[BenW]

Sorry if its been asked over and over but i didn't see anything

Currently i've got 2 B&W 601 S3, one on a very solid metal frame/wooden top desk and another on a very heavy bedside table. Speakers are isolated with blue-tack.

When i move i might have the space for speaker stands so will they make a noticable difference to the sound quality?

I love the look of the Soundstyle Status ST122 which are also fillable.

The next question is will filling the stands make a difference or is it purely for stability?

Many Thanks
Ben

[shahedz]

in my opinion and experience with stands they make a huge difference, the bass was espeically better when they were filled as well. overall much clearer and better bass, if i had book shlef speakers i wouldnt consider using them with out a stand,

[PFM]

Get your self some stands, (dependent upon placement etc) it will certainly tighten up the bass and improve imaging. If you can mass fill them then even better...

Above all else enjoy!

[BenW]

Thanks, what would mass filling do to the sound?

Also, i've read that different weights of speaker want different mass in the stands?

[TekHousE]

Also use the spikes. As it reduces the surface area of the stands contact points with the ground. This gives better performance as well.

[eviljohn2]

I've spent a long time thinking about this subject and I'm now very sceptical about the benefits of speaker stands in any aspect other than changing the height of the speaker.

[samjet]

Originally Posted by eviljohn2

I've spent a long time thinking about this subject and I'm now very sceptical about the benefits of speaker stands in any aspect other than changing the height of the speaker.

and i've got to agree

you hear all about claims of tightening up bass etc but my ears are either duff or i don't know what to listen for!

imo stands have a very valid use with front L and R in that they can raise the speakers to the optimum LISTENING height especially when used with a tv/panel

with av surround rears - stands are no use as i've never seen any that are high enough to achieve the correct rear effects (see various threads on rear speaker placement)

stands can also look nice

[Londondecca]

Speaker location is probably the most important factor but stands can make a difference. IME heavy speakers seem to prefer open stands with spikes whereas lighter speakers seem to work better with decoupled heavy (mass loaded) stands.

I remember getting some stands for my old Maggies which supported the speakers at the top and bottom, this transformed the bass quality. The MD of SME used (forgotten his name) used brass bars to secure his collection of Quad ELS's.

Of course some common sense should be used, spending silly money on a stand for budget speakers may not be value for money

[shahedz]

Originally Posted by eviljohn2

I've spent a long time thinking about this subject and I'm now very sceptical about the benefits of speaker stands in any aspect other than changing the height of the speaker.

thinking about it? but have you heard the difference?

[shahedz]

Originally Posted by Londondecca

Of course some common sense should be used, spending silly money on a stand for budget speakers may not be value for money

excellent advice! i agree 100%

[eviljohn2]

I havn't heard a difference that I could attribute to the standard rather than a change of location. Obviously that's supposed to be within the limits of a reasonably solid stand that doesn't wobble like the Tacoma Narrows bridge.

[BenW]

So the advice would be to just try them

TBH even if they don't make it sound different then they'll look good

[shahedz]

i had a pair of aiwa bookshelf speakers awful. the stand didnt make a difference but om a pair of mission speakers i had the difference was noticeable. but you got the jist of it, try some out. if possible take your speakers with you! and youre right they look great!

[GW43]

Originally Posted by eviljohn2

I've spent a long time thinking about this subject and I'm now very sceptical about the benefits of speaker stands in any aspect other than changing the height of the speaker.

Just browsing through some old threads and found this one.

I think it's more important to make sure the stands are solid. A few days ago I noticed the spikes on my Atacama Nexus 6 stands were very loose, so I upended the speakers (still attached to the stands via Blu-tac), and got to work making sure the spikes were level, and above all, nice and tight.

Made sure the spikes were connecting with my floor through the carpet - and even stuck a meat skewer through each hole in the carpet to make sure than none of the spikes were going down in gaps between boards - and set them up again.

Whilst I would pride myself on being firmly in he sceptic/cynic camp, I think that the bass is deeper and a touch more "solid", now the speakers are on a firmer footing. They are Monitor Audio Silver S1.

The physics of it is easy to understand. As the voicecoil and cone is being pushed forward, there will be an equal and opposite reaction pushing the cabinet backwards. If the cabinet is free to move (on wobbly spikes in this instance), then some of the forward energy of the cone will be lost. Now, one has to bear in mind the relative masses of the voicecoil and cone versus the rest of the cabinet, and it will be relatively small. However, it may be enough togenerate a noticable effect.

So, the point I'm making is that as long as stands hold the speaker rigidly in relation to the floor, then you won't go far wrong.

