Hollow or solid center speaker stand supports

[mpompey]

I'm considering going the DIY route with a center speaker stand. As I've looked online I've seen alot of designs using hollow PVC pipe or steel pipe, that is then filled with sand or lead shot, to eliminate any resonance from the speaker.

My question is: Can I use a solid support like a 3x3 or 4x4 pieces of wood instead? That way I don't have to go through the hassle of sealing the end and funneling sand or lead shot into the support. Is there any benefit of doing it the hollow-then-filled route versus solid route?

The reason I'm asking is that I'm going to be upgrading my center speaker to the Axiom VP180, which is considerably larger and heavier than my current center the VP150. Axiom sells a center speaker stand for the VP 180 (actually two smaller stands) for $270+. There is no way I'm going to pay 270 for two small stands when I can build one on my own.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I'm considering going the DIY route with a center speaker stand. As I've looked online I've seen alot of designs using hollow PVC pipe or steel pipe, that is then filled with sand or lead shot, to eliminate any resonance from the speaker.

My question is: Can I use a solid support like a 3x3 or 4x4 pieces of wood instead? That way I don't have to go through the hassle of sealing the end and funneling sand or lead shot into the support. Is there any benefit of doing it the hollow-then-filled route versus solid route?

The reason I'm asking is that I'm going to be upgrading my center speaker to the Axiom VP180, which is considerably larger and heavier than my current center the VP150. Axiom sells a center speaker stand for the VP 180 (actually two smaller stands) for $270+. There is no way I'm going to pay 270 for two small stands when I can build one on my own.

I'm with you on paying such prices for speaker stands!

I think hollow stands filled with lead or sand are just overkill. A pair of 4" x 4"s supporting a shelf and mounted on a stable base would work perfectly well, as far as I'm concerned.

In fact, my centre speaker is sitting on a stand made of 3/4" MDF! I also use these to support the speaker as well, since I already had them:

http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolation_mopad/MP.jpg

I can't hear any resonance through my stand at all. The mopads cost me about $25 and I used about $10 worth of MDF, some screws, glue and some flat black paint. So, perhaps $45 in materials. I didn't need mine to look pretty, as it sits behind an acoustically transparent projector screen. It wouldn't cost much more to make something that looks nice. $270 is out to lunch!

 

[jliedeka]

I agree that filled stands are probably overkill. I have speaker stands on my to-do list (after building speakers and possibly one or two equipment racks). I'll probably make the support column in a T shape out of MDF, plywood or hardwood depending on what I happen to have around and how fancy I decide to be at the time.

I do favor decoupling the speaker from the stand with rubber feet or blu-tack type stuff.

Jim

 

[voodoolitecrue]

I just built a pair of "Stubby" type stands out of pvc , and was very cheap.They turned out looking really good and work great and was very easy to build. I wanted to try to make them out of 2" pvc because I wanted a sleeker look than the 3" that most use and the 2" supports the speakers fine.Getting the sand in and sealed off was no biggie either.The way I built mine was I used an 1-1/2" wood bit and drilled the 3/4" birch plywood I had left over 1/2" in depth in the center of each end and that gave enough room to put an 1-1/2" flat washer with a nut on each end that seals and tightens the stands together.Let me say the sand makes a big difference , I didn't have the sand and tried them out without it and the speakers sounded a little off so I ran Audyssey and it tried to set them at a 150hz (normally sets them @ 80).I'll post a few pics.

 

[voodoolitecrue]

BTW , I forgot to post this above.After filling the stands with sand I ran Audyssey again and it set the speakers correctly and at 80hz and they sound very good (imho)

 

[mpompey]

I should be finished with my speaker stand tomorrow, I'll post a link of the picasa photo journal of the project. I went with 3 4x4 as supports for my VP180.