Why your speakers should be placed on stands?
Speaker stands are cool audio accessories that you don’t have but you need them if you are to enjoy a better audio experience. These are some of the reasons why you should place your speakers on a stand.
- Great sound quality– The main benefit of getting a speaker stand is to improve your audio quality. You may think your expensive speakers give you the perfect sound quality but buying the best audio system is just half of the equation. Speakers need to be placed at the ear level for an audible yet clearer sound. Placing your speakers on a shelf or a table may seem like the normal thing to do but the extra vibrations from the surface cause resonance that interferes with the quality of sound. The solution? A sturdy speaker stand such as Cotytech SP-OS10, can help you find the perfect audio quality.
- Recommended Listening height– You also need to place your speakers at the right height level if you are to get the best out of your music or audio. Many professionals recommend that the speakers be placed at an ear level if you wish to get a clear sound even hear the highest pitches. Having your speakers at the right level also protects your ear from damage. If possible, you can invest in a speaker stand with an adjustable height setting that will allow everyone in your home to enjoy the joy of good quality audio.
- Improves Bass- If you are a bass lover then you know how much difference it makes in the overall quality of sound. Lacking speaker stands means that the bass can become blurred out during playback. For music lovers, this can easily translate to poor music quality and the music eventually loses its color. With a speaker stand, however, you get to tighten up the bass and hear the middle pitches more clearly.
Best for recording– Sound engineers or producers need functional speaker stands if they wish to improve the quality of sound recording in their studio. The stands help to give a clearer sound that these professionals can use to find the correct pitch and produce the finest sound output.
- Show off your speakers– A greatly designed speaker stand and good-looking speakers can easily improve the aesthetics of your living room. Speaker stands elevate your speakers to a higher position that your visitors can easily see when you are hosting some guests. If you splurged on the speakers then this is a great way to showcase your unique taste. A well-designed speaker stand such as Sonos Stands for One and Play can make your room look beautiful when they support your cool Sonos speakers.
How to arrange speaker stands for various occasions
Before enjoying the several benefits that speaker stands present, you will have to find the perfect position for your speaker stands. Ideally, you want to place them where you get the maximum sound quality and sufficient volume levels. With that said, the right position to arrange your speakers will vary from room to room. If you have a really large living room then you can go for a surround system that ensures every part of the room gets audio coverage. This will also be great if you use your speakers for watching movies or documentaries on your TV. You would get more pleasure and sound level from your speakers if you place the stand close to your walls. Of course, this comes in handy when you are hosting a party as you also get higher sound levels.
It is worth noting that finding the perfect spot for your speaker stands will take some more time and experimentation. Since you are trying to find a sweet spot where the music is coherent, you can put your favorite jam and move the stands till you find the best spot. Once you find one good place to position your speakers, you can change the music to see if that is the right spot. You can use masking tape to mark the spot only when you are fully satisfied.
Prices
Top of the line speaker stands performs exceptionally well although they will cost you a fortune. Searching through these stands will offer you a wide variety of choices and features to ensure that you get the best value out of your stands. If you have some cash to spare then you can choose a premium stand like Pangea Audio Speaker Stand. This stand not only performs well but it also has a great design that will impress you and your guests.
However, most people do not have the luxury of spending hundreds of dollars on a speaker stand. This does not mean that you will get a raw deal. There are several budget speaker stands such as the Ultimate Support TS90B, which offer you similar functionality at a fraction of the cost. It is important that you find something within your budget but price shouldn’t be the main determinant when shopping for the best bookshelf speaker stand. There are several speaker stand models out there that offer you a wide range of features but are reasonably priced.
Features to consider while buying the best speaker stands
The prospects of getting new speaker stands may sound great to you but you should tread with caution. Many people spend hundreds of dollars on speaker stands only to find that they are not compatible with their speakers or they are too unstable. To save you from such costly mistakes, we have compiled several features that you should consider while buying the perfect speaker stands. These features include;
Type
A quick look through some of the top speaker stands models shows you that there are many types of stands in the market. While we do not believe that there are superior types, each type of speaker stand offers different benefits that you should consider. One of the most common types of speaker stands is the fixed height speakers such as Kanto SP26PL. These stands often have a solid steel base and offer a great deal of stability for a wide range of speakers. If you don’t have too much space then you can go for a speaker stand with adjustable height options like the Bose UFS-20 Series II. These speakers can even hold your small speakers, which tend to get knocked off easily off large speaker stands.
Desktop speaker stands such as Stageek Aluminum Desktop Speaker Stands are different types of stands that allow you to position your desktop speakers well for optimum sound output. These speakers come with additional padding to ensure that you can listen to loud music with little vibrations that can distract you from working. Moreover, you can bolt most of these desktop speaker stands to your desk for extra security.
Material
Like most audio equipment, you will have to consider the material of your speaker stands before purchase. Ideally, you need a stand made from high-quality materials such as steel and wood. Each of these materials has merits and demerits so the choice will depend on your needs and preferences. Metal speaker stands are often very sturdy and durable, which explains their popularity. They also come painted in black or other nice colors that complement the design of your home. It is important that you get a solid metal stand that has no vibrations when the speaker is playing. Such vibrations may not only disrupt the quality of sound but they can cause damage to your speakers when they fall over. A quick way to solve this is to get a solid metal speaker as opposed to a hollow one.
Wooden stands, on the other hand, are most popular for their refined look and great design. However, they are susceptible to vibrations and you should ensure that the one you get can withstand loud bass vibrations. Since most of the wooden speaker stands in the market are hollow stands, they are filled with sand to help improve their stability and weight. Edifier SS02 is an example of a stable wooden stand that we reviewed.
