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desktop speaker stands: benefits?

post #1 of 20
3/17/09 at 2:26am
Thread Starter 
I was reading this PC magazine review of the Audioengine A2's.. (while i wait patiently for them in the mail ) and they mentioned something about the speakers "not being upward angled, so they need to be tilted upward to be truly appreciated".
Is this true? I'm going to put them on my computer desk, one of each side of my monitor. Is an upwards angle or elevation necessary to truly appreciate the sound?
Are stands like these actually useful/will improve the sound?

Stand example:
Adam Professional Audio | Desktop/Table Stands | A5 STANDS | B&H
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post #2 of 20
3/17/09 at 2:44am
They probably are trying to say that you don't get the sweet spot with these speakers unless they are pointed at you correctly. It's one of the reasons I have been sitting kinda low under my desk. Recently, however, I got mini tower speakers, so that helped alleviate the problem. Higher tweeters = more directly pointed at my ear level.

You would benefit, yes, but is it worth money? Eh...

Probably better to get a stack of books to set them on top of so that the drivers are ear level.
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post #3 of 20
3/17/09 at 3:09am
Try them out first without stands, see how they sound. Then use books or something else to elevate them a bit.

Having them point more toward your ear level may improve the sound. Getting the speakers off the desk will also decouple them from the desk surface, which is likely to resonate quite a bit and muddy up the sound. If they do sound better to you tilted or raised, then you can buy appropriate stands.
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post #4 of 20
3/17/09 at 3:11am
I would agree with alai, just improv something that makes them "taller" (just get the tweeters at "nose/ear level"), they don't have to be tilted, so much as they need to be at the right "height" overall

books work marvelously

so does adjusting your chair up or down (but please don't slouch, its bad for your neck and lower back)
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post #5 of 20
3/17/09 at 3:43am
Thread Starter 
hm.. interesting points guys, thanks

Yeah, i'll probably just try it with or without books or something and compare it.
Would they really resonate off the desk?
My desk is made of some faux-wood material.
haha.. im feeling a lot of paranoia over my (soon to be) new speakers.
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post #6 of 20
3/17/09 at 3:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by c-gaijin View Post
hm.. interesting points guys, thanks

Yeah, i'll probably just try it with or without books or something and compare it.
Would they really resonate off the desk?
My desk is made of some faux-wood material.
haha.. im feeling a lot of paranoia over my (soon to be) new speakers.
arguably they will resonate, the better questions are: will it matter to you, should you care, and is it a big problem?
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post #7 of 20
3/17/09 at 3:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by c-gaijin View Post
hm.. interesting points guys, thanks

Yeah, i'll probably just try it with or without books or something and compare it.
Would they really resonate off the desk?
My desk is made of some faux-wood material.
haha.. im feeling a lot of paranoia over my (soon to be) new speakers.
Don't be paranoid.

The desk material can resonate, yes. Also, with those speakers (which are quite small, though I've read they are pretty awesome) sitting on the desk you'll get some early reflections off the desk top occurring, which may, or may not impact the way they sound to you.

The guy who runs Silent Computing web site reviewed a pair, loved them, but found they sounded way better to him with some tiny, wedge shaped stands beneath them, to get them pointed more towards his ears and to decouple them from the desk.

Mileages always vary, experimentation is warranted.
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post #8 of 20
3/17/09 at 9:10pm
just use some books to prop them 'higher'

and for the small problem of resonating, think of it this way--they give you a tad more bass! lol
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post #9 of 20
3/17/09 at 9:34pm
It's also important to get them away from the top of the desk because the desk surface reflects sound and will affect the imaging somewhat. I've always found that speakers sound better when I raise them about 4-5 inches off my desk.

And yes, you basically want the tweeters at ear height if possible. Books are the easiest way to do so but if you want a finished look, those Adam stands would work (they are made for the Adam A5 speakers, not the Audioengine A5)
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post #10 of 20
3/18/09 at 12:28am
I am currently building a shelf system for my computer desk/listening station and doing my best to follow some of the principles and recommendations for home studio nearfield monitor placement. At least, I am focused on the recommended height, distances, and toe-in angles-- equilateral triangle at ear level. Here is a link to some rather detailed information on the topic. I am using pretty large bookshelf speakers from my home theater set-up.

It really makes a noticeable difference when they are placed properly, but I wonder if anyone has a better route for me to take?
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post #11 of 20
3/18/09 at 5:35am
I use 4 hockey pucks and two cans of baked beans.
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post #12 of 20
3/18/09 at 5:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IceClass View Post
I use 4 hockey pucks and two cans of baked beans.
with the beans still in the can? do you find vegetarian vs meat makes a difference in sound?
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post #13 of 20
3/18/09 at 6:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IceClass View Post
I use 4 hockey pucks and two cans of baked beans.
I highly recommend modding that with franks-n-beans. It really tightens up the bass and pulls out the mids. Very organic sounding. Hormel Audio can do the mods for you for about $1300.

Also, I would only use cryogenically treated hockey pucks.

YMMV
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post #14 of 20
3/18/09 at 9:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gu Sensei View Post
. Here is a link to some rather detailed information on the topic.
lots of nice info in that link

I have the A2's as well for my laptop setup, and I just propped them up on some dishware. Even the few inches seems to improve the sound for me.


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post #15 of 20
3/18/09 at 10:05am
The tweeters don't necessarily have to be at ear level as long as you angle them to point at your ears. Another cheaper alternative to the Adam stands are Auralex Mopads. They are basically just foam wedges but they're supposed to be good at decoupling the speakers from the desk.
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