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I want to put my EPI's on stands...
- Thread starter JoZmo
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thoots
obi-wan
JZ,
Yow, both of those are pretty high off the ground!! Prepare to lose "bass reinforcement" with either of them. What's the reason for wanting to get them off the ground? To get the tweeters higher? To get better woofer/room interaction by getting them off the ground? To clear something otherwise "in the way?" At any rate, my experience shows that once you start getting woofers more than a foot above the floor, you really start cutting back the woofer output due to much lesser room reinforcement. So, think about that a little bit.
I think I've got a couple of pairs of exactly what you're talking about, 16-inch height. I had my JBL 4312A monitors on them, and got another pair when I got my L100's so I could really compare the two systems. I got 'em that high mainly to clear the arm of my sofa, but I wound up later on putting the 4312A's on crates that were more like 12 inches high, and I preferred that lower position.
Stability-wise, yeah, these only have little "plates" to actually put your speakers on. Make sure to balance the weight of the speakers on them, and in the end they're pretty stable. Rough-housing kids and major earthquakes could pretty easily knock them over, but otherwise, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
Here's a picture of the two pairs of speakers on those stands, along with the big L150A's. Like I say, I'll bet these are exactly the kind of stands you're talking about:
I hope this helps -- good luck!
:
Yow, both of those are pretty high off the ground!! Prepare to lose "bass reinforcement" with either of them. What's the reason for wanting to get them off the ground? To get the tweeters higher? To get better woofer/room interaction by getting them off the ground? To clear something otherwise "in the way?" At any rate, my experience shows that once you start getting woofers more than a foot above the floor, you really start cutting back the woofer output due to much lesser room reinforcement. So, think about that a little bit.
I think I've got a couple of pairs of exactly what you're talking about, 16-inch height. I had my JBL 4312A monitors on them, and got another pair when I got my L100's so I could really compare the two systems. I got 'em that high mainly to clear the arm of my sofa, but I wound up later on putting the 4312A's on crates that were more like 12 inches high, and I preferred that lower position.
Stability-wise, yeah, these only have little "plates" to actually put your speakers on. Make sure to balance the weight of the speakers on them, and in the end they're pretty stable. Rough-housing kids and major earthquakes could pretty easily knock them over, but otherwise, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
Here's a picture of the two pairs of speakers on those stands, along with the big L150A's. Like I say, I'll bet these are exactly the kind of stands you're talking about:
I hope this helps -- good luck!
:
Tonto Yoder
Former member
Another alternative to stands--
wonder if TIPPING the speakers will help (if you're trying to get tweeters aimed at your listening receptacles [i.e. ears]). You'd need some adjustability in height just in case your ears move.
The Mapleshade bases linked to follow this philosophy. Maybe you could DIY something similar?????
http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/tweaks/speakerstands.html
(Scroll PAST the stands down to the bases--they're called "Bedrocks")
TY
Another thread linked to a eBay ad which also "tips" speakers (JBL) back--check out the pics.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayISAPI.dl...item=1384535430&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2
wonder if TIPPING the speakers will help (if you're trying to get tweeters aimed at your listening receptacles [i.e. ears]). You'd need some adjustability in height just in case your ears move.
The Mapleshade bases linked to follow this philosophy. Maybe you could DIY something similar?????
http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/tweaks/speakerstands.html
(Scroll PAST the stands down to the bases--they're called "Bedrocks")
TY
Another thread linked to a eBay ad which also "tips" speakers (JBL) back--check out the pics.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayISAPI.dl...item=1384535430&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2
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thoots is exactly right about losing gobs of bass if you take 'em up off the floor! About 7" would probably assist the bass output, but more and you just get 'em hangin' out without any reinforcement.
Up a bit and about a 7 degree tilt would be very nice. Should give a nice openness to the whole sound.
Up a bit and about a 7 degree tilt would be very nice. Should give a nice openness to the whole sound.
Tonto Yoder
Former member
Bully,
I'm not sure what you have in mind with "losing gobs of bass" on stands. When I did my project with the Sansui speakers pictured above (i.e. put them on sawed-off bases), there certainly was LESS apparent bass but it was tighter, punchier and less thumpy.I never cared for that Sansui sound so I sold them, but they sounded less objectionable on the bases.