Height
The height of a speaker stand is critical because it helps to improve sound projection when the speakers are placed at an ear level. As a general rule, you should place your tweeters at ear level depending on your seating arrangement. If you use a couple of bean bags in your living room then you need a low-height speaker stand than those who have a standard-sized couch. The standard height for a medium to large speaker is about 28 inches.
Guarantees
A guarantee is important as it gives the customers confidence that they have purchased a quality product. With several brands out there, it is imperative to find a speaker stand with the approved quality standards. A quick way to find out if you bought a quality product is to check the guarantee terms. The last thing you want is a speaker stand that breaks during shipping but does not have a guarantee. Edifier SS02 has an impressive 2-year limited warranty that offers you peace of mind knowing that the product can be replaced if dysfunctional.
Base construction
Base construction is critical as it largely determines the stability of the speaker stand. While the base of each speaker stand will vary from model to model, a stand with a wider base will be more stable than one with a narrower one. A wide base guarantees that the speaker will not be prone to falling when knocked and is a great choice for those with large speakers too. While there is no limit as to how wide your base should be, you probably want it to be a similar size as the top plate.
With regards to a stand’s feet, you can opt for rubber feet or spikes depending on your floor type. Rubber feet are great for those with a wooden floor as they will have more grip than spikes. However, if you have a carpet then you may want to use a speaker stand with spikes that pierce through the carpet for a stable stand.
Weight limit
The weight limit of a speaker stand is a crucial factor that you should consider too before buying one. The top plate should be able to accommodate the weight of your speakers, which means that it should have a higher weight limit. Some smaller stands such as the Bose UFS-20 Series II and Sonos Stands for One and Play have a smaller weight limit with these two having a 4.8-pound and 6-pound limit respectively. On the other hand, both TransDeco Speaker Stands have an impressive 150 lb weight limit.
It is worth highlighting that these manufacturers’ values are not always accurate and you should be careful. For example, it is not wise to use a 25lb speaker on a speaker stand with a 25lb limit. Buying a higher weight capacity is a better idea as it can handle a bit more tension when more force is applied. Mounting a higher-weight speaker on smaller weight limit stands poses a risk to both the speaker and the stand. The stand can tip over and get damaged while the speaker can also break when it falls from a high location.
Height adjustment
Some speaker stands such as Cotytech SP-OS10 and On-Stage SSP7950 have adjustable height options. You won’t be needing a speaker stand with adjustable height unless you plan to change things in your living room. That said, the ability to adjust the height of a speaker stand can come in handy on certain occasions such as parties where you need to move your speakers and place them in a different place. In such an instance, you can adjust the height of the speakers to the new ear level and experience better sound quality. While you are also assessing the height that a speaker stand offers, you should also ensure that it has a corresponding base to support the tall height.
Design
Speaker stands today are built with different designs that are meant to perform different functions. They are built to not only enhance the quality of sound at home but also improve functionality and efficiency. Some new models such as Sonos Stands for One and Play are coming in simple yet elegant designs that promote the minimalist lifestyle.
Some are perfect for your home studio while others work just fine for general spaces. Wood design is one of the unique types of stands that you can find on the market. A speaker stands with a wooden design such as Edifier SS02 offers a great laminate finish that can breathe some pizzazz into your home.
Cable management
Don’t you just hate it when there are a lot of electrical cables lying around? Not only do they make your room look cluttered but they also pose a safety risk to you and your family. Almost all the stands in the market have a feature or channel that allows you to hide the speaker wires. Some stands allow you to run your cables internally so that people won’t see them while others may simply offer stickers to help you keep the wires organized. It is, however, worth stating that you should confirm that your speaker cables can fit through the cable management channel provided before purchase. Speaker stands with good cable management systems are popular because of their tidiness and their ability to improve the aesthetics of your room.
Top plate
As the name suggests, this is the top part of your speaker stand that holds the speakers. And they come in three options including rubber pads, screw holes, and speaker studs. Rubber pads are quite common and they also work just fine. Aside from providing a stable surface to the speaker, rubber pads also improve sound quality by absorbing any vibrations from the music. Speaker studs, on the other hand, look great and also reduce vibrations from your speakers. However, they do not offer a firm grip like rubber pads and may scratch your speakers.
Other speaker stands have a central hole or holes around the plate and you can use a screw to bolt your bookshelf speakers into place. Stands with these types of top plates will generally have better stability and offer good audio quality. Some people prefer to drill their holes if the speaker stand did not come with such holes but you should be cautious when doing this.
Durability
Aside from just looking good, your speaker stands should be durable too. The durability of your stand will depend on the construction material. Stands made of wood like Edifier SS02 are quite durable and offer great functionality too. Most of these can be made stable by adding a pile of sand through their hollow piers, which enhances their working life. Stands made from MDF or faux wood are more affordable but are likely to wear and tear over a short period. These can be a good option if you are on a budget or just need some speaker stands for a short while. Metal stands like those made of steel are most durable as they are stable and not likely to tip over easily. To ensure that your speaker stand is durable, you need to clean it regularly and avoid knocking it over.
Safety
While a speaker stand is worth buying, they are prone to be knocked over. Ideally, the best speaker stands like the Cotytech SP-OS10 have a solid yet heavy that allows them to withstand even the heaviest hits. Speaker stands with a small unstable base can topple over at any time and pose a safety precaution.
You can test the stability of your speaker stand to confirm if it is stable enough. Simply use your knuckles to hit the stand and see if you hear some noises or if it moves enough to push your speakers down. However, you should still be cautious even if you find it to be stable using this test. Most speaker stands will fall over when shoved with the right amount of force. The falling stand and even speaker can cause injury to any pet or child around.
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