METAL or WOOD speaker stands?


I just purchased a set of Energy Veritas 2.2 monitors and I would like to build my own speaker stands. Any concerns over resonance between wood (MDF or solid best??) vs steel? All pros/cons greatly appreciated.
kwinters34

Showing 1 response by paulwp

There are three schools of thought on speaker stands: (1) high mass and high rigidity = steel (or concrete, corian, cinder blocks, etc.); (2) low mass but high rigidity = lightweight metal or wood; and (3) low mass and low rigidity (wood or stacked up telephone books). The maker of the speakers I use (Alan Shaw of Harbeth) recommended and suplied wood stands with his speakers at one time and told me the ONLY function of a stand is to get the tweeter up to ear height. His speakers have been tested and reviewed very favorably with the supplied wood stands. I have two sets, one with the wood stands, and am always thinking about getting wood stands for the other pair.

If the only function of a stand is to get the speakers up to the right height, you have to worry about whatever non-functional effect a stand might have, like the resonance you mention. Everything resonates. It's just a question of what frequencies and how much amplitude. Wood is pretty benign.