Speaker stand questions

[paddyb]

I'm looking for some cheapish stands (poss second hand) for my new Dali Zensor 3's. For those not familiar with them, they are quite hefty at 351h x 205w x 293d and weigh 6.3kgs. At the moment they are sitting on top of a pile of books.

I've never owned stands before, so a little unclear about what I need to look for.

As I understand it, the speakers just sit on top of stands, they are not normally attached in any way? The Dali's don't appear to have any fixtures on the bottom for this. My concern is that one speaker will be situated quite near to a door and there is a chance that someone (probably my clumsy self!) will bump into it. How stable are they going to be? What size base plat and top plat should I look for to give adequate stability? I presume filling with sand will also improve stability?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[BigH]

There are plenty on ebay, new and used. Height is a consideration, try to get the tweeters ear level when you at your listening position, probably 60cm stands will be about right. Have a look for Atacama 6i or similar.

Most people use Blu-tack to fixed speakers to the top plate, seems to work well, I used Black Tack whick is more sticky. You can fill them with kiln dried sand or I use cat litter which was cheaper and easier.

 

[Al ears]

I'd agree with BigH, you can pay a great deal for some makes of speaker stands but the Nexus 6i's are very stable and look pretty good to me.

Many people use spikes or sorbothane type support feet between speakers and the stands themselves but as you are particularly worried about stability then the black-tac suggested is a good choice.

 

[MakkaPakka]

I have some Atacama Nexus 6 - I have filled the central column with 'atabites' (bits of metal) and also got the 'mass loading plates' both of which are add ons that Atacma sell.

End result is that they are very heavy and would require quite a bit of force to topple.

 

[paddyb]

Thanks for your replys.

Just seen these on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=331115008289

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251435839665

Would either of these be sturdy enough for my Zensor 3's?

Will Black tack really stop the speakets toppling off if someone bashes into them?

Edit:

Also these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201026303137?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271383926525?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271384055674?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Lots on ebay, but most collection only which doesn't work for me as I don't drive.

 

[paddyb]

Might bid on these if the price doesn't move too much:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271384055674?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Good choice for my Dalis?

There are some Nexux 6 on ebay, but they're silver and I want black, do you know if they can be pained?

 

[BigH]

Might bid on these if the price doesn't move too much:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271384055674?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Good choice for my Dalis?

There are some Nexux 6 on ebay, but they're silver and I want black, do you know if they can be pained?

They should do the job but look a bit heavy, I bought black as I have black speakers but think I should have bought silver as black looks a bit heavy and dated in my room.

Yes they can be painted but I would wait for the right colour seem to come quite a lot.

 

[jonathanRD]

I use blu tac - which seems to 'stick' very well, certainly whenever I try to remove the speakers it is quite a struggle. They have been knocked once or twice but never come off the stands. If black tac is even stickier - all the better if you are worried about knocking into them.

 

[paddyb]

Will the heaviness affect the sound in any way, I thought the heavier the better?

 

[CnoEvil]

Will the heaviness affect the sound in any way, I thought the heavier the better?

Yes.....probably.

Some speakers like heavy stands, and some work better on light, but stable ones.

There are no hard and fast rules, and experimentation is the way to go. Different "filling materials" can effect the sound, and changing the level of filling, may also change the sound.

Heavier is often better, but can make the speakers sound less lively....personal preference should dictate the way forward.

 

[paddyb]

Will the heaviness affect the sound in any way, I thought the heavier the better?

Yes.....probably.

Some speakers like heavy stands, and some work better on light, but stable ones.

There are no hard and fast rules, and experimentation is the way to go. Different "filling materials" can effect the sound, and changing the level of filling, may also change the sound.

Heavier is often better, but can make the speakers sound less lively....personal preference should dictate the way forward.

Can anyone advise for the speakers I have, Dali Zensor 3?

 

[BigH]

Will the heaviness affect the sound in any way, I thought the heavier the better?

Sorry I meant heavy in looks not function, yes heavy can be good for stability and maybe bass. Hope that explains.

 

[paddyb]

Thanks everyone

I'm now in touch with a few people who have the Nexus 6 and the SE24's for buying collect deals, and I need to know the weight in order to get a quote from a courier. This doesn't seem readily available, any ideas? Pref without ballast, but useful to know the filled weight as well.

 

[CJSF]

Will the heaviness affect the sound in any way, I thought the heavier the better?

Yes.....probably.

Some speakers like heavy stands, and some work better on light, but stable ones.

There are no hard and fast rules, and experimentation is the way to go. Different "filling materials" can effect the sound, and changing the level of filling, may also change the sound.

Heavier is often better, but can make the speakers sound less lively....personal preference should dictate the way forward.

You dont realy want me to get involved do you Cno . . . most have lost their way on understanding stands, sad, very sad?

By the way Paddy, if the door opens onto the side of the speaker, put a door wedge on the floor to stop the door hitting the cabinet, I use this, works perfect. I also use the wedge to fix the door position, the door then works like a baffle, affecting the room sound.

CJSF

 

[Daveperc]

This should help

http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/whitepaper/Genesis_Loudspeaker_Coupling_Decoupling.pdf

Dave

 

[BigH]

Thanks everyone

I'm now in touch with a few people who have the Nexus 6 and the SE24's for buying collect deals, and I need to know the weight in order to get a quote from a courier. This doesn't seem readily available, any ideas? Pref without ballast, but useful to know the filled weight as well.

