Speaker Stand Isolation

[bvwj]

You've convinced me to keep the satellites off the walls, so I'm planning to build speaker stands. But that raises additional questions.

Does the benifit of stands over wall mounting come from isolated mounting or simply from locating them further from the walls and closer to ear level?

Do I want the speakers to rest on top of "shelf" stands, or can I fasten them to the stands via the mounting holes?

Will their sound benefit from isolating the speakers from the stands or the stands from the floor?

Seems to me the size of the speakers and the frequency range of the satellites would make isolation issues unimportant, but I'd appreciate other views.

Thanks

[Sasha_G]

You've convinced me to keep the satellites off the walls, so I'm planning to build speaker stands. But that raises additional questions.

Does the benifit of stands over wall mounting come from isolated mounting or simply from locating them further from the walls and closer to ear level?

Do I want the speakers to rest on top of "shelf" stands, or can I fasten them to the stands via the mounting holes?

Will their sound benefit from isolating the speakers from the stands or the stands from the floor?

Seems to me the size of the speakers and the frequency range of the satellites would make isolation issues unimportant, but I'd appreciate other views.

Thanks
The benefit of stands boils down to avoiding unwanted sound reflections. Speakers always produce sound in all directions, not just straight ahead. The sound coming from anything outside of a 30 degree arc is not of the same high quality as that coming straight ahead.

When you move the speakers away from the wall, you reduce the reflection of lower quality speaker output. Another technique is to use Sonex or acoustical foam to the sides and back of a speaker, which lets you move the speakers closer to the wall.

It doesn't matter if speakers rest on a sturdy shelf or the mounting holes are used, as long as they are away from reflecting surfaces. "Isolating" the speakers via spikes is not important. A lot more benefit would come avoiding unwanted reflections. If you really are serious about sound, a carpeted room is better.

I'm sure some acoustics experts have more sophisticated opinions about this, but I'm trying to address the most important issues.

[bvwj]

Thanks for your detailed response. I'm sure you are making better customers through your educational efforts.

Now I am considering designing stands with non-reflective backs :-)

[Sasha_G]

Your welcome. Here are some products which might help. Auralex has some very attractive acoustical foam to block the direct reflection of satellite speakers, improving treble well beyond what typical electronics, EQ, and cables can.

http://www.auralex.com/sound_control_mw420/sound_control_mw420.asp
http://www.auralex.com/acoustic_adhesive_temptab/acoustic_adhesive_temptab.asp

[Faust]

I came across a good tip on reducing subwoofer vibration, when the vibration is being conducted through the floor.

Rather than spending $50 on the quite good Aurlalex Gramma or Subdude isolation pads, a techie with an optical bench vibration reduction application suggests the use of an ordinary bicycle tire to isolate the vibrations.

http://www.designerinlight.com/holo/bench.htm

and here is a speaker application

http://www.soundstage.com/weaver03.htm

It would be relatively inexpensive to try a small bicyle tube (inflated) and a piece of plywood under the subwoofer. The only little problem that I forsee is that bicycle tubes have a tendency to lose some air over time.