Filling floor standers with sand/rice/cat litter

[mightyquin]

Hi, I picked up a pair of Diamond 8.3 floorstanders. They have bungs in the back to fill with ballast although the instructions that came with them don't mention it, and the guy I bought them off said he'd always just used them as they are.

Bass is a tad boomy which I think would be improved if I fill them but I'm unsure what you are meant to do. Surely if you just pour sand or rice in there there's a risk that it could get up to the speakers if they were moved, turned up etc., or is the chamber fully separate from the speaker section?

I've read that some push a bin liner in and then fill that, or fill small bags and push them in the hole.

What's the best way to go about this?

 

[Al ears]

Hi, I picked up a pair of Diamond 8.3 floorstanders. They have bungs in the back to fill with ballast although the instructions that came with them don't mention it, and the guy I bought them off said he'd always just used them as they are.

Bass is a tad boomy which I think would be improved if I fill them but I'm unsure what you are meant to do. Surely if you just pour sand or rice in there there's a risk that it could get up to the speakers if they were moved, turned up etc., or is the chamber fully separate from the speaker section?

I've read that some push a bin liner in and then fill that, or fill small bags and push them in the hole.

What's the best way to go about this?

You could do the bag thing but most plastics break down over time. If the chamber is there for that purpose it would be for stability only as its presumably sealed, so isnt going to effect sound. To be perfectly honest these speakers were designed to be used as is, if they are boomy then try adjusting their position. If this doesn't make any difference then they are the wrong speakers for your room.

 

[Leeps]

Are you sure it's a port for mass-loading and not just a reflex port? Particularly if it was the former I would have expected some mention of it in the manual.

If it's just a reflex port, then in addition to the suggestion to try moving the speakers (usually further away from the wall), you could also try placing some socks in the port. Sometimes this helps tame any bass boom, although it often has other undesired effects with it. But it's worth experimenting with.

 

[Al ears]

Are you sure it's a port for mass-loading and not just a reflex port? Particularly if it was the former I would have expected some mention of it in the manual.

If it's just a reflex port, then in addition to the suggestion to try moving the speakers (usually further away from the wall), you could also try placing some socks in the port. Sometimes this helps tame any bass boom, although it often has other undesired effects with it. But it's worth experimenting with.

Looking at images these are front ported. They do have a bung-sealed hole on the back which is, presumably, for ballast.

Some reviews state it is a sealed chamber so filling it with kiln-dried sand could be done without worry.

 

[keeper of the quays]

As mentioned try socks or piece of foam as a bung! I used to own a pair of 9.4s..really good..

 

[nopiano]

I've not come across the ability to sand fill a speaker before, whereas it is quite common with hollow stands, but if that is the purpose I'd expect it to improve stability rather than anything else. A separate chamber would not affect the space into which the driver is loaded.

Conceivably it might slightly dampen one panel, but as already suggested you should find experimenting with room placement more rewarding in terms of removing the boominess.

 

[Al ears]

As mentioned try socks or piece of foam as a bung! I used to own a pair of 9.4s..really good..

As I mentioned it is not a port. This is at the front. Socks could go in here of course. ;-)

 

[TrevC]

Hi, I picked up a pair of Diamond 8.3 floorstanders. They have bungs in the back to fill with ballast although the instructions that came with them don't mention it, and the guy I bought them off said he'd always just used them as they are.

Bass is a tad boomy which I think would be improved if I fill them but I'm unsure what you are meant to do. Surely if you just pour sand or rice in there there's a risk that it could get up to the speakers if they were moved, turned up etc., or is the chamber fully separate from the speaker section?

I've read that some push a bin liner in and then fill that, or fill small bags and push them in the hole.

What's the best way to go about this?

If you put solid stuff in them you are reducing the volume of the enclosure, which probably won't have the desired effect. Perhaps some acoustic spongy material? I actually own a pair of 803s but even compared with B&W 601 I found the bass and treble to be pretty poor quality. They are now in position as the biggest office computer speakers you are ever likely to come across.

 

[Vladimir]

Stuffing in some rockwool might be a good idea.

You need to atenuate -3dB at 110Hz.

Adding play sand or attabites in the balast chamber also might benefit with less mud in the midrange due to cabinet resonances. Additional actions that might help, raising the speakers on spikes, and throwing some really thick wool rugs infront of the speakers.

 

[Al ears]

Hi, I picked up a pair of Diamond 8.3 floorstanders. They have bungs in the back to fill with ballast although the instructions that came with them don't mention it, and the guy I bought them off said he'd always just used them as they are.

