For many people, the day starts and ends with music. More than something to dance to or something to clear the head, music supplies cues and subtexts unrecognizable to another observer. Like the soundtrack to a film, there is plenty going on behind the music. These music lovers can be spotted plugged in at all hours, whether walking down the street, riding the bus on the way to work or eating lunch at a local café. They live among us and blend into society rather seamlessly, if a little detachedly.

An audiophile, on the other hand, is a rarer sort of bird, one not comfortable with many of the means through which music is transferred to the listener. Audiophiles are concerned with the process of sound transmission itself and go out of their way to find the HiFi equipment that will deliver the best sound. Audiophiles in many ways are seeking perfection, or at least the closest possible thing to it in sound reproduction. This pursuit requires an examination of each part of the equation, not least of which is how audio components are housed. To achieve the best possible sound, an audiophile needs a great HiFi stand. Here are the reasons why audiophiles love these stands.

Isolation of components: The key to an idealized sound is the ability to isolate the components from any vibrations that are coming from the ground up. Substantial dampening is involved and HiFi stands all approach this goal in one way or another. The types of isolation caps used are important, as the ability to reduce the friction caused by surface area contact will depend on them. Sonic characteristics are improved by each of these factors, as opposed to the typical method of storing audio components which takes them into account only halfheartedly.

The dedication to improvement: As technology improves and demands by audiophiles increase, the capabilities of HiFi stands are improving right along with them. It’s as if audiophile’s requests are heard and answered beforehand. One example is the newest design in gasket technology which has improved the dampening capabilities of the top HiFi stands dramatically. Another example revolves around the actual legs of the stands. Whereas once ringing had been a problem, the new technique using foam materials has been able to cut down on this type of interference.

Stand design: While the technology of the equipment has been improving all along, the manufacturers of the best HiFi stands have been keeping up with style as well. Audiophiles who are looking to upgrade to a new stand will never have to worry about the design factor. Attractive rack styles of exquisite materials are being coupled with intriguing color combinations. There is never a worry about taste when planning to add a diamond white rack with piano glass shelving to a home. The marriage of superior sound and beautiful looks make these stands the type of upgrade that any visitor will admire.

Flexibility: Trying to put a cap on the amount of equipment an audiophile might acquire is next to impossible. There always seem to be new products coming onto the market that could improve a sound system. With a HiFi stand, having a certain amount of flexibility is important. Some stands which start out with 3 or 4 shelves could be expanded to hold 6 shelves or more. This type of flexibility will keep the pursuit of sound perfection unfettered, without requiring a new stand or more space to be used up. Different color options are available as well. Since a room which receives a lot of natural light may not be ideal for a black stand, silver and diamond white designs will create a more dramatic effect.

Durability: Audiophiles are obsessed with quality, and the construction of the shelves and legs of HiFi stands are built with these high standards in mind. Along with providing the fundamentals of high quality sound, the craftsmanship is resistant to the effects of normal usage. Investing in a HiFi stand should never be considered short term; the finest manufacturers understand this commitment to quality and construct their products accordingly. As lovers of analog equipment would agree, there is nothing wrong with something being old as long as its appeal has withstood the test of time.

The 3 S’s: The old cliché tying real estate to 3 things – all of which are location – can be applied to HiFi stands and sound quality. Sound, sound and sound are the top 3 concerns of audiophiles, all of which are the primary concerns of stand manufacturers. Testing out a new model compared to the older stands is never a perfect method. Ideally, anyone in the market for a new stand can test a number of them against one another to get an idea of just how special a stand’s design is. Also, try to get a detailed explanation of any new features that seem a little obscure. At times, the flash of a new mechanism may outweigh its impact on the overall sound. Audiophiles are familiar with the hyperactive marketing of less than stunning new features.

Ability to reduce the clutter of the room: With the number of components being stacked up in a HiFi stand, there is bound to be a pile of wires involved to connect them to one another. HiFi stands offer a solution to the clutter problem so many rooms can have with wiring. At the back of the stands are well-designed paths for a high number of cables to travel. Even if there are five or six components stacked on top of one another – with all of the requisite wiring – the area will not look like a an old-fashioned computer center. Again, the ability of stand designers to keep up with style while providing the best in sound management is something all audiophiles will appreciate.

Whether or not one identifies him or herself as an audiophile, these HiFi stands will create a marked improvement over any system of shelving that exists in the home. As style and functionality are both well represented, it is a good time for anyone interested in excellent design to check out the latest options.

