Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Speaker Stands

I just noticed that, what seems like overnight, I went from "newbie," to ''regular," to now..."frequent flier!" Don't mean to be hoggin' the airwaves here, so before I wear out my welcome:

Here's something that may interest some out there. Stand mount speakers need stands and some, most, all of the commercially available stands are pretty expensive, some, obscenely so. Here's the somewhat different approach I took and have been using for some years now. They work great and cost me all of about $10 each, if that. Sorry, it'll take some text here; if I knew how to post photos, that might help.

These were built initially for Energy C-3's and are now used for the bigger, heavier Axiom M5HP's. At Lowe's or Home Depot, they have 6'' PVC tubes / piping, 22" or 24" long, or if you can get heavy duty mailing tubes, nominal 6" diameter and cut to length. Get or make two.

Then, again at Lowe's or any garden supply place, get two roughly 10'' or 11" diameter (I forget exactly) clay / terracotta saucers; I guess they're used under plants? You'll need some kind of adhesive, even hot glue should work, but I used some kind of epoxy. (These saucers will be inverted, used as the base.)

Measure the center of the base (inverted saucer) and mark out where the tube / column will be attached. Apply glue or whatever you're using to one end of the tube and mount to the (inverted) saucer. Wait however long it needs to cure.

For the speaker, the important thing is to find the balance point, front to back. (Side to side you can just measure) I used a small square wooden dowel type thing, or something like a pencil but longer, placed left to right, on your table, across and underneath the speaker. (I got it straight across but I guess you wouldn't really need to.) Find the exact point where the speaker balances on your table and pencil mark the location on the speaker. Turn the speaker over and draw a line across that balance point.

Next, make what will be the 'insert.' I used Masonite or pegboard material, roughly 1/8'' thick. Cut a circle out of this whatever stuff you use, making it about 1/8'' or 1/4'' smaller than the INSIDE diameter of the column / tube. I suggest putting some low-tack duct tape or blue painter's tape on the speaker's bottom surface, where you'll be gluing the round 'insert.' Line draw through the exact diameter of the Masonite insert circle and glue the thing to the bottom of the speaker, on the tape at the balance point you marked. Make sure it stays put / doesn't slide out of position while drying. (The tape makes the whole thing easily reversible.)

After the inserts (for locating in the tubes when assembled) are dry, you can test fit, if you like. You can paint the new assemblies whatever color you like. I took a huge step outside the box, far out on the wild side, and painted mine black. Flat black for the columns and gloss black for the base. (Masking as necessary to spray unless you're painting the column and base the same.)

Finally, after they're dry. you can fill them with whatever. (Don't recommend sand or water!) I used stone pellets, again from Depot or Lowe's. (Not too small, not big rocks.) A bag or two is really cheap, they're heavy and clean to work with and really stabilize and deaden the whole thing pretty well.

They work, look good (I think) and are quick and easy to make and cost next to nothing. (And easily repaired if you manage to injure them somehow.) Can't imagine spending hundreds on 'official' speaker stands! (Prices for these materials may have gone up some lately but still won't be much...so what else is new?!)

All good, we are an open accepting group...for the most part! LOL

Thanks much, BBIBH. Much appreciated. I've been following the site for some time and have felt the same way.

Your DIY speaker stands are a brilliant, low-cost solution—using 6" PVC or mailing tubes, terracotta saucers, and some adhesive to create sturdy, balanced stands for your speakers. Painting them and filling with stone pellets for stability is smart, giving them a solid, custom look and reducing vibrations. Great job finding an affordable alternative to pricey store-bought stands!