Help needed in choosing speaker stands

[admin_exported]

Hope someone can advise

Have recently purchased an older setup (Pioneer A400 amp, Marantz CD53-mk II sig CD player, and an old pair of B&W DM2 3 way transmission speakers (the very 1st edition)

Have ordered the SILVER HIGH BREED Coherence LE Interconnects and will be ordering silver high breed speaker cable later today

I will need to place the speakers on stands ... speakers are heavy and weigh approx 23kg each ... dimensions are approx:

25 1/2 inches high, 14 inches wide and 13 1/2 inches deep ...

not sure what height speaker stands I will require, but based on info I have read, I need to raise them approx 40cm (16 inches)??

I have searched ebay and google, and the original stands that were sold with these speakers are the small stands made of square tubing with wheels/castors on the base ...

I need suggestions on good stands ... The Partington super dreadnaught stands are approx 60cm high (20 cm higher than required), and the atacama stands are also approx 20cm too high ..

will the extra 20cm height make a huge difference? .... or is there a better option of stands? ... if the base has adjustable spikes, is it good practise to have the back spikes a bit higher so as to compensate for the extra height in the stands?

Also .... once I get stands (most prob 2nd hand off ebay), .... how do you mount the speakers on the stands? ... do you use 4 spikes connected to the stands, then the speakers rest on the spikes or is there a better method? ...

I have also read that it is good to use a granite block on the carpet, then place the stands with bottom spikes onto the granite (may possibly buy granite offcuts from our local kitchen specialist if available and cheap)

sorry for my ignorance, but am fairly new at this!

 

[Anonymous]

clicky

You can get these in lots of sizes including 400mm.......

 

[Anonymous]

thanks for the link on tha atacama stands ... will have a close look ... the 400mm high ones may be ideal

oops ... spotted a typo in my opening post ... cd is a cd63 mkII sig

 

[idc]

dim_span:

.....not sure what height speaker stands I will require, but based on info I have read, I need to raise them approx 40cm (16 inches)??

The ideal height is when you sit your head is at the same level as the speaker.

dim_span:

... if the base has adjustable spikes, is it good practise to have the back spikes a bit higher so as to compensate for the extra height in the stands?

You want everything to be as level and stable as possible to get the best sound.

dim_span:

Also .... once I get stands (most prob 2nd hand off ebay), .... how do you mount the speakers on the stands? ... do you use 4 spikes connected to the stands, then the speakers rest on the spikes or is there a better method? ...

Blue tac or spikes. Again the aim is to get them level and stable and the right height, so spikes may make them too high. Try blue tac first as it is so cheap and you can squash it almost flat and it will still work. Your speaker may well be fine just sitting directly onto of the stand.

dim_span:

I have also read that it is good to use a granite block on the carpet, then place the stands with bottom spikes onto the granite (may possibly buy granite offcuts from our local kitchen specialist if available and cheap)

This is only a good idea on a wooden floor or very thin carpet with a very heavy slab. Otherwise the granite will move about ontop of a deep pile carpet. My way of securing the base of stands was to either shove the spikes through the carpet into the floor, or if the floor is not flat screw philips headed screws through the carpet and rest the spikes onto the screw heads. This also helps getting the stand level.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks IDC ... much appreciated for the info!

just a quick question ... you say the speaker height must be the same height as your ears, when you are seated .... so where do you measure to ... as speakers have 3 units ... do I measure to the centre of the speaker cabinet or to the top of the cabinet?

 

[idc]

Roughly, your ears at tweeter level as it is the most directional sound. Hence most floor standers top out at about the same level as someone sitting and have their tweeters at the top. But I am sure you can give and take a good few inches, it is not an exact.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks ... tweeter level in the DM2 speakers is approx midway in the cabinets so does make a difference in stand height ...

seems like stands of 60cm high are the ones to go for as centre of speaker needs to be approx 1,1 meters from ground level (1.1 meters is ear height when seated)

 

[Anonymous]

thanks for all the info ...

have managed to get a pair of Partington Super Dreadnought for £31 in excellent condition ...

has been filled with Atacama Atabites and seller is also including 8 Atacama spike shoes with rubberised feet ... so am ecstatic as think it was a bargain ... will collect them later this week

 

[idc]

Nice one dim_span. Please post back with how you find the stands work out.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks idc ... will do .... system nearly complete now ... just bought a Soundstyle 5 shelf rack for £63.99

waiting for the interconnects and speaker cable and should be up and running in the next week ... (have to get the wife to rearrange the lounge and she is not too happy!)