How important to put bookshelves on speaker stands?

[dack]

Hi

i currently have a 6.5" bookshelves placed 30' apart on my sturdy table. allswell except the bass sounds tiny and crassy. Will placing them on speaker stands help to bring out the bass?

Or the lack of bass is because my amp is underpowered?

 

[Nuglets]

Hi

i currently have a 6.5" bookshelves placed 30' apart on my sturdy table. allswell except the bass sounds tiny and crassy. Will placing them on speaker stands help to bring out the bass?

Or the lack of bass is because my amp is underpowered?

The power of the amp shouldn't affect the sound of the bass unless it's clipping. What kind of speakers are they? What kind of table? If the table is hollow and metal, that would explain the tinny sound you are describing. Unless you actually meant 'tiny'? I'm not sure what crassy means either...I don't think the stands will change the frequency response much but they will probably allow for more flexibility in placement, which is likely your issue.

 

[markw]

Hard one to answer.

A lot of the way a speaker sounds depends on it's relative locations to "room boundaries". A room boundary is a wall, floor or ceiling.

Bass is increased by placing a speaker near a room boundary.

A speaker on a stand near the middle of the room walls is not near any room boundary, so it's bass response would be weak.

If you put it near the rear wall (one boundary) , bass will be improved somewhat.

If you place it in a corner, near two walls (two boundaries), it will be improved somewhat.

If you place it on the floor in the corner (three boundaries) , it's bass will be maximized.

So much for bass. Let's look at the other end of the spectrum.

Mid-range and treble dispersion from a speaker is maximized when it's on a stand in the middle of the room.

As you add room boundaries, dispersion is reflected back and ultimately harms that end of the spectrum.

So, in your case, I would think that the bass is augmented somewhat by having it on a table but hindered somewhat by not being near any other boundaries, while at the same time, that table that helps your bass is hindering the rest of the range.

IOW, putting them on stands will help the mids and highs but will hurt your curent bass situation.

And, as far as "thin" goes, a lot has to do with your expectations. It is, after all, only a 6.5" driver. More power may help somewhat but don't expect miracles.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Hi

i currently have a 6.5" bookshelves placed 30' apart on my sturdy table. allswell except the bass sounds tiny and crassy. Will placing them on speaker stands help to bring out the bass?

Or the lack of bass is because my amp is underpowered?

Hi dack,

Make cheap stands out of scrap lumber and see what happens.

What speakers are they, what amp are you using and can you post a picture of the speaker/table placement?

SBF1

 

[dack]

Yo,

i am using a pair of infinity 160 on my rosewood desk, driven by panasonic xr25 digital amp.

the bass instead of bringing out LF with body, it felt more like LF with treble...if that make sense...

if the stands only helps in positioning than i can do without them. will consider getting a sub to compensate the bass. is that a smart thing to do?

i must add i have not a problem with the rest of the sound. i am loving it but i do want some bass to make certain music pieces fuller

 

[markw]

Yes

...will consider getting a sub to compensate the bass. is that a smart thing to do?

That's the best solution to your problem.

 

[dack]

Thanks man.

Thought couldve went the easy way out with a pair of stands.
heard some speakers on stands and the musical bass got me.

a sub will do, and helps with HT once i move my equipment over.

 

[Nuglets]

Thanks man.

Thought couldve went the easy way out with a pair of stands.
heard some speakers on stands and the musical bass got me.

a sub will do, and helps with HT once i move my equipment over.

I would get some stands first if your budget is limited. Like Mark said, you can increase the bass somewhat by putting your speakers near walls. If your budget isn't limited, get the stands and a sub.

 

[gmichael]

The 160's, although a nice speaker, will not go down low enough for me to live without a sub.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Yo,

i am using a pair of infinity 160 on my rosewood desk, driven by panasonic xr25 digital amp.

the bass instead of bringing out LF with body, it felt more like LF with treble...if that make sense...

if the stands only helps in positioning than i can do without them. will consider getting a sub to compensate the bass. is that a smart thing to do?

i must add i have not a problem with the rest of the sound. i am loving it but i do want some bass to make certain music pieces fuller

A sub will do wonders no doubt depending on what kind of music and how much bass you like. (Me, I like my bass!)

Try something just for the fun of it...drape a blanket across the desk in front of the speakers to see how much the reflection off the desk affects the sound.

SBF1