I am about to start a 'fun' project over the next few month home trialing speakers! Basically, will be using the 30 day trials to convince wike that she doesn't want "cute" Bose.
To be fair, will get the previous generation Bose (passive subwoffer) at Sam's where can keep up to a year for refund, or more realistically, 90 days with no interest. Everything should blow it out of the water. Will probably end up with bookshelf size as I know towers are out. (Although I wounder if she would like the Olm Micro Walsh since doesn't 'look like' a speaker
).
To do it, I need 8 stands for front and rear - and don't want them at $100 a pair. Long term may only need 2 stands as the rears will probably be wall mounted. I know I can build some oak ones (stained to match the entertainment center) for bookshelf speakers for about $15 a pair. Also, throw away in pine painted black for about $8 a pair. Will describe them below, but my questions are on metal posts for small speakers such as the Bose.
METAL STANDS:
Will probably use a wooden base (like the wooden stands) with 1/2" metal conduit. Can connect to base with conduit compression attachemnt with a hole drilled through the base. Would drill 3/4 back rather than center of the base, to better support the weight of the speaker. Where I am having a problem is the top attachment.
Any suggestions? Also, I don't think it would be an issue, but any will the metal pipe interfere with the transmission as the speaker wire is run up through it?
WOODEN STANDS:
These are easy.
Bottom: 1x8 Oak, route edges, or 1x6 Oak and 1/4 edging trim mitreing corners. Hole drilled for speaker wire passthrough.
Riser: Attached to bottom with dowels/glue. Two 1x2 Oak boards and 1/4" rounds (also, Loewes has some 1" cove in oak that would look nicer - HD didn't). Glue the boards to each side of the moulding, forming a "V" shape with the round, or "Expanded V" with the cove. Wiring can obviously come up the back side and be well hidden.
Top: Wanted to find metal for the top platform and just about settled on 1/4" ply with the top covered with a non-skid/vibration insulating material (like shelf liner). Went into Michael's craft store and they had thinner 3mm birch ply. 12x12 @ $1.99 would do 2 tops. Also had 12x12 self sticking felt. Also, for those who don't have/want router for the bottom unit, they had unfinished plaques in various styles and sizes $0.99 - $1.49 - in pine but could be painted black.
Feet: On another thread somebody mentioned arrows which is a good idea. For wooden, Loewes and HD have wooden drawer handles, but expensive as priced each. In bulk, Lowes has shallow platforms as dowell hole covers. Also, Michael's has round balls flattened on one end and hole drilled through for dowell.
SAND FILLED???
Not a priority of mine, but a variation of the metal stand. For those who want sand filled, switch to PVC Schedule 40 rather than conduit, 1/2" internal for wiring with 2" (or larger) exterior pipe - filling the void between the two. (Could use 2" metal conduit but more expensive than PVC). Haven't thought about how the 2" would connect to top and bottom other than straight glue. Obviously, this would be primed and painted.
Any suggestions on the metal post would be appreciated! Thanks.
