How Speaker Stands can Improve your Stereo System
Even bearing in mind the fact that speaker stands may not be the number one consideration when you want to improve the sound quality of your stereo, it is very possible that speaker stands could go a long way in helping to better your AV setup. If you do want to use speaker stands to improve the quality of your stereo’s sound, you will need to have the right stands, positioned in the proper places for the most benefit.
Firstly, decide what speaker stands you'll need.
Loudspeaker stands will improve the bass in both bookshelf speakers and stand mount speakers. The loudspeaker stands will have to be the right height that they are elevating the speaker so that it will be close to level with the listener’s ear. You want as little vibration as possible, so heavy stands are the best. If your speaker stand is not heavy enough you can always fill the bottom with sand, but only if you have sealed speakers. If you prefer, lead shots can be used.
Positioning your speaker stands in the right location can also help to improve the sound of your stereo system. You will want to place your stereo stands about 200mm from the rear walls, plus they should be about 700mm from the walls on either side. Speaker stands are best set up facing slightly in, towards each other. When speakers are placed toward the rear wall it improves the bass sound. Furthermore, you don't want to place the speakers too close to the wall, as the bass will sound too boomy.
Another rule is to not place your loud speaker stands too close to a TV stand, as the drive unit magnets may cause some interference with the TV’s picture and sound.
If your speakers are new out of the box, it’s important to know that speakers do not sound their best when they are new. After about 50 hours of moderate use, the speakers will 'break in' and the sound will improve. For this reason you will not want to bother trying to adjust your sound with speaker stands until the speakers have been used for some time.
Once you have used your speakers for at least 50 hours you can then begin using speaker stands or audio racks and placement to help improve the sound of your speakers.
As you are positioning the speakers, test the sound. Place them in various areas of the room and turn on your stereo to test the sound while you listen in your normal listening position. You'll be able to get a great sound quality by placing the speakers in the right position.
