how do you gauge a good speaker stand

[gregory]

i suppose it's in the question. weight, height, mass etc.

 

[Tear Drop]

Also, the material - metal, wood, stone etc all have different properties. And of course, how does it sound?

 

[Anonymous]

By the spikes, how sturdy the spikes are, how easy they are to adjust, it doesn't seem a important area, but trying to lever a heavy stands with poor spikes is a right old pain.

 

[Anonymous]

When would you use a lightweight stand as opposed to a heavy, filled one? Spendor's SA1 stands are lightweight but it's not clear what the gains are.

 

[drummerman]

Epos too have used open stands as opposed to heavy filled ones. I think it shifts vibrational frequencies to different levels but I'm not sure.

What I have found in the past is that filling stands does'nt always improve things. I had some atacamas which I filled and it sapped all the life out of the sounds. Yes, bass was 'deeper and firmer', focus improved a tad but there was no animation to cellos etc anymore. The bounce had vanished. So I emptied them and although I've lost some 'hifi traits' it was a hell of a lot nicer and more natural to listen to.

Incidentally, Onkyo released a speaker based on thin wall guitar panels that resonate with the music just as the instrument does. Boesendorfer also work on a panel resonance principle.

Solid is not always preferable. Just experiment and do what you think sounds best.