano technology

The amazing isolation concept

A surprisingly high percentage of the sound that comes out of a piano travels through the legs and into the floor. This can both ‘muddy’ the sound and become an annoyance to neighbours.

Townshend Audio, who are specialists in acoustic vibration control in the audio industry, introduces the Piano Isolators. The devices are placed under the piano legs to break the acoustic connection to the floor.

Break this link and the result is simply magical!

The effect on your piano

The piano is now more responsive to the pianist’s touch and the sound is remarkably more lively, pleasant and tuneful. The improvement in sound is very noticeable and immediately appreciated by all who experience it.

Using the isolators, the piano is now decoupled from the floor, virtually eliminating the vibrations generated by playing the piano from entering the building. This makes it very neighbour friendly.

Design

A Piano Isolator comprises a suspended triangular platform supported by three adjustable vibration isolation Loadcells™, which are placed, one under each of the three legs of a grand piano.

A central recess will accommodate and centre all sizes of castor.

The isolators will accommodate pianos weighing up to 500kg and will raise it by about 25mm (1”), which is virtually unnoticeable when played.

To install the isolators a purpose built hydraulic jack is available to lift the piano.

Registered design 6000890

Testimonials

These piano isolators are wonderful. Perhaps their original purpose was to prevent neighbours from being disturbed by the thunder of mighty chords through floorboards. But there’s a counter-melody here.

Somehow these isolators sweeten and clarify the sound of the instrument itself. Instead of a muddy confusion of carpet, wood and plaster I hear pure notes singing freely in the air. It’s a joy to have them under the castors of my pianos. Thrilled with these!

Stephen Hough, Classical pianist, composer and writer.

The Townshend under-piano floating isolators have been a remarkable upgrade to my 1909 Bosendorfer piano.

The slightly muddy sound of this vintage piano has been transformed, the bass is much cleaner and articulate, and the whole piano benefits from a huge leap in clarity, without sacrificing the quintessential charm of the instrument.

A several thousand pound upgrade in an instant!

Rafael Todes, Allegri String Quartet

I have used the Townshend Piano Isolators on Steinway, Fazioli, Bösendorfer and Kawai pianos, and am impressed by the significant effect they have on sound quality and projection.

They improve the instruments’ responsiveness to touch, making it easier to produce a variety of colour and dynamics.

To my ear, the sound is clearer, more free, vibrant and transparent. It becomes easier to hear polyphonic voices, especially in the tenor and bass.

The result is as if there were an improvement in the acoustics of the room, or an immediate upgrade to the quality of the instrument.

Any reduction they make in sound transfer to the structure of the building comes as a bonus to the fact that they simply make the piano more enjoyable to play.

Mark Swartzentruber, Classical pianist and broadcaster.

The isolators have been installed and I’m really happy with the sound!

In the beginning I was afraid that my piano would “wobble” a little too much because of the isolating system. My grand piano weights 295 kg, so we changed the tension a bit. It still wobbles a bit, but I don’t notice it when playing.

The sound is more relaxed, more sonor, not louder. It sounds natural, with warm, fabulous basses, and a less “tingling” sound in the higher part of the piano ( I don’t know the word in English , we call it “diskant”)

You mentioned the piano would be easier/ lighter to play: it’s true! It’s especially easier to play soft, to separate lines. I feel more free in small timing details. My piano feels more “agile”: it reacts quick and feels more sensitive.

It’s not clear yet if my neighbours hear the difference. I used a decibel app on my mobile, but couldn’t measure any difference. That doesn’t mean anything yet, as the isolators should reduce the transmission of sound via the floor to the next house. I’ll let you know when I’ve talked to my neighbours. Not that it’s important for deciding whether to keep the isolators: wouldn’t want to miss them anymore! So great job, hope you’ll sell a boatload of these gems! In fact, I like them so much you can use me as a reference; if people want to see/hear the isolators, they’re welcome to come and have a look/listen.

All the best.

Yvonne van Dongen, Piano Maestro.