Over the years the home stereo system has evolved substantially.  In fact, today it seems like every day there is some new tweak or improvement available in home sound equipment.  It’s hard for the average consumer to know when to buy, what to buy, and how to get the most for their money.  That being said, what most owners of high fidelity sound equipment don’t realise is that without the proper placement and configuration, their home speaker system will not come close to realizing its full sound quality potential.  Hiding a sound system away in a cupboard-like entertainment center hurts the owner and audience in 2 big ways: 1- It takes up the entire den, living room, or entertainment room; 2- It may be eating up the acoustics, and ruining the hi-fi quality of the speakers.  Instead, knowledgeable consumers are looking to speaker stands to bring their speakers out into the open, and maximise sound quality.

What is a speaker stand?  An invention that crept out of the 80’s without great fanfare, people began utilising speaker stands when they realised getting the speakers off the floor made a world of difference in their sound quality and performance.  This quick and easy fix for improving sound has since been extremely popular amongst musicians and high fidelity enthusiasts alike.  The science behind it is that most floors (especially carpet) and common domestic furniture pick up on the vibrations around them, essentially swallowing a portion of all sound produced by the speaker.  Or, vice versa, the speaker can pick up vibrations from other sources like people walking over the floor, causing undesired vibrations and again deadening sound.  In order to counteract this effect, the speaker stand was designed as a sonically dead column, on which speakers could be isolated, lifted and mounted.  Today, there are a range of aesthetically appealing brands and styles of speaker stands available that will optimise speaker performance, without looking like a space age command center was dropped into the living room. 

The first thing to look for in a quality speaker stand is stiffness.  Without a certain amount of rigidity the stand will still be subject to vibrations, and therefore no better than domestic furniture.  If the stand is moving and wobbly, it is obviously less than ideal as the idea is to protect the speaker equipment, not jeopardise a fall.  The best stands will be made of steel, or an equally resilient material like thick glass, and the support tubing will be rectangular, square, or circular in cross-section.  For extra heavy equipment, look for stands that can be filled with another substance, like sand, to increase their own mass and support more speaker weight.  The flat top plate of a speaker stand generally has small pads made of plastic or rubber to support the speaker and minimise vibration.  When mounting the speaker, the listener can choose to apply additional reinforcements to keep the speaker securely atop like top spikes or gel pads. 

Once the speaker stands are being set up in the home, having the speakers and especially the tweeter at the proper height will be of utmost importance.  Ideally, the speakers/tweeter should be placed at ear level for someone in their normal listening position in the room (think about whether the listener will be sitting on a couch, lying on a bed, etc.)  Do some homework and have measurements available as to the desired height of the speaker stands.  Some speaker stands are adjustable in height.  Many simply come in a range of graduated sizes.  Regardless, it’s important to know whether or not the speaker stand has the desired height, or at least has the potential to adjust to the desired height, for the room. 

Rest assured that speaker stands come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, so there will be something to match the existing home décor.  One variety of speaker stand is made of a thick glass tubing that can be filled with any material (besides a liquid) to perfectly coordinate to match the room it’s in.  The base and platform portions of speaker stands come in a range of shapes, as do the column supports.  Keep in mind that part of the idea of the speaker stand is to create some distance between the speakers and thereby improve the sound quality.  The idea is to create almost an equilateral triangle between the listener and the speakers, so sit down in the room and imagine what would compliment the space.  An added benefit is that many speaker stands are equipped to hide unsightly wires and cables that often become a tangled mess sprawled across the living room floor. 

One of the major concerns about speaker stands is the requirement to use spikes to fasten them to the floor.  Many people would rather not cause that type of damage to their home flooring.  However, the fact of the matter is that once the home stereo system has been purchased, it’s going to waste without the proper mounting of the speakers.  Other options include mounting speakers on the walls or ceilings, but this type of damage is going to be far more intrusive, and require a great deal more unsightly material to keep the speakers secure than the floor spikes (not to mention wall mounting is unrealistic for anyone who rents).  The spikes make minimal perforations in the flooring, which can be easily repaired should the speakers need to be moved.  Alternatives to spiking the floor include setting the spikes in blocks of wood, or small metal cups specifically designed for speaker stands. 

Where can speaker stands be found?  The internet is a great resource for finding the widest range of colours, styles, makes and materials.  Anyone with a very specific vision should start here.  Of course as with any internet shopping it can be difficult to know exactly what one is getting without seeing the product in person.  As always, make sure things like return policies, warranties, delivery details and payment security are discussed before making any purchases or giving any information over the internet.  Another option is to try any local audio equipment location where speakers are sold.  These establishments will either have speaker stands in stock, or be able to assist the buyer in finding a nearby vendor.   

At the end of the day, the method of mounting speakers is an individual preference.  Speaker stands are an affordable way to quickly and easily improve the sound quality of a home hi-fi stereo system.  They help the speakers work better by eliminating many common, completely avoidable, complications like picking up vibrations, and poor room and listener-related placement.  Nobody wants those pesky “deleterious colorations” ruining the sound quality on their home stereo system’s speakers.  To start hearing things clearly, give speakers a quick and easy speaker stand makeover.