Everything You Need to Know About Speaker Stands
With all the new audio technologies, Dolby digital, surround sound and many others, it is paramount that you set up your sound system correctly in order to get the most out of your audio systems and home theater. People use speaker stands for a number of reasons. Firstly, they lift the speakers away from the floor. And secondly, the stand itself reduces vibrations. This means you get the full sound options from your speakers.
If you look back at old fashioned speakers, you’ll think they were very simplistic. Tweeters, and woofers were in one box, and sound quality was often really poor. Now you have surround sound, with multiple channels and speakers that are capable of producing the kinds of sounds that will make you think you are right in the action. Surround sound makes it so you not only hear speaking clearly, but things like cars racing around a track can actually go from one side of your room to the other. Things like distant and soft sounds such as whispering and rainfall can be heard quite clearly. This makes home theater systems seem like you are watching the real thing and can make you jump out of your seats when explosions happen.
It is important that you place your speaker stands high enough that you can hear the sound when you are sitting down. If you want your stand at a specific height, make sure you choose one with an adjustable height, or think about wall our ceiling mounted alternatives. You’ll find that just as important as the components of a home stereo system is the positioning of the speakers. The first thing you should do when placing your speakers and stands is to read the instructions that comes with them. The makers of your speaker stands and audio racks know what they are doing, and have done extensive testing to make sure they produce an optimal sound quality.
When positioning your speaker stands in a good sized room, place them at least eight feet apart, but you can shorten this distance if your room is smaller. They should never be touching the walls, because this could affect the quality of the sound, as they will vibrate against the surface. You should place your speakers facing where you are going to be watching television, or listening to your stereo. By directing the sound at your ears, the sound will always be travelling in the right direction. Make sure there is nothing blocking the front of them, since this will muffle sounds and make it harder to get the full effects.
When looking for speaker stands, make sure that they have a solid base, and that the speaker platform is the same size as the bottom of the speaker itself. Putting some rubber under the speakers will reduce vibrations. Once you’ve set up the speakers on the stands, sit in your usual tv watching or listening position. Next, turn on the unit to make sure that all the speakers are correctly pointing towards you. Then you’re good to go!