Description
Unlock the Full Potential of Your Bookshelf Speakers with Atabites
Atabites: The Secret Weapon for Superior Sound
Elevate your audio experience with Atabites, a high-density inert filler designed to optimize the performance of your bookshelf speaker stands.
Unleashing Sonic Clarity:
Traditional speaker stands can introduce unwanted vibrations that muddle your audio. Atabites acts as a sonic sponge, absorbing these vibrations and creating a more neutral platform for your speakers. The result? Clearer, more accurate sound with reduced coloration.
The Science of Sound Isolation:
- High Density: Atabites' dense composition effectively dampens vibrations, minimizing resonance within the speaker stands.
- Particle Size: The size of Atabites micro-discs (2-4mm) ensures consistent sonic performance across the entire filler.
Built to Last:
- Zinc-Coated Steel: The innovative zinc coating protects Atabites from oxidation and degradation, ensuring long-lasting performance.
- Visually Appealing: the zinc also adds to the Aesthetic, for batch identification quality control purposes you may find your Atabites have a single-sided Satin Black finish (not visible when installed). Note:- This does not affect performance.
Important Information:
- Sold by Weight: Atabites are sold by weight (7kg tubs) due to their density, not volume.
- Settling May Occur: Some settling of the filler may happen during transport. (we use 1.8 litre tubs).
Invest in Atabites and unlock the full potential of your bookshelf speakers.
Experience the difference for yourself!
A Note About Mass-Loading Filler: Why Density Matters
At Atacama, we believe in complete transparency. When comparing mass-loading fillers for your speaker stands, the most critical metric isn't the total package weight—it is the weight-to-volume ratio (weight per litre).
Every speaker stand has a fixed internal capacity. Simply put: if a filler is less dense, you will run out of space before achieving the maximum possible mass required for optimal acoustic dampening. Before purchasing any alternative filler, always ask these two questions:
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What is the weight-to-litre ratio compared to Atabites?
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What is the material actually made of?
Here is how common inert mass-loading fillers compare by volume.
The 1-Litre Volume Comparison
Dry Sand
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Material: Composed primarily of silicon dioxide (silica) with trace minerals that vary by source. Standard beach-type dry sand offers relatively low density.
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Density (per litre): 1.53 to 1.60 kg
Crushed Glass (Silica)
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Material: Predominantly silica, usually sourced as an industrial by-product. It often contains trace additives like metal oxides (iron, chromium, or cobalt) for colouring.
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Density (per litre): 1.60 to 1.85 kg (varies slightly based on trace materials)
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Typical Composition: Primarily Silicon Dioxide (73%) and Sodium Oxide (15%), along with smaller amounts of Calcium Oxide, Magnesium Oxide and Aluminium Oxide.
Atabites SMD-Z 7HD
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Material: Specifically engineered, high-density, zinc-coated carbon steel micro-discs. We openly share the exact chemical composition of our filler (see the data sheet at the end of this editorial), which is designed specifically to maximize weight in minimal space for superior dampening performance.
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Density (per litre): 4.19 to 4.75 kg
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Note: This variation is strictly due to how the micro-discs settle and level during installation. We always calculate using the minimum guaranteed mass.
The Atabites Advantage
Even when comparing the absolute minimum density of Atabites (4.19 kg/L) against the typical density of standard alternatives, the difference in a fixed volume is substantial:
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161.88% more mass than dry sand (at 1.6 kg/L)
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146.47% more mass than crushed glass (at 1.7 kg/L)
The Bottom Line: Always calculate by volume, not just by package weight, to ensure your speaker stands receive the acoustic damping they need.
(Note: Weights and volumes quoted are approximate, as some settling of contents will occur after installation.)
*Independent Sand/ glass technical reference source:
Beach sand
Crushed Glass type material
Fine-Tuning Your Sound: A Guide to Using Atabites Speaker Stand Filler
Unlock the hidden potential of your bookshelf speakers with Atabites, a high-density inert filler designed to optimize speaker stand performance.
