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Filling speaker Stands?

I have a modest system. Continually look for ways to improve it's performance even to a slight degree. I have read many posts about improvements than can be achieved by filling the hollow spaces of some speaker stands with some type of material....sand, kitty litter, lead shot, and some others. Here are the stands I have......
https://www.sanus.com/en_US/products/speaker-stands/sf26/ 
These stands are of metal construction. There are 2 upright support tubes which are approx. 2" diameter. The stands sit on a carpet floor with spikes. On the top plates are a layer of Sorbothane and PSB Imagine B speakers sit on top of that. The 2 metal supports are attached to the base and top plate with just threaded holes about 1/4 " diameter. Pouring some type of dampening  material would definitely require a funnel.
The reason I ask this question is that, when I thump on each upright post, it rings for several seconds. A dampening fill would minimize this but would filling those posts really benefit the speaker performance to even a small degree given my modest setup? I don't know. Probably, few have experimented with this type of scenario.Thanks for any advice.



jrpnde

Showing 3 responses by ieales

ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Lead.

It does not ring like steel and substantially increases the stand mass over sand, steel, pebbles, etc. Best would be lead filled with sand.

Sorbothane works very well in coupling the speaker and stand. The improvement in mid-bass detail is impressive.

Kitty litter is far too light to be of any use.

As far as disposal, almost any gun club can direct you to a reclamation center. Simply add a label on the back stating the stand is filled with lead shot in the event the owner is not the disposer.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
So did anyone actually AB the system with filled stands and without filled stands?
The question is a typical GK inanity.

Most probably everyone who filled stands listened to their system with unfilled stands, filled them and listened again. Unfilled A -> Filled B.

In some audiodom instances, a change is so obvious, there is no need to ABA.

How about a blind test?
@GK : does listening in the dark count? ~<;-P
 
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Another option is cast steel shot if not willing to take precautions. [ dust mask, gloves although the one time exposure level is so low as to be inconsequential  ] Its density it about 75% of lead. Sand is barely 15%

Rice is probably not a good idea as it is organic and not very dense. Rice may damp, but is unlikely to eliminate tube resonance. It's density is half of sand.

Sorbothane has improved everything where used. One must get the right size and duro. As far as marking, who cares about the bottom of the speaker? Sorbothane creates a unit of the stand and loudspeaker. Other materials may not.
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