BTW, weren't EPI 100's intended as bookshelf speakers rather than floorstanders??? Seemingly the designers would have tailored the woofer for that position rather than for on the floor.
TY
I'm not sure what you have in mind with "losing gobs of bass" on stands. When I did my project with the Sansui speakers pictured above (i.e. put them on sawed-off bases), there certainly was LESS apparent bass but it was tighter, punchier and less thumpy.I never cared for that Sansui sound so I sold them, but they sounded less objectionable on the bases.
BTW, weren't EPI 100's intended as bookshelf speakers rather than floorstanders??? Seemingly the designers would have tailored the woofer for that position rather than for on the floor.
TY
JoZmo
Super Member
I thought it was a given that you put speakers at ear level and that bookshelf speakers were not meant to actually go in bookshelves but definatly elevated.
Everything I read says that, but now that I think of it, maybe it was all referring to HT.
I mean floorstanders are at ear level, or close anyway, so I thought a stand was supposed to act as a resonator so the bass would be improved.
I can't see how putting these speakers on the floor, a semi plush rug in my case, would make them sound good. Wouldn't it make the bass mushy?
TY, I like those Bedrocks but the price is a little more than I wanted to spend.
I'm really confused now. I suppose I could just try all the possibilities and see which sounds the best.
But hey, that's what makes this hobby fun.
Everything I read says that, but now that I think of it, maybe it was all referring to HT.
I mean floorstanders are at ear level, or close anyway, so I thought a stand was supposed to act as a resonator so the bass would be improved.
I can't see how putting these speakers on the floor, a semi plush rug in my case, would make them sound good. Wouldn't it make the bass mushy?
TY, I like those Bedrocks but the price is a little more than I wanted to spend.
I'm really confused now. I suppose I could just try all the possibilities and see which sounds the best.
But hey, that's what makes this hobby fun.
TY, with 'typical' (if there was such a beast) 'bookshelf' designs of the 70s, a lift of about 7-12 inches was appropriate. Certainly, speaker systems the size of the Pioneer CS-99A (about 55 lbs) or the JBL L100 (say about 42 lbs), that were called bookshelf speakers, would not fit on very many bookshelves.
My CS-99A's usually just sat on the floor. But, as you mentioned, when I did set them up about 7 inches, they did sound a bit tighter in the bass.
Two feet off the floor, though, you lose the reinforcing provided by the floor. If the speaker system has solid, dynamic bass, you'll still get good bass, but not to the same degree as if they were sitting on the floor.
That can still be a good thing, and the particular system may be great in that room etc.
All depends on all the contributing aspects.
pete
My CS-99A's usually just sat on the floor. But, as you mentioned, when I did set them up about 7 inches, they did sound a bit tighter in the bass.
Two feet off the floor, though, you lose the reinforcing provided by the floor. If the speaker system has solid, dynamic bass, you'll still get good bass, but not to the same degree as if they were sitting on the floor.
That can still be a good thing, and the particular system may be great in that room etc.
All depends on all the contributing aspects.
pete
Tonto Yoder
Former member
JZ,
Or try stuff from around the house that seem to be about right--I was just looking at a 12 pack of pop sitting on the floor that's not bad dimensions. Each can's ~4 inches tall, so if you stacked two 12-packs they'd be 8, three'd be 12. See what's best and then drink the temporary stands while you're out in the wood shop doing the final project!
By the way, heavy German beer sounds "weighty" while lite beer has alotta "air". Pop lends a sweet character.
TY
Or try stuff from around the house that seem to be about right--I was just looking at a 12 pack of pop sitting on the floor that's not bad dimensions. Each can's ~4 inches tall, so if you stacked two 12-packs they'd be 8, three'd be 12. See what's best and then drink the temporary stands while you're out in the wood shop doing the final project!
By the way, heavy German beer sounds "weighty" while lite beer has alotta "air". Pop lends a sweet character.
TY
JoZmo
Super Member
Great idea TY you forget one thing.... the big WAF!
Already my wife looks at me with that wierd look(like , are you alright or what!!!) regarding all my audio pecularities and macinations, what's she gonna do when she sees cases of soda on the floor... HAAAAHAAA HAHHHAAAH, oh man LOL!