[hpoom]

Originally Posted by GW43

I think it's more important to make sure the stands are solid. A few days ago I noticed the spikes on my Atacama Nexus 6 stands were very loose, so I upended the speakers (still attached to the stands via Blu-tac), and got to work making sure the spikes were level, and above all, nice and tight.

I have some Atacama stands. I've been thinking about using a little Blu-tac to keep them in place, but I decided not to as I was worried about the sound. Will a little Blu-tac do any harm to the sound or is this a good option to stop the speakes being moved if they are lighly knocked.

Thanks

[shahedz]

Originally Posted by hpoom

I have some Atacama stands. I've been thinking about using a little Blu-tac to keep them in place, but I decided not to as I was worried about the sound. Will a little Blu-tac do any harm to the sound or is this a good option to stop the speakes being moved if they are lighly knocked.

Thanks

go ahead with the blue tac i used a little on top of the top spikes. didnt notice a change in the sound , but definitely added to stability

i just added 2 small equipment racks under the speakers, before that they were on stands. the bass is lacking and i liked the sound with the stands. now im thinking of adding 6-7 inch DIY stands to be placed above the racks.

[Dankeech]

Blue-Tac is great. Keps speakers on the stands to prevent falling off, and keeps good contact too. I use blue-tac myself.

You can buy audio equivalent of Blue-tac too, but the good ol' blue stuff apparently is just as good.

[eviljohn2]

Originally Posted by GW43

The physics of it is easy to understand. As the voicecoil and cone is being pushed forward, there will be an equal and opposite reaction pushing the cabinet backwards. If the cabinet is free to move (on wobbly spikes in this instance), then some of the forward energy of the cone will be lost. Now, one has to bear in mind the relative masses of the voicecoil and cone versus the rest of the cabinet, and it will be relatively small. However, it may be enough togenerate a noticable effect.

I'd recommend you try out the calculations for this. I was surprised at how little a distance the cabinets actually move.

[Londondecca]

The most dramatic differences I have heard with speaker stands is with electrostatics, where the stand holds the top and bottom of the speaker.

[brokenhat]

I have a pair of Epos M12.3 with the Epos stands. My question is the stands came with spikes for the top as well as the bottom, should I use them against my speakers? What about damage? Spikes on both sides double the benefit? Thanks.

[shahedz]

you can put a little bit of blu tack on top of the top plate on all four corners, i rememeber the stands i had , the tops spikes werent too sharp so i just put the blu tack on top of the top spikes, for a bit more stability and still having a bit more isolation

[brokenhat]

My spikes are sharp that is why I'm concerned... So use the blue tack instead of the the spikes? Thanks.

[shahedz]

i would use the spikes to be honest, i think it would isolate it better, can you tape so balck tape to the bottom of the speaker where the spike will contact to prevent excessive scratching

[fish99]

Stands made a substantial difference to my speakers (Eltax Monitor 3), once they were sand filled and spiked through the carpet. The stereo image is much better and the whole sound is more precise, plus there's more bass and it's much tighter. I'd say it was just as important as getting the speakers positioned right.

However, you need to spend some time and effort getting them setup right, and it's not easy. In fact it's a pain in the arse

Also on the price subject, I only paid £28.50 for Atacama SE24s. That's worth it no matter how little you paid for your speakers.

[jtlowrey]

Originally Posted by GW43

The physics of it is easy to understand. As the voicecoil and cone is being pushed forward, there will be an equal and opposite reaction pushing the cabinet backwards. If the cabinet is free to move (on wobbly spikes in this instance), then some of the forward energy of the cone will be lost. Now, one has to bear in mind the relative masses of the voicecoil and cone versus the rest of the cabinet, and it will be relatively small. However, it may be enough togenerate a noticable effect.

Nothing to do with it. The reason stands work is that they are separating the rest of your floor/house from the speaker so stopping the speaker making the rest of what ever it is touching into one large dampner.

If only the speaker and stand are vibrating then you will get a much more pure clean sound, than a 'wooly', muffled one.

If you cant tell the difference then you must not have them set up properly or have seriously poor hearing

[Dynaudio Desire]

Stands make a hufe, hufe difference to your speakers and stands help more and more as speakers get higher in price. For eg a pair of £800 speakers put on a shelf would jsut completely ruin the sound and quite frankly will depreciate the sound for price.

[Klipsch04]

yeah, i agree Atacama SE24s physics is wrong because if the aim was to stop the speaker moving, you would want it on a solid flat table or dek, with alot of contact, not on a stand.

Does anyone know if wall mounts are as good as floor stands?