Babyproofing Stand-mounted speakers


I love my monitor speakers (Revel M20s), but have an issue... they are so top-heavy on the stands that a one year old could pull them over. Problem is, I'll have a one year old in just a couple of more months. Wife says (and I can't say I disagree) that they will have to go back against the wall and be strapped there unless I can come up with a solution. You all know how good they will sound against the wall... yuck!

I thought I appeal to the collective wisdom of Audiogon and ask if anybody has experience in ways to prevent standmounted speakers from tipping over. I've thought about bolting them to the floor, but the hardwood floors wouldn't thank me.

Ideas?
bradg_sf

Showing 2 responses by bigshutterbug

Hello Brad!
I have the same speakers with the original Revel stands, and the same baby problem as well, but with twins! I have found the following to work just fine, and also it has helped a good bit with the sonics as well:
Take the speakers off the stands and flip them up-side down on a cloth. Get a strong power drill and drill a 1/2" hole in the middle of each "leg" of the "T" shaped bottom. Purchase 3 25lb. bags of fine lead shot from a local gun shop (~ $60-$75 total cost). Using a small plastic funnel and disposable cup to pour the lead shot with, carefully fill the bases. When finished, use a 2" x 2" piece of duct tape to cover the holes...it works just fine. Then, flip the stands upright, unscrew the top plate, then fill the 3 legs with the remaining shot as well, all the way to the top. Replace the top plate, and you are in business! They speakers will now be MUCH more stable, and you will find them to have better bass and solidity as well. They are not the greatest stands, and I wish Revel had given them more thought, but the speakers are FANTASTIC at the price point and well beyond... Enjoy!
Sand does not have near the weight of the fine lead shot, and sonically is not as good either. If you had not already purchased the Revel stands, I would agree to try another higher quality stand such as the one suggested. The M-20s actually have threaded screw "mounts" on the bottoms that bolt into the top plate of the original stands, so an adhesive is not needed. Microbearings would be less toxic for sure, but availability may be a problem. The small holes drilled in the bottoms are very secure with the duct tape due to the texture of the stands on bottom. I put some epoxy in the hole as well just to be sure when the stands were upside down after filling, then put the heavy tape on as well. The stands have special feet which can be mounted on the bottoms of the speakers as well when being used off the stands on a bookshelf etc. If you sell the stands, you will also have to sell the feet with them... the stands are fairly useless for other speakers. Revel could have done something a lot better in quality than these, especially for the price...