Hi! Anybody know a company that makes cheap and rigid speaker stands to custom sizes? thanks
Contact Noteworthy Audio in Aylesbury, Tony or Peter will advise on whether they have any special offers on the Something Solid stands, they often do. 01296 422224
Another vote for Something Solid - I had a pair of their top-line XF stands custom built for my Harbeths and they are superb. The cost was 175 quid inc delivery via Signals. I'd say that was damn good value once you see how much welding goes into the things. They sound very much better than the high mass Target stands I had previously (in fact still have if anyone wants to buy them!). Tony.
hi Lee! its not the height so much, its the size - the speakers are about 3 feet wide by a foot deep.. (I can measure if you have a massive pair of stands?) Cheers Chris
Chris, The Valencias are 26" wide by 18" deep IIRC. I would personally expect them to perform best on something mass loaded - they don't need opening up which is what the SS stands seem to do. The Atacama SL series would be a cheap alternative. Wrong width but sturdy and you could place a paving slab on top. Aestetics might not really be to your tastes though ( although the Valencias are not exactly the Kylie Minogue of loudspeakers I'm sure you would agree!)
Sounds like you would need more than mine (12x12x15inches) You could try planters (large plant pots) 2 low level coffee tables from IKEA maybe. Good luck
I just wanted to post up that Id found my solution. I want to put the details on the forum because its quite possible that somebody else might want a similar job doing one day. I wanted to get a custom made pair of speaker stands. My philosophy on stands (before we get a war), is just that it must be 1. rigid as hell 2. very solid 3. not 'ring' 4. have spikes on the bottom so that I can get rid of any rocking 5. be exactly the right shape and size to put the cones just where I want them 6. look great. I got some prices from something solid and others, but they were coming in around the 400 mark. I should add that these speakers are LARGE, about the size of a "40 CRT telly. Something solid were the best priced of the professional makes, with HNE coming in with a very respectable price when we consider I'd be swapping metal for granite, which is so much dearer. My search ended when I found a local cabinet maker. I think I got really lucky in my selection. The guy in question used to make speakers (back in the day when people bought drive units and then had cabinets made), he is skilled enough to make acoustic guitars (and thats frikin hard), restore and make beautiful furniture etc, so I knew the quality should be good. He also has a valve amp (whats the likelihood of that?!?!) so was right with me when I said what I wanted. He'd even heard of Altec Lansing. Right now I have a pair of stands that look so nice you could use them as coffee tables (if I ever sell the speakers, I will!). They are spiked on the bottom. The legs are solid ash, about 3 inches square. The top is has been veneered, although its MDF underneath - for price and stability). The whole thing was stained to the colour I wanted, and finished with a really thin laquer that looks like a rubbed/oiled finish. Again, just what I wanted. I'll try and get some photos up if I borrow a digital camera one day. The price was definately the right side of £200 (for 2 obviously), which I think is a hell of a bargain. Anyway, I wanted to describe the quality of the work and put the guys details up, because if you live not a million miles away and want furniture made, or speaker stands, or a hi-fi rack (and you want it made out of wood of some type) this guy is worth speaking to. Malcolm Williamson Fine Woodworking 24, Connaught St, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 3BP Tel: 01604 635356
