Why are speaker stands so expensive?!

Average speaker stands are not too expensive, but ones that are highly engineered are, and the reason the designers get the money for them is because they are often worth it. Good stands make a big sonic difference.

@mitch2 

Solidity and mass aren't always the answer. Sometimes a lighter frame with low mass and no bottom plate is the better approach, as in the expensive aftermarket wooden stands that are sold for Harbeth Monitor 40's. The name escapes me right now.

I recall in the '80's I bought a pair of Celestion SL6s speakers, and I bought a pair of inexpensive Chicago speaker stands for them because that was all that I could afford. They had a thin top plate and four skinny tubular legs; one at each corner. The speakers performed fabulously on those stands, but sadly I didn't realize it until I had some more money to spend on heavy steel stands with massive steel posts filled with lead shot. The magic was gone.

I also had ProAc Response 1's that loved a massive stand. Spendor SP100's also responded differently to single or multi pillar stands. What I am trying to say is that expensive isn't always better, but sometimes it's justified if a talented designer has done research on your particular speaker and come up with a design that brings out the best in that design.

@yogiboy 

Yes, that is the name that I was thinking of. They are beautiful, and specifically designed to allow all surfaces of that box to resonate if I recall. You were very fortunate to get them with the speakers.

@rlj 

Those stands look good. Timbernation also makes good stands of different solid hardwoods.

@mitch2 

"IMO, good speaker stands do not need to cost anywhere near that amount."

No, they don't, but his are worth it because they allow any speakers that they are used with to sound their best, and you can only know that by trying them. I cant afford them either for the standmount speakers that I own, but I own the Sistrum Stands for my floorstanders, and the difference and improvement is something that could never be duplicated by wood or concrete.