The 7 Best Monitor Isolation Pads (2023)
Surface vibrations are quite a common problem in sound recording. They decrease the quality of your monitor. A monitor isolation pad is a small, helpful accessory that is crucial in isolating your monitor so that it can produce a much more accurate sound.
You’ve bought a nice set of studio monitors. You’re ready to get into brilliant audio production. But before that, you might want to isolate your monitors. Today, I’ll take you through my top 7 monitor isolation pads.
My main recommended product is the Sound Addicted SMPad5. It’s a high-density foam pad that is compatible with the majority of speakers out there.
My second product recommendation is the Ohuhu Isolation Pads. They’re good value-for-money isolation pads for those on a budget.
Let’s go through all seven monitor isolation pads in detail.
The 7 Best Monitor Isolation Pads (2023)
Let’s compare these in more detail.
1. Sound Addicted SMPad 5
One of the most adaptable isolation pads available for 5” speakers, the Sound Addicted SMPad 5 is a firm, sturdy isolation pad. It’s a great fit for many studio monitors, so you don’t need to worry about the monitor brand.
Pros
- High-quality dense foam
- Adjustable angles
- Fits well with most 5” speakers
Cons
- Not much!
The package comes with two foams of 7.5” x 11” x 1.6”. You can use them for light to heavy monitors, weighing up to 24 pounds.
The best part of these isolation pads might be that it allows you to configure the setup yourself. Its foam wedges leave room for five angled settings, including flat.
| Foam density | 50kg/m^3 |
| Adjustable | Yes |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 11” x 1.6” |
| Tilt options | NA |
| Design | Simple |
This pad is a pretty good buy considering it’s not too expensive, yet works like a charm.
If you’re not looking to spend too much on isolation pads but also want a good quality product, then Ohuhu Isolation Pads are a good pick for you. They’re cost-effective and absorb surface vibrations very well.
These pads are a perfect fit for 5” or smaller speakers. They’re made of moderately dense foam and can handle weights up to 30 lbs without deforming.
Pros
- Affordable option
- Can hold decent weight
- 5 tilt options
Cons
- Not the densest foam
Another great thing about these pads is that you can adjust the angle between 0°, 4°, 8°, -4°, and -8°. So, you can place them pretty much anywhere, at the home, a studio, or on the stage. Plus, the foam is eco-friendly.
| Foam density | 50kg/m^3 |
| Adjustable | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11” x 7.5” x 1.6” |
| Tilt options | 0°, 4°, 8°, -4°, and -8° |
| Design | Clean |
These Ohuhu isolation pads might not be the densest, but they do a solid job of reducing vibrations. For their price, they’re a very good buy.
3. Donner Isolation Pads
It’s not always that you have standard 5” monitors. You could have a smaller or a bigger one as well. If so, these Donner Isolation Pads are just right. The pads are good-quality, high-density pads that can accommodate speakers from sizes 3” to 10”.
The build quality is really nice. They can hold weights up to 80 lbs without any trouble. On top of that, they can be adjusted to 5 different angles.
Pros
- Works with all sizes of monitors
- Waved surface for lesser vibration
- Has 5 title options
Cons
One of the more unique things about these pads is their design. They have square waves on the surface, which not only reduce vibrations better but also prevent any slipping.
| Foam density | 50kg/m^3 |
| Adjustable | Yes |
| Dimensions | 12.4” x 8.46” x 4.72” |
| Tilt options | -10°, -5°, 0°, 5°, & 10° |
| Design | Square waves |
The Donner Isolation Pads are brilliant are providing a resonance-free sound that gives your studio monitor the justice it deserves.
4. Auralex Acoustics Isolation Pads
The Auralex Acoustics Isolation Pads are one of the best overall isolation pads in the business. They are trusted by many professionals around the world because of their sound absorption qualities.
These pads are very good at reproducing a tighter, more natural bass response. Since they get rid of a lot of surface vibrations, the highs are also much clearer.
Pros
- Great for larger monitors
- Natural, clearer bass response
Cons
- Another fairly pricey option
The MoPAD is designed to support larger speakers. Although, that’s not to say they are superfluous for smaller monitors. They can hold weights up to 100 lbs.
Their natural design is tilted downwards. However, the pack includes four wedges that you can use to position them at different angles.
| Foam density | NA |
| Adjustable | Yes |
| Dimensions | 12″ x 8. 75″ x 2″ |
| Tilt options | -8°, -4°, 0°, +4°, and +8° |
| Design | Angled |
The Auralex Acoustic Isolation Pads have a pro edge to them. As such, they are pricier than other pads on the list. But if you want your monitors to shine through, these are a great choice.
The Adam Hall SPACECO2 is a nice buy for anyone who isn’t looking for a specific feature but wants an isolation pad that provides everything. It is a nice product that works well wherever it is placed.
Pros
- Decent price considering the build
- Can be used for bigger speakers
Cons
- Not much!
