Ok. Up to now this has been a closely guarded secret. Do you have any sheets of that porous-looking styrofoam-like material used in rectangular sheets to cushion components in shipping cartons? Some pieces are relatively sturdy and won't deform with weight on them. Cut and fit. Your speakers will even sound better than if you blue-tacked them to the stands.
Why don't you (1) buy taller stands, or (2) tilt the speakers back a little? |
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I have to disagree with Paulwp. I believe your sound will be better if the speakers are coupled to the stands rather than isolated. I use "bluetack", but in a very small amount, just to prevent scratching the bottom of the speaker and keep it from sliding on the stand.
Regarding how to raise the stands: Are your current stands spiked to the floor? Can you build a small platform and transfer the spikes to the platform? Maybe use some paving stones to give it some height and weight, and place your stands on top of that.
Another idea would be to get some threaded studs the same size as your spikes, and some short lengths of tubing with the same threads on the inside. You could then "extend" your spikes. However, this could cause some stability problems, depending on how much height your trying to achieve.
Neither of these are ideal fixes, but you were looking for suggestions.
JD |
Well, I disagree with Ken. Roller blade wheels are better than hockey pucks.
There are all sorts of coupling devices, tiptoes? cone-like things. If that's what you want to do. |
Go to your friendly neighborhood stone mason and have him cut you some slabs of granite. Ensure the measurements are exactly the same as your monitors' bottom sides. Make sure you specify the thickness which will depend on high you want them raised. You can then put these bases on top of your speaker stands. Use some BLUE TACKS on both sides to secure the bases to the speaker stands and your monitors on top of the stones. This is just another suggestion, I think JDOMBROW's idea is superb. |
If the spikes are adjustable tilt the front of the stands up a fraction of an inch. A minute rise (@ the front of the stands) makes a big difference in the firing angle @ 8-12 feet away.
Material, like Paul suggests, (not the roller blades:-) might work well with his Harbeths as the cabinets are designed to resonate within a certain frequency range (you want them to vibrate as they are tuned this way).
I suspect that this might also be true of the Coincident Triumphs as the ones I tried sounded best on cheap/flimsy stands (not heavy/rigid ones). |
You can go to Home Depot and get a couple of concrete "stepping stones". They come in various sizes like 12"x12", 18"x18" or 24"x24". They are about 2 inches thick. You could put some heavy duty cones under them to couple them to the floor if needed. Place your current stands on top of these "risers".
Also, using the existing spikes, you could tilt the stand/speaker back a little by adjusting the spikes to facilitate the bachward lean angle. This accomplishes much the same result as raising the height. It's FREE, so try it!! |
I agree with the Granite slabs. The size you need most Tile and Marble dealers throw away. I got two with gold vein for my Silverlines and then set the spikes to where they would rest and drilled small holes for the spikes to seat(not all the way through). They look amazing and added to the low end also, but BluTak is another way to bond them. Now the stands look like a million $$, got a height, little bass to boot. |
Well, David, I don't actually use the styrofoam. I have tacky stuff between my speakers and the stands. One pair is on Harbeth wooden stands, though, and I'm thinking of trying the foam on the metal stands under the others.
But, you're on point, of course. Some speakers do better with decoupling. Some, I guess, are better coupled to their stands. It makes no sense to use hard coupling to rigid high mass metal stands with lossy speaker cabinets. But right now, I am listening to a pair of old Harbeth P3's, relatively inert, not lossy, with a couple of napkins between them and the metal stands. They sound wonderful.
Roller blade wheels are great. And cheap. |
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Paul, you can't be into coupling, if you use that Blue Tak crap. Coupling is a physics thing. Unsound said it, even though, he jests, but if you could find three inch spikes, then you'd be coupling. Blue tak is nasty stuff. It's an isolater. It doesn't couple, but glues your speakers to the stands. NG if you're a coupler, like myself. If you're not into coupling, the sky's the limit as to how you can raise those babies. I'm of the opinion that this is not a good way to go, but rather provide your monitor speakers with stands that are coupled well to the ground and allow for your speakers to be coupled to the stands. Now we're talking. Your speakers will sing. peace, warren |
I really wasn't jesting. Since spikes are used on top and below, it might be possible to buy larger replacement spikes, modify something from Home Depot or perhaps replace the spikes with large Tip Toes or the likes. Good luck. Some of the previous suggestions certainly have merit. |
As DK explained above, I don't believe in coupling, for good reason. But I don't use Blue Tak. I use cheap tacky stuff you get at hardware stores, only so the cleaning lady or an earthquake doesnt knock my speakers off their stands.
Some speakers, I understand, may work better with those spikes and cones. I would go by the manufacturer's recommendation, or experiment. But I wouldnt assume that coupling is best, any more than I would assume that a rigid high mass stand is best. In fact, I'd be inclined to believe the opposite.
Of course, longer top spikes is a good idea if that's what you want to do. Not good for me. Maybe good for you.
Paul |
Check out the Sistrum speaker platforms. They will raise not only the height but also the sound quality. I am not sure if this is more than you want to spend, but your speaker's performence will improve in every area. Dynamics, soundstaging, better seperation between instruments, less noise. If you have a decent pair of speakers, this could be the best gift you could give yourself. Check out the Starsound web by clicking on manufacturer's on the home page. If this is more than you want to spend, try the mapleshade triple points. Not nearly as good but not bad. |
I would have mentioned (and fully agree) Sistrum, like Brulee, but I think this is more than you want to spend. Their products are quite amazing, but, again, a little pricey for many. |
I hope no one thought my suggestion was an endorsement for coupling. Coupling or decoupling is system/room dependant. I was merely trying offer suggestions to the question at hand with the strategy at hand. |