Taking Control of Your Audio:
Speaker stands can introduce unwanted resonances that colour your sound. Atabites acts as a sonic tuner, absorbing these vibrations and creating a more neutral platform for your speakers. This allows you to fine-tune the sound characteristics to your preferences.
Finding Your Perfect Sound:
- Experimentation is Key: The ideal amount of Atabites depends on various factors like speaker type, cable configuration, room acoustics, and your desired sonic signature.
- More Bass, Detail, and Soundstage: Generally, adding more Atabites (up to two-thirds full) can increase bass depth, enhance detail retrieval, and create a wider, more defined soundstage.
- Striking a Balance: However, overfilling can lead to a dull, lifeless sound with softened mids. Experiment with different fill levels to find the sweet spot that delivers the sound you crave.
A Guide for Exploration:
Atabites are compatible with most speaker stands, not just Atacama/Apollo brands. Here's a starting point for your experimentation:
- Half to Two-Thirds Full: This is generally considered the optimal fill range for achieving a balanced sound with improved detail and bass response.
Embrace the Power of Customization:
With Atabites, you have the power to tailor your speaker stand performance and unlock the full sonic potential of your bookshelf speakers. Embrace the process of experimentation and discover the sound that perfectly suits your listening preferences.
Atacama Speaker Stands – Atabite Mass Loading Capacity
Maximum approximate weight of Atabites filler that can be used for each pair of Atacama speaker stands.
Moseco .2 and Apollo Cyclone XL Series as per Nexxus Essential equivalent height option specification.
NEXXUS Series (Per Pair)
|
Stand Model |
Essential |
Hi-Fi Audio |
Pro-Studio |
|
NEXXUS 200 |
5.32 kg |
9.37 kg |
13.43 kg |
|
NEXXUS 300 |
8.18 kg |
14.43 kg |
20.69 kg |
|
NEXXUS 400 |
11.05 kg |
19.49 kg |
27.95 kg |
|
NEXXUS 500 |
13.92 kg |
24.56 kg |
35.21 kg |
|
NEXXUS 600 |
16.80 kg |
29.65 kg |
42.50 kg |
|
NEXXUS 700 |
19.67 kg |
34.70 kg |
49.73 kg |
|
NEXXUS 1000 |
28.28 kg |
49.89 kg |
71.51 kg |
Nexus, Moseco, Duo, & Apollo Cyclone Series (Per Pair)
|
Stand Model |
Maximum Weight |
|
Nexus 5 / Moseco 5 / Apollo Cyclone 5 |
6.80 kg |
|
Nexus 6 / Moseco 6 / Duo 6 / Apollo Cyclone 6 |
8.40 kg |
|
Nexus 7 / Moseco 7 / Duo 7 / Apollo Cyclone 7 |
9.84 kg |
|
Nexus 10 / Moseco 10 |
14.14 kg |
SLX, Audition, & SL Series (Per Pair)
Note: SL series weights match the corresponding SLX models.
|
Stand Model |
Maximum Weight |
|
SLX 200 |
10.64 kg |
|
Audition / SLX 300 |
16.36 kg |
|
Audition / SLX 400 |
22.10 kg |
|
Audition / SLX 500 |
27.84 kg |
|
Audition / SLX 600 |
36.60 kg |
|
Audition / SLX 700 |
39.34 kg |
|
SLX 1000 |
56.56 kg |
HMS & Moseco XL Series (Per Pair)
|
Stand Model |
Maximum Weight |
|
HMS 1.1 & Moseco XL 500mm |
30.80 kg |
|
HMS 1.1 & Moseco XL 600mm |
44.53 kg |
|
HMS 1.1 700mm |
58.20 kg |
|
HMS 2.1 & HMS2X-600 |
85.00 kg |
Important Compatibility Notes
- Moseco/Ensign CC Series: Follows the same weights as the standard Nexus series based on the corresponding leg height (quoted per single stand).
-
Aurora 6: Atabites are NOT suitable for Aurora 6 speaker stands.
Eco friendly; Atabites and associated packaging can be widely recycling under the following codes-
Plastic container and bag
Atabites
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