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Should we put weights on speakers

Serious question here. Would those of you who firmly believe in benefits of mass loading go through the trouble of concocting a solution that would allow you to stack weight on top of a speaker that has tweeters mounted on top of the cabinet? I have Techincs SB6000A's which also have the tweeter pot and the speaker terminals all mounted on the top so there's a lot to work around. I've pretty much ruled mass loading out for these. But what about some of the Polks, Ohms, etc. with just the top mounted driver to work around?
 
To each his own but I'll skip piling an unsightly stack of concrete blocks on my speakers. Why not use extra bracing, black hole, or dynamat on the interior if there's ringing or resonance? You could also secure the speakers to the wall or use spikes if that's not enough. If that's still not enough more than likely it's time for a better pair of speakers.
 
Most DIY bracing I see is a amateur HACK job.

There is NO SUBSTITUTE for what mass loading does, and how much better it sounds. It is applicable to ALL speakers.

People just don't understand.

I have done this to three of the better speakers ever made in the history of audio, when properly set up. Owned all three, and many many more. A partial list, 604Bs as a kid, Tannoy Gold GRFs, KLH 9s, single and double pairs, Infinity Servo Staic 1s and 1As, Quad ESL 57s, Fulton FMI 80,s , Fulton Premieres, Altec VOTT A7-800s modified.

Jeff Medwin
 
holyman772 said:
Serious question here. Would those of you who firmly believe in benefits of mass loading go through the trouble of concocting a solution that would allow you to stack weight on top of a speaker that has tweeters mounted on top of the cabinet? I have Techincs SB6000A's which also have the tweeter pot and the speaker terminals all mounted on the top so there's a lot to work around. I've pretty much ruled mass loading out for these. But what about some of the Polks, Ohms, etc. with just the top mounted driver to work around?
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Hi, here is a deluxe speaker with a 5 way tweeter system, with TWO tweeter drivers top firing, and you can see my quick solution to mass-loading it. I did it on the Woofer module. This speaker is plus or minus 1 dB, 12 HZ to 110 KHZ., measured.

I listened to classical piano, Sir Alfred Brendel, doing a Beethoven sonata. I found 112 pounds on each side, really improved its involvement -with-the-music to me, a night or two ago. The pictured speaker is just in my office, I use VOTTS at home, with 290 pounds ( poorer cabinet on ALTECS ), but BETTER DRIVERS!!

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hug/messages/17/177452.html


Jeff Medwin
 
still unanswered: should I place the speaker at the center of the top plate (i.e. the center of the speaker's bottom face directly on top of the center point of the top plate of the stand), or leaning it a bit backward of the top plate (I presumed the bass driver makes the front of the speaker heavier than its back)?
 
dowto1000 said:
SWL 3600,

Is it 30 pounds total weight?? How much total on top of each speaker?? If only 30, get some 11 7/8ts by 11 7/8ths by 1.7 inch concrete patio blocks, 16 pounds each, and INCREMENTALLY hear what ( one to four added ), more weight will do. I listen to / for midrange, piano and inner detailing improvements. Your ears will tell you when to stop, easily !!

Also, see my Flower Pot discussion, and set that precise position up while listening to complex music, standing beside the speaker, near field. The flower pot difference will BLOW your mind on those Klipschs. Very cool improvement to be had there. Water dem plants so they live long.

Have fun, I do ! BTW, I mostly run VOTTs ...A7-800s, .with 290 pounds added a side.

Jeff Medwin
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30lbs on each speaker. I experimented with up to 90lbs incrementally and settled on 30. The 2" thick patio blocks cut to size don't look too bad since I painted them black. They don't stand out so much since the listening room is dimly lit.
 
travellersol said:
still unanswered: should I place the speaker at the center of the top plate (i.e. the center of the speaker's bottom face directly on top of the center point of the top plate of the stand), or leaning it a bit backward of the top plate (I presumed the bass driver makes the front of the speaker heavier than its back)?
Click to expand...

What speakers and what stands? Needing to tilt a speaker back is an indicator the stands may be too short. An overly large top plate in reference to the speaker is another indicator that the stands may be too short. However, I'd place the front panel of the speaker flush with the front edge of the top plate.
 
Have you guys considered tuned mass damping? It seems a little more technically progressive, no? I wonder what effect it's implementation would have on the inside of the cab.
 
SWL3600 said:
30lbs on each speaker. I experimented with up to 90lbs incrementally and settled on 30. The 2" thick patio blocks cut to size don't look too bad since I painted them black. They don't stand out so much since the listening room is dimly lit.
Click to expand...
Thanks for responding. Thats the way I would do it, go over weight till it degrades, then back off. Next, please try a large flower pot on top of each speaker, with flowers, set it in position, near-field listening by ear, on complex music. Its LOVELY, versus none at all !!

Jeff
 
JoeESP9 said:
What speakers and what stands? Needing to tilt a speaker back is an indicator the stands may be too short. An overly large top plate in reference to the speaker is another indicator that the stands may be too short. However, I'd place the front panel of the speaker flush with the front edge of the top plate.
Click to expand...
My speakers are JBL TLX14 (width = 11.5 in, depth = 9 in), the stands are 24 in high, top plate width = 8 in, depth = 7 in. the stands are pretty solid and reasonably heavy. I currently also align the front panel of the speakers with the front edge of the top plate.
 
I've got a klipsch sub that rattles sometimes unless I stand on it. I guess need to find a 200lb sand bag ?
 
Just put your speaker in one of these.

SXT_5250.jpg


Eric
 
Weights in speakers ? Might not be a good idea with speakers such as Harbeth, Audio Note, Rogers and a lot more where cabinet resonance is factored into the design.

But if it floats your boat then do it :)
 
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