Anyway between you and me and the wall, I'm thinking maybe I could cover them with some nice... ah, how about some of the rug they're sitting on or wood laminate, ya that's the ticket!
WAF
Already my wife looks at me with that wierd look(like , are you alright or what!!!) regarding all my audio pecularities and macinations, what's she gonna do when she sees cases of soda on the floor... HAAAAHAAA HAHHHAAAH, oh man LOL!
Anyway between you and me and the wall, I'm thinking maybe I could cover them with some nice... ah, how about some of the rug they're sitting on or wood laminate, ya that's the ticket!
WAF
Tonto Yoder
Former member
JZ,
Stack the four 12-packs on the floor, put the speakers on 'em, then get yourself an Audio Advisor catalog, or issue of Stereophile opened to a page with super-expensive speaker stands and leave that next to your DIY stands.
I guarantee the cans will look better! "Honey, look, I've just saved us $500!"
You probably COULD cover the 12 packs with something aliitle more wife-acceptable.
\
TY
Stack the four 12-packs on the floor, put the speakers on 'em, then get yourself an Audio Advisor catalog, or issue of Stereophile opened to a page with super-expensive speaker stands and leave that next to your DIY stands.
I guarantee the cans will look better! "Honey, look, I've just saved us $500!"
You probably COULD cover the 12 packs with something aliitle more wife-acceptable.
\
TY
JoZmo
Super Member
You're right Thor, cinder blocks are always an alternitive, the old stand by from the old days...
That's the first thing I thought of and putting some kind of covering on them.
But right now I can't think about stands... I'm listening to Billy Joel greatist hits on my TT(thanks Ward) and my speake are on top of my floorstanders and I'm all alone(the wife and kids went to a B'day party and I didn't go, under the guise of getting some work done around the house , cut the lawn, paint etc), and Billy Joel sounds graet out of the EPI's on top fo the NHT(as stands) and it kinda looks like a stack....
Let you know what happens, gotta change the side...
That's the first thing I thought of and putting some kind of covering on them.
But right now I can't think about stands... I'm listening to Billy Joel greatist hits on my TT(thanks Ward) and my speake are on top of my floorstanders and I'm all alone(the wife and kids went to a B'day party and I didn't go, under the guise of getting some work done around the house , cut the lawn, paint etc), and Billy Joel sounds graet out of the EPI's on top fo the NHT(as stands) and it kinda looks like a stack....
Let you know what happens, gotta change the side...
thoots
obi-wan
JZ,
For the record, what we're saying goes like this:
1. Yes, it is a good thing to get your speakers up off the floor and put them on stands. Most "bookshelf" speakers aren't designed to get the kind of bass room-reinforcement that being on the ground gives them.
2. On the other hand, most "bookshelf" speakers will benefit from some bass room-reinforcement, thus the advice not to get stands that are too high. Truly, it's best to experiment with various sturdy household items that'll hold the weight of your speakers -- plastic "milk crates" come to mind -- and then go get "prettier" speaker stands of the appropriate height if you need to.
Again, 16 inches and higher is getting into the range where you're not getting much bass reinforcement help from the floor. On the other hand, if the speakers are close to any of your room's walls, that might be exactly what you need, because the walls will provide bass reinforcement, too.
Anyway, hope this helps, and good luck!
For the record, what we're saying goes like this:
1. Yes, it is a good thing to get your speakers up off the floor and put them on stands. Most "bookshelf" speakers aren't designed to get the kind of bass room-reinforcement that being on the ground gives them.
2. On the other hand, most "bookshelf" speakers will benefit from some bass room-reinforcement, thus the advice not to get stands that are too high. Truly, it's best to experiment with various sturdy household items that'll hold the weight of your speakers -- plastic "milk crates" come to mind -- and then go get "prettier" speaker stands of the appropriate height if you need to.
Again, 16 inches and higher is getting into the range where you're not getting much bass reinforcement help from the floor. On the other hand, if the speakers are close to any of your room's walls, that might be exactly what you need, because the walls will provide bass reinforcement, too.
Anyway, hope this helps, and good luck!