short DIY stands for towers?

[jostenmeat]

I know this can go in the DIY forum, or perhaps the acoustics subforum, but oh well. I'd like to build some cheap stands about a foot tall for three towers. Aesthetics are completely unimportant, as they will not be visible.

I was thinking perhaps getting a sheet of MDF, and making three boxes, but three sides left open (bottom, front and back for instance). Does anyone see issues with this, or have a better solution, or even cheaper solution?

Then for decoupling from the stands, anyone have a certain cheap material to recommend? Thanks!

 

[GO-NAD!]

I know this can go in the DIY forum, or perhaps the acoustics subforum, but oh well. I'd like to build some cheap stands about a foot tall for three towers. Aesthetics are completely unimportant, as they will not be visible.

I was thinking perhaps getting a sheet of MDF, and making three boxes, but three sides left open (bottom, front and back for instance). Does anyone see issues with this, or have a better solution, or even cheaper solution?

Then for decoupling from the stands, anyone have a certain cheap material to recommend? Thanks!

3/4" MDF would work - you can probably get away with 1/2". I would think that with towers sitting on them, having only 3 sides would not be rigid enough. If you want to leave 3 sides open, you will need to brace 2 of the open sides, say front and back. If you are trying to economize on material, make some corner braces for the open sides. If the amount of material used isn't important, it would be simpler to just make it 5-sided, leaving the bottom open.

As for de-coupling material, you can use flooring foam underlay. It's spongy enough to de-couple, but rigid enough that your speakers won't topple over.

 

[miniSQ]

so you would screw 2 sides to a top plate? seems very unstable to me.

You can decouple them with that blu-tack that is used for posters...

but i would come up with a better design...maybe a top and bottom the same size as the towers...and then build a 4 sided square to use as a spacer between the top and bottom plate. use a router to crate a dado in the top and bottom plate to hold the middle. paint it all black and maybe throw some lead shot in for some weight.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks guys. The whole reason I don't want an enclosed box is due to my fear of significant resonances. Maybe I am being paranoid for no good reason. *goes to look up weight specs* . . . 42 lbs each.

Ok, maybe I'll just leave two sides open. And have an MDF bottom plate as well. One brace in the middle perhaps, leaving it "open" . . . ?

*goes off to google flooring foam underlay* . . . edit: oh duh, that stuff . . . hm I'm suspecting I could find better decoupling material? I guess it depends on thickness and mass . . .

 

[alphaiii]

If you make an enclosed MDF box, sand fill it to dampen the resonances.

 

[jostenmeat]

If you make an enclosed MDF box, sand fill it to dampen the resonances.

Thanks, but I don't want to. I want easy! Less work! Cheaper! But still good enough!

 

[miniSQ]

screw a top and bottom plate to a 10" long piece of 8x8.

 

[sholling]

Something like these from Home Depot? $11 in cherry or $9 in white.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I know this can go in the DIY forum, or perhaps the acoustics subforum, but oh well. I'd like to build some cheap stands about a foot tall for three towers. Aesthetics are completely unimportant, as they will not be visible.

I was thinking perhaps getting a sheet of MDF, and making three boxes, but three sides left open (bottom, front and back for instance). Does anyone see issues with this, or have a better solution, or even cheaper solution?

Then for decoupling from the stands, anyone have a certain cheap material to recommend? Thanks!

 

[dkane360]

Don't dis the cinder blocks, they're currently acting as risers for my second row of seating

College living FTW!

 

[jostenmeat]

Ah, of course, cinder blocks! I'll use those 1ft square blocks. While the depth of my speakers surpass 1 ft, the feet separation do not. Thanks Doug! Now, that was easy.

 

[sholling]

No 20-something's living room is complete without cinder blocks.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Haha, if looks aren't important that is the way to go.

You can put some black fabric over them if looks ever to become of some importance. Just some matte black fabric from a fabric store...tuck it under and you wouldn't even need to sow it.

 

[jostenmeat]

Haha, if looks aren't important that is the way to go.

You can put some black fabric over them if looks ever to become of some importance. Just some matte black fabric from a fabric store...tuck it under and you wouldn't even need to sow it.

Everything will be hidden behind a false wall and AT screen. I've got a full roll of black speaker cloth, and Seymour DIY fabric & Fidelo velvet are now en route. I recently painted a good portion of my ceiling black with Behr Mouse Ears paint, and some very cheap black fabric for some touchup, and improved daytime light control . . . . As of now, pictures come out totally black even with window open and track lighting at max! (I'm a camera retard though, should figure out exposure time . . .)

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Ah, of course, cinder blocks! I'll use those 1ft square blocks. While the depth of my speakers surpass 1 ft, the feet separation do not. Thanks Doug! Now, that was easy.

Their weight would make them nice and stable also.

 

[Alex2507]

Their weight would make them nice and stable also.

... your fusion of cheap and lazy is seriously out of hand.
Nice going ...

 

[TLS Guy]

Something like these from Home Depot? $11 in cherry or $9 in white.

They will fall to bits in a real hurry!

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Everything will be hidden behind a false wall and AT screen. I've got a full roll of black speaker cloth, and Seymour DIY fabric & Fidelo velvet are now en route. I recently painted a good portion of my ceiling black with Behr Mouse Ears paint, and some very cheap black fabric for some touchup, and improved daytime light control . . . . As of now, pictures come out totally black even with window open and track lighting at max! (I'm a camera retard though, should figure out exposure time . . .)

Got a tripod? Without knowing what camera you are using, set the camera to "Bulb" (at least thats what it is called on a 5D) for long exposures...press and hold for longer exposures. Just be gentle not to shake it.

 

[KEW]

I'm late chiming in, and it sounds like you have you solution, but if you did want to use MDF, just use three pieces to form an "H" as viewed from above (glue & screw). Next staple some of this stuff on top as assurance that the speakers won't "walk" off the support. (you may want to use it as grip/padding for the cinder blocks)

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xg1/R-100648262/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[darien87]

No 20-something's living room is complete without cinder blocks.

Cinder blocks?!?!? Sure if you were in your 20's way back in the 50's or 60's. Everyone knows that the modern college student uses milk crates.