The foam quality is pretty dense which tends to noticeably improve the sound quality of your monitors. The width is also quite wide, so you can place speakers of most sizes on it.
The pads are made of two components. You can try placing them differently and get up to 3 tilted angles.
| Foam density | NA |
| Adjustable | Yes |
| Dimensions | 10.43” x 12.99” x 1.57” |
| Tilt options | 3 |
| Design | Simple, two-component |
The Adam Hall SPACECO2 is a well-rounded isolation pad that seems to have it all. Good vibration absorption, a couple of tilt options, and value for money. What more can you ask?
6. Auralex Acoustics ProPAD
Auralex ProPAD, albeit pricey, is one of the most interesting and effective isolation pads available. They do a brilliant job of isolating your studio monitors and bringing out the midrange and high-end.
They’re made of an MDF/PlatFoam base and covered with ISO-Plate. This allows the pads to absorb synthetic vibrations and be slip-resistant. Also, it handles heavy loads really well.
Pros
- Incredible vibration absorption
- They’re anti-slip
- Can support very heavy monitors
Cons
- Pricey
The pads are fairly big with dimensions 19″ x 13″ x 2.125″, so you know you can place big monitors without damaging them. There are also two wedges available that come with the pads. You can use them to adjust your monitor’s angle.
| Foam density | NA |
| Adjustable | Yes |
| Dimensions | 19″ x 13″ x 2.125″ |
| Tilt options | 3°, 0°, and -3° |
| Design | Flat |
The Auralex Acoustic ProPAD are pro-level isolation pads. The price reflects that.
7. JBER Isolation Pads
If you are running on a budget, then these JBER Isolation pads are a really decent choice. They’re high-density foam of 50kg/m^3 and are compatible with pretty much any 5” speaker you can find.
They’re swell at getting the job done, which is to absorb unwanted vibrations.
Pros
- Good value for money
- No low-end distortion
Cons
- Not much!
One great thing about these speakers is that they can be set to a wide spectrum of angles ranging from -10° to 10°. So, you can position them how you like.
| Foam density | 50kg/m^3 |
| Adjustable | Yes |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 11” x 1.6” |
| Tilt options | -10°, -5°, 0°, 5°, and 10° |
| Design | Simple |
These isolation pads are very well-priced for both home and studio use. They produce a distortion-free sound that is more in tune with your monitor’s natural sound.
What are Monitor Isolation Pads?
Whenever studio monitors or speakers play a sound, they tend to vibrate the surface they’re placed on. This happens because of the low-end frequencies in the music.
Monitor isolation pads are high-density foam pieces that support your monitor by isolating them from its surroundings. The foam absorbs unwanted surface vibrations, giving off a cleaner sound.
Do Monitor Isolation Pads Make a Difference?
Almost all music has a lot of low-end frequency. If your monitors are placed on a hard, flat surface, those frequencies will naturally bounce, creating vibrations.
Isolation pads do an excellent job of absorbing the low-ends. They also help bring out the mids and the highs, emanating a clearer, more natural sound from your monitors.
Are Isolation Pads Really Necessary?
If you’ve bought a nice pair of monitors and you want them to perform at their true potential, then yes, isolation pads are necessary.
They might seem like an accessory at first, but there’s a reason why every professional studio uses them. If you choose to get a pair, you will immediately hear a difference in the sound quality of your speakers.
What are Isolation Pads Made of?
Monitor isolation pads are most commonly made of high-density, 50kg/m^3, foam. This is because it’s cheap to manufacture, has brilliant sound-absorption properties, and can hold the weight of the speakers without deforming.
There are some isolation pads made of denser or lighter material, but the 50kg/m^3 is considered the gold standard. You can also make your own DIY isolation pads from sound-absorbing materials. However, they might not be as effective as store-bought ones.
What to Look Out for When Buying Isolation Pads?
The quality of the foam is of the utmost importance when buying isolation pads. You want the foam to be not too soft, where it loses its shape easily or too hard to the point it doesn’t absorb all of the vibrations.
The design also plays a big factor in choosing isolation pads. Since you might be shifting your speaker, you want the pads to accommodate them pretty much anywhere. It’s good to have options between multiple angles.
Another thing to look out for is the size of the pads. Now, 5” speakers are the most common, and most isolation pads fit them well. However, bigger speakers need bigger pads, so you shouldn’t buy an isolation pad without looking at the dimensions.
Lastly, you should feel that the isolation pad should be with the money. You don’t want to spend too much unless you’re buying isolation pads for a professional studio.
Conclusion
Isolation pads are crucial in getting top-tier sound from your studio monitors. They absorb surface vibrations so that your monitors can produce their natural sound. This list has a variety of isolation pads to choose from, hopefully, you find just the right one for you!
I highly recommend the Sound Addicted SMPad 5. They have all the qualities of a great isolation pad.
If you’re on a budget, you can go for Ohuhu Isolation pads. They do a fairly nice job given their price.