Bass is a tad boomy which I think would be improved if I fill them but I'm unsure what you are meant to do. Surely if you just pour sand or rice in there there's a risk that it could get up to the speakers if they were moved, turned up etc., or is the chamber fully separate from the speaker section?

I've read that some push a bin liner in and then fill that, or fill small bags and push them in the hole.

What's the best way to go about this?

If you put solid stuff in them you are reducing the volume of the enclosure, which probably won't have the desired effect. Perhaps some acoustic spongy material? I actually own a pair of 803s but even compared with B&W 601 I found the bass and treble to be pretty poor quality. They are now in position as the biggest office computer speakers you are ever likely to come across.

It appears to be a sealed chamber so doesn't matter what goes in it it's not going to reduce the volume. There is only a limited number of things that are going to fit in a 1.5" hole......

Wool, as suggested, isn't going to make any difference either. If anything the chamber is simply there so you can add stability it would seem.

 

[chrisr1718]

The bung on the back is where you can fill it with sand (or whatever you choose) and it is a sealed chamber at the base of the speakers. As it's a sealed chamber you're not reducing the volume of the speaker enclosure.

As previously mention, they are front ported!

 

[nick8858]

Someone I know melted loads of lead shot in a saucepan and poured it. Not recommended as he made himself rather ill not surpisingly!

 

[Vladimir]

Obviously the wool should go in the speaker chamber, not the balast chamber.

 

[drummerman]

Obviously the wool should go in the speaker chamber, not the balast chamber.

Vlad, did you just buy a CCA and left a review on the Curry's website? (A certain Vlad did though I'm sure you're not the only one )

Apologies OP.

 

[Vladimir]

Sadly no. That would be a different Vlad. My wallet is currently pillaged by contractors building a new fence and changing roof materials.

 

[keeper of the quays]

As mentioned try socks or piece of foam as a bung! I used to own a pair of 9.4s..really good..

As I mentioned it is not a port. This is at the front. Socks could go in here of course. ;-)

m&S socks I think as they last longer..higher wool blend for firmer bass..lol

 

[Al ears]

As mentioned try socks or piece of foam as a bung! I used to own a pair of 9.4s..really good..

As I mentioned it is not a port. This is at the front. Socks could go in here of course. ;-)

m&S socks I think as they last longer..higher wool blend for firmer bass..lol

I always use Bridgedale hiking socks as they can take the punishment. ;-)

 

[mightyquin]

Thanks for all the replies. I had read elsewhere that filling the chamber would improve the bass in most cases - I guess it's worth trying. As said it's definately for filling and not a port, which is indeed on the front.

 

[mightyquin]

Hi, do you mean you own the 8.3's? (not 803).

I had some gale monitors which weren't bad but picked up a pair of Diamond 8.1's and compared to the Gale's they were much much better. I've had them a couple of years and wanted a bit more bass - I was looking out for a pair of 8.2's which are stand mount equivalents of the 8.3, as per 8.1 but bigger woofer and cabinet.

I'm surprised you say that yours sounded so poor (if 8.3's). Can you expand on what you thought? Thanks.

 

[TrevC]

Hi, I picked up a pair of Diamond 8.3 floorstanders. They have bungs in the back to fill with ballast although the instructions that came with them don't mention it, and the guy I bought them off said he'd always just used them as they are.

Bass is a tad boomy which I think would be improved if I fill them but I'm unsure what you are meant to do. Surely if you just pour sand or rice in there there's a risk that it could get up to the speakers if they were moved, turned up etc., or is the chamber fully separate from the speaker section?

I've read that some push a bin liner in and then fill that, or fill small bags and push them in the hole.

What's the best way to go about this?

If you put solid stuff in them you are reducing the volume of the enclosure, which probably won't have the desired effect. Perhaps some acoustic spongy material? I actually own a pair of 803s but even compared with B&W 601 I found the bass and treble to be pretty poor quality. They are now in position as the biggest office computer speakers you are ever likely to come across.

It appears to be a sealed chamber so doesn't matter what goes in it it's not going to reduce the volume. There is only a limited number of things that are going to fit in a 1.5" hole......

Wool, as suggested, isn't going to make any difference either. If anything the chamber is simply there so you can add stability it would seem.

So basically they are standmounters. That explains it. Not impressed.

 

[BigH]

As mentioned try socks or piece of foam as a bung! I used to own a pair of 9.4s..really good..

As I mentioned it is not a port. This is at the front. Socks could go in here of course. ;-)

m&S socks I think as they last longer..higher wool blend for firmer bass..lol

I always use Bridgedale hiking socks as they can take the punishment. ;-)

Bridgedale you want to try smartwool.

