Speaker Stands?

[seaside1]

I'm getting ready to get things together for my rear surround speaker set up. I'll be using Polk Audio TSI-200 Bookshelf speakers. What should I be looking for in a speaker stand? My understanding is that the stand needs to accomodate the weight and dimensions of the the speaker, as well as, be able to be at the right height, or adjustable for proper listening height?
The TSI-200's are 11.8 x 7 x 15.4 inches and 17 pounds
Thanks
SS1

 

[markw]

The proper height for surround speakers is above ear level from your seating position. I'd suggest wall mounting them.

 

[seaside1]

Thanks, but that won't be possible since the area where they area going has 7' windows.
SS1

 

[j_garcia]

Stands are ideal if you have the room to set them up that way. Surrounds actually very well also being at ear level (or the same level as your mains). I've had my setup this way for over 7 years. You want to point them toward the center of the room and not at your listening position, then calibrate correctly (auto calibrate if your receiver has this) and it works extremely well. Wall mounting is acceptable if that is the only option you have, but wall mounting is not beneficial to your sound because having speakers very close to walls is never a good thing.

 

[AVRat]

http://www.racksandstands.com/Plateau-RT-30-PT0006.html

 

[seaside1]

Right now I think I've got it narrowed down to the Sanus NF36 Foundations Natural Series 36" tall for small bookshelf speakers. I have the cherry Polk Audio TSI-200's and I think it would make a good match with the cherry stands. But those Plateau's are nice too.
SS1

 

[j_garcia]

Compare prices at www.audioadvisor.com too. Occasionally, they will have better prices on some things compared to racks and stands, and vice versa, so I always check both and I have bought from both. Parts Express carries Sanus stands as well.

 

[lsiberian]

Stands are ideal if you have the room to set them up that way. Surrounds actually very well also being at ear level (or the same level as your mains). I've had my setup this way for over 7 years. You want to point them toward the center of the room and not at your listening position, then calibrate correctly (auto calibrate if your receiver has this) and it works extremely well. Wall mounting is acceptable if that is the only option you have, but wall mounting is not beneficial to your sound because having speakers very close to walls is never a good thing.

LOL I've had them pointing to my ears for years. I think as long as you get them in the general area you should be fine they are meant to make ambient noise after all. But I want that on-axis tweeter response personally.

 

[bikdav]

LOL I've had them pointing to my ears for years. I think as long as you get them in the general area you should be fine they are meant to make ambient noise after all. But I want that on-axis tweeter response personally.

Agreed. I've tried all kinds of surround speaker placement and found that your ears should be the final authority. Forget the ..... um ..... "rule book". Experiment with placement and see what works best for you.

 

[j_garcia]

Agreed. I've tried all kinds of surround speaker placement and found that your ears should be the final authority. Forget the ..... um ..... "rule book". Experiment with placement and see what works best for you.

Nobody said anything about following any rules

Recommendations are a dime a dozen, and yes it does come down to what works for you. However, if one doesn't know how to start, there need to be some general guidelines for people to start with, and that's what the typical "rule book" recommendations are for. Just like the fact that very few people actually know what a properly setup and calibrated system sounds like. Personal tweaks to preference are fine after one knows what calibrated sounds like in their room, because what sounds right will be different in every room.

 

[mjcmt]

If your surrounds are going to be a distance away from the seating area so that the sound will develop, I agree that around ear height is best. I've always like welded steel stands that can be sand filled to tighten up the bass and add midrange clarity vs. bolted light metal stands that can ring.