Amazon lists the weight of Nexus 6s as 6kgs. SE24s look heavier so guess about 10kg. There were some new Nexus 6s on ebay the other week and think the postage was about £7.50.

Or you can buy these new for £45 inc. postage: http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/product/5121/fisual-dynami-speaker-stands-satin-black/

 

[CnoEvil]

You dont realy want me to get involved do you Cno . . . most have lost their way on understanding stands, sad, very sad?

I've been trying to get you involved since you came on here, but for your own reasons, you mostly choose not to....which I think is a shame.

 

[chebby]

I still have a pair of Partington Trophy stands from my time with Naim nSats. They are welded structures (not self assembly) and very solid. They are are also finished in gloss black which mitigates against their looks a little.

The inside of the pillars and and underside of the top / bottom plates are lined with fibreglass (whether for damping or rust proofing I know not) which was a pain when I first got them because they were shedding a fair bit of loose glass fibre bits. So i spent some time with our trusty 'Henry' vacuum cleaner - and a stiff brush nozzle attachment - removing every last loose bit of the stuff.

To stop any fibres from emerging from the inside of the pillars, I found the correct (every so slighty over diameter) size of stiff foam pipe lagging tube at the local B&Q and rammed it down inside them.

I figured that not only would the foam tubes (and the bungs) prevent any stray glass fibres, but they would also 'damp' the - previously hollow - pillars.

I didn't want to mess around with dry sand or lead shot (!) or Atabytes nor anything else that was either potentially messy, toxic, expensive or very heavy. (The stands were aleady heavy enough.)

They are now stored under the stairs (in bubble wrap) because I currently have no need of them. They came out for a weekend, when testing some JPW Sonatas last year, but that was it.

They are probably unsaleable on ebay because they can't be dis-assembled and postage would be disproportionately high compared to the few quid that they would sell for. So they will remain under the stairs until such time as a relative, friend or colleague might need them.

 

[paddyb]

Also seen some Soundstyle Z1's at a good price. Any thoughts on those?

 

[paddyb]

Will the heaviness affect the sound in any way, I thought the heavier the better?

Yes.....probably.

Some speakers like heavy stands, and some work better on light, but stable ones.

There are no hard and fast rules, and experimentation is the way to go. Different "filling materials" can effect the sound, and changing the level of filling, may also change the sound.

Heavier is often better, but can make the speakers sound less lively....personal preference should dictate the way forward.

You dont realy want me to get involved do you Cno . . . most have lost their way on understanding stands, sad, very sad?

By the way Paddy, if the door opens onto the side of the speaker, put a door wedge on the floor to stop the door hitting the cabinet, I use this, works perfect. I also use the wedge to fix the door position, the door then works like a baffle, affecting the room sound.

CJSF

Thanks Cno, theres not actually a door, just a passage way leading to a couple of doors. I think the stands mentioned, with speakers on top would be quite difficult to topple, though thinking back to some of the parties i've had in the past....

 

[CJSF]

You dont realy want me to get involved do you Cno . . . most have lost their way on understanding stands, sad, very sad?

I've been trying to get you involved since you came on here, but for your own reasons, you mostly choose not to....which I think is a shame.

Hi Cno, I get less and less involved as I get more to the point of simply relaxing and enjoying my music. Also the blinkered views of some contributes is irritating, especial the troll like contributions I seem to attract? Thats not to say people are not entitled to a strong view, but that we to are entitled to our opposite view and must agree to differ?

I get myself into hot water, I wont say yes when I mean no, but I do see the other point of view! So, the best way is stay out of it, just occasionally dipping in with the latest.

One also still has ones personal problems that jump up and bite occasionally . . . serious a couple of weeks ago, nearly sold all my hifi, shades of my problems 15 years ago, when I did just that!!! I had some serious kit in those days, let go for peanuts.

So, as I'm obviously still on a knife edge, I choose my moments.

Enjoying some Jeff Beck as I type 'Live at Ronnie Scotts'. . . superb.

CJSF

 

[Electro]

Enjoying some Jeff Beck as I type 'Live at Ronnie Scotts'. . . superb. CJSF

CJSF , I agree that Jeff Beck recording is fantastic , I have been to Ronnie Scotts many times and it really is like being there :rockout:

 

[BigH]

Also seen some Soundstyle Z1's at a good price. Any thoughts on those?

Should be fine as long as you are happy with the looks but they weight about 19kgs so carriage maybe expensive.

 

[DandyCobalt]

Enjoying some Jeff Beck as I type 'Live at Ronnie Scotts'. . . superb. CJSF

CJSF , I agree that Jeff Beck recording is fantastic , I have been to Ronnie Scotts many times and it really is like being there :rockout:

I was really impressed by the very young girl bass player. Very talented!

(ps. That's from the blu-ray,)

 

[paddyb]

Also seen some Soundstyle Z1's at a good price. Any thoughts on those?

Should be fine as long as you are happy with the looks but they weight about 19kgs so carriage maybe expensive.

I've got a few quotes and weight doesn't affect it as much as I thought, up to about 25kgs the price is the same, but increases alot after 30kgs. Dimensions change it quite a lot, so I need to make sure they can package then tightly.

This is all a moot point at the moment, as you'll see from another thread I think I've damaged my speakers, so need to sort that before thinking anymore about stands!