 

[Al ears]

As mentioned try socks or piece of foam as a bung! I used to own a pair of 9.4s..really good..

As I mentioned it is not a port. This is at the front. Socks could go in here of course. ;-)

m&S socks I think as they last longer..higher wool blend for firmer bass..lol

I always use Bridgedale hiking socks as they can take the punishment. ;-)

Bridgedale you want to try smartwool.

I have. It's so smart I am still trying to find the other one of the pair.

 

[Al ears]

Hi, I picked up a pair of Diamond 8.3 floorstanders. They have bungs in the back to fill with ballast although the instructions that came with them don't mention it, and the guy I bought them off said he'd always just used them as they are.

Bass is a tad boomy which I think would be improved if I fill them but I'm unsure what you are meant to do. Surely if you just pour sand or rice in there there's a risk that it could get up to the speakers if they were moved, turned up etc., or is the chamber fully separate from the speaker section?

I've read that some push a bin liner in and then fill that, or fill small bags and push them in the hole.

What's the best way to go about this?

If you put solid stuff in them you are reducing the volume of the enclosure, which probably won't have the desired effect. Perhaps some acoustic spongy material? I actually own a pair of 803s but even compared with B&W 601 I found the bass and treble to be pretty poor quality. They are now in position as the biggest office computer speakers you are ever likely to come across.

It appears to be a sealed chamber so doesn't matter what goes in it it's not going to reduce the volume. There is only a limited number of things that are going to fit in a 1.5" hole......

Wool, as suggested, isn't going to make any difference either. If anything the chamber is simply there so you can add stability it would seem.

So basically they are standmounters. That explains it. Not impressed.

No they are not, try research. It sometimes pays before commenting on this forum. ;-)

 

[mightyquin]

Hi, I picked up a pair of Diamond 8.3 floorstanders. They have bungs in the back to fill with ballast although the instructions that came with them don't mention it, and the guy I bought them off said he'd always just used them as they are.

Bass is a tad boomy which I think would be improved if I fill them but I'm unsure what you are meant to do. Surely if you just pour sand or rice in there there's a risk that it could get up to the speakers if they were moved, turned up etc., or is the chamber fully separate from the speaker section?

I've read that some push a bin liner in and then fill that, or fill small bags and push them in the hole.

What's the best way to go about this?

If you put solid stuff in them you are reducing the volume of the enclosure, which probably won't have the desired effect. Perhaps some acoustic spongy material? I actually own a pair of 803s but even compared with B&W 601 I found the bass and treble to be pretty poor quality. They are now in position as the biggest office computer speakers you are ever likely to come across.

It appears to be a sealed chamber so doesn't matter what goes in it it's not going to reduce the volume. There is only a limited number of things that are going to fit in a 1.5" hole......

Wool, as suggested, isn't going to make any difference either. If anything the chamber is simply there so you can add stability it would seem.

So basically they are standmounters. That explains it. Not impressed.

They'd look bloody odd on a pair of stands I can assure you!! Quite weighty things too so a small child could easily be crushed if one fell off. You're just asking for trouble.

 

[TrevC]

Hi, I picked up a pair of Diamond 8.3 floorstanders. They have bungs in the back to fill with ballast although the instructions that came with them don't mention it, and the guy I bought them off said he'd always just used them as they are.

Bass is a tad boomy which I think would be improved if I fill them but I'm unsure what you are meant to do. Surely if you just pour sand or rice in there there's a risk that it could get up to the speakers if they were moved, turned up etc., or is the chamber fully separate from the speaker section?

I've read that some push a bin liner in and then fill that, or fill small bags and push them in the hole.

What's the best way to go about this?

If you put solid stuff in them you are reducing the volume of the enclosure, which probably won't have the desired effect. Perhaps some acoustic spongy material? I actually own a pair of 803s but even compared with B&W 601 I found the bass and treble to be pretty poor quality. They are now in position as the biggest office computer speakers you are ever likely to come across.

It appears to be a sealed chamber so doesn't matter what goes in it it's not going to reduce the volume. There is only a limited number of things that are going to fit in a 1.5" hole......

Wool, as suggested, isn't going to make any difference either. If anything the chamber is simply there so you can add stability it would seem.

So basically they are standmounters. That explains it. Not impressed.

No they are not, try research. It sometimes pays before commenting on this forum. ;-)

I own them!!! If the lower part doesn't form part of the acoustic chamber, which it apparently does not, they are the same thing as having a standmounter on wooden stands!!!