What’s the Best Speaker Stand for Me?
Setting up speakers or monitors on the floor or a desk can result in a number of drawbacks. To get the best possible audio quality, you’ll need a purpose-made speaker stand. PA speaker systems and studio monitors especially can benefit from a speaker stand, a bracket or a speaker pole (also known as a distance rod). While you certainly don’t need an expensive solution, it’s useful to know what kind of speaker stand best matches your gear. So, in this Speaker Stand Buyer’s Guide, we answer some of the most important questions. If your question isn’t included, feel free to contact us!
1. What’s a Speaker Stand?
Speaker stands allow you to set up your speakers wherever you want, which is important because their placement has a big influence on the sound quality, both in the studio and on stage or at the venue. The height of the stand is also important. In the studio, the tweeters of your monitors sound their best when they sit at ear-height. For live shows, you’ll want to make sure that your speakers tower above the crowd, so that it’s not just the people in the front row who are able to hear everything clearly. When compared to using a random piece of furniture for setting up your speakers, purpose-made stands also have the advantage of countering unwanted vibrations.
2. What’s a Studio Monitor Stand?
Studio monitor stands can be roughly divided into two categories: floor stands and desk stands.
Floor stands are great when you already have limited desk space or when you want to create more distance between yourself and your monitors. In addition, floor stands guarantee that speaker vibrations can never be passed through your desk. On the other hand, if you have a wooden floor, it’s still recommended to place your speakers on top of a set of isolation pads.
If you prefer to sit really close to your studio monitors, it’s best to go with desk stands. Most manufacturers already take vibrations into account when designing their stands and integrate a form of isolation. More basic models that do not feature any isolation can always be upgraded with isolation pads.
In most cases, studio monitor stands are fitted with a platform to set your monitor on. Some models even offer the option to secure your monitor using screws. These models are practically always made for specific studio monitors since there are unfortunately no standardised screw-thread and rigging point placement rules.
3. What’s a PA Speaker Stand?
Most standard full-range PA speakers feature a 35mm stand flange. This 35mm mounting point matches the tube diameter of most speaker stands, which means that those PA speakers can be directly mounted on a standard PA speaker stand. In addition, PA speaker stands are almost always equipped with a collapsible tripod base and are height-adjustable for optimal sound projection. In terms of height adjustability, some stands feature a secure pin-system with fixed height settings, while others allow for stepless height adjustment via a fitted knob. If your set-up includes subwoofers as well, see Question 5.
4. Can I Mount My Speaker on a Wall or Ceiling?
Yes, there are various wall and ceiling brackets for this.
These brackets are usually designed for specific speaker models or series, so keep this in mind when you’re planning to pick up a pair of studio monitors and want to secure them to a wall.
Most universal wall brackets are only designed for PA speakers and as such only support 35mm tubes (see Question 3). If you want to install your speakers horizontally, they’ll need to have mounting points on the top and bottom. For models that have this, manufacturers often sell special U-brackets.
Tip: If special wall or ceiling brackets exist for your speakers but you can’t find these in our webshop, you can fill out a Product Request form and we’ll be glad to see if we can get hold of one for you.
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5. Can I Mount My Satellite Speaker Directly on Top of My Subwoofer?
Yes, you can mount your (full-range) satellite speaker directly on top of your subwoofer, but chances are it’ll end up sitting too low. In that case, it’s best to use a speaker pole, also known as a distance rod. Before you buy one, make sure that your subwoofer has a stand flange and if so, make sure that it’s compatible. Depending on your subwoofer model, it’ll be equipped with either an M20 screw thread, an M8 screw thread or a 35mm stand flange.
Tip: If your gear turns out to be incompatible, you should be able to find a fitting solution in our Speaker Stand Adapter category!
6. Is It Possible to Set Up My Guitar Amplifier on a Speaker Stand?
Guitar amplifiers rarely feature a 35mm stand flange or different mounting points. However, you can get a guitar amplifier stand. These are designed to slightly raise and tilt back your guitar amp or floor monitor so that it’s aimed up so that the sound is directed at your ears.
7. What’s the Maximum Weight Capacity of Speaker Stands?
The specifications listed under our speaker stands and speaker poles almost always indicate the maximum load capacity. Pay close attention to this, because safety should always come first. The maximum weight that a speaker stand can take depends on the material it’s made of and the thickness of the tubes.
In addition, it’s wise to take wear and tear into consideration. Over time, building up, breaking down and transporting your stands can cause them to wear out. If you own a business or if you’re part of a gigging band, it’s advisable not to cut back on speaker stands. To keep your stands protected and in great condition, it’s also worth using special speaker stand bags.
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