Filling stands?

[ChrisIRL]

Does filling stands really make a difference or is it one of those very minor tweaks? I currently have my PMC twenty.21s on "empty" Atamaca Nexus 5is. Sounds excellent so don't know if it's really worth the hassle/ mess of experimentation.

I previously had solid mdf Q acoustics concept 20 stands but never had the same speaker on both to compare.

Any opinions please?

 

[CnoEvil]

IMO. It is certainly worth experimenting with.

There are so many variables that it's impossible to lay down definitive rules. I use kiln dried sand (part filled), but you can also use rice, cat litter and Atabites

 

[ChrisIRL]

Cheers. I will have to try no doubt now that I'm thinking about it. Perhaps stuffing them tightly with old rags for a mess free option.

 

[CnoEvil]

Bear in mind that there are two things that this can achieve:

1. Adding mass.

2. Damping vibrations.

If adding too much mass makes the sound slow and bass-heavy, then rice is a good option, as it damps without making the stand too heavy, keeping the sound "faster".

If the sound is bass light, then adding more mass can fill it out nicely. Sand is good for damping and adding weight.

 

[Al ears]

Bear in mind that there are two things that this can achieve:

1. Adding mass.

2. Damping vibrations.

If adding too much mass makes the sound slow and bass-heavy, then rice is a good option, as it damps without making the stand too heavy, keeping the sound "faster".

If the sound is bass light, then adding more mass can fill it out nicely. Sand is good for damping and adding weight.

As stated it may be worth experimenting with more out of curiosity than anything else.

Of course opinions differ mostly dependent on the speakers in use rather than the stand itself.

In my experience the only thing, providing the stand is well made in the first place, is that adding filler only makes the stand more difficult to move. ;-)

Try an experiment. Get someone to hold a speaker at same height as stand. Play some music. Put speaker back on stand and play the same. Any difference? If answer is no then don't bother filling stands.

 

[Leeps]

I had some Atacama HMS stands. Before filling them, if you tapped them with your knuckles they rang like a xylophone. Really. Filling them made a huge difference, so for me I think the question is how much rather than to fill or not to fill.

 

[Al ears]

I had some Atacama HMS stands. Before filling them, if you tapped them with your knuckles they rang like a xylophone. Really. Filling them made a huge difference, so for me I think the question is how much rather than to fill or not to fill.

I would suggest that simply bluetacking a pair of speakers to those stands and playing something through them is unlikely to transfer enough energy into them to make them vibrate to a degree that it effects the sound quality.

However, don't let me put you off filling if you feel the need.

 

[Gaz37]

I perceived an improvement when I filled my stands however I am a strong believer in expectation bias so am willing to accept that I though they sounded better because I wanted them to

 

[ChrisIRL]

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm not noticing any ill effects to the sound so I'll most likely leave well enough alone. The stands do have decent stick on rubber feet on the top plates so that's probably offering enough isolation as is. It wasn't something I had to think about with the Concept 20 stands, I do like items that take tinkering doubts out of the equation.