A decoupler, also known as an isolator, is a device designed to interrupt the physical transmission of mechanical vibrations from one object to another. In the context of audio studios, its main purpose is to prevent the vibrational energy generated by the speakers from passing to the surface on which they are placed, such as tables, shelves, or the floor.

This vibration transmission is undesirable because it causes the furniture to vibrate sympathetically, generating noise and resonances that muddy the sound, especially in the low frequencies. Decouplers are usually made of absorbent materials such as high-density foam, rubber, or sorbothane, or they use mechanical suspension systems. The shock mount used to hold condenser microphones is another classic example of a decoupler, serving to isolate the microphone from floor vibrations that rise up the stand.