To sand or not to sand?

[Guest]

Hello, I have just bought a pair of Ultimate MS-45 monitor stands for my home/project studio. According to the instructions, I should decide on whether I want to use some sand filling before I put them together. Do you think that this would add hugely to the quality of what I hear through my Neumann KH-80's, given that I am "just" a home studio person?

I have some sand-filled stands downstairs in the living room, and the sound through my Sonos 5's is excellent. These stands were constructed complete with sand already contained in them.

Thanks.

[Drew Stephenson]

It never does any harm at add mass to your speaker stands and can reduce resonance from the body of the stands. If you have sand to hand then fill 'em up.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Yes. It makes a big difference. It adds mass, which can only be a good thing, and it also damps any tendency for the metal tubes to ring and resonate. You can use lead shot, kiln-dried sand, or even (unused) kitty litter...

[Kwackman]

If adding the sand makes the stands heavy, I'd suggest having the stands in situ, or at least nearly in situ before filling with sand.
Do not, as a "friend" did, fill then stands outside then damage a stair carpet trying to drag the things to an upstairs bedroom studio....

[Hugh Robjohns]

Bloomin' 'eck! How big (and heavy) were those stands?

[John Willett]

Also - are the stands properly sealed?

It is often a good idea to use a tough poly bag inside the stand and fill that with the sand (especially if it's fine sand) to prevent it leaking out of any small gaps.

But definitely worth doing.

[Kwackman]

Bloomin' 'eck! How big (and heavy) were those stands?

65cm x 23cm x 15cm.
It might not look massive, but when full of sand they were REALLY heavy, or so my "friend" tells me.
I, I mean he, tried to lay them on their side and slide them up the stairs. Not clever!

[Martin Walker]

If you're worried about excessive weight, you don't necessarily have to fill them with sand all the way to the top.

That's ideal, but even half way up will dampen down any tendency for a metal stand to 'ring' - just tap the outside and you'll hear the difference between 'ping' (empty) and 'dull thud' (some sand in place).

Martin

[Drew Stephenson]

I used dry cement powder on mine. Lovely and dense, but very, very messy!

[Arpangel]

Sand is tops, go for it,
I’ve always noticed audible improvements when I’ve done it, and others are right too.

[MOF]

I used dry cement powder on mine. Lovely and dense, but very, very messy!

You run the risk of it solidifying over time as moisture gets into it. Admittedly I’ve only seen that happen to a bag of cement stored in a shed, so indoors in a warm dry atmosphere it’s less likely.
I used sand up to about three quarters of the height of the stands in the provided polythene bags. They are heavy!!!

[jaminem]

Also - are the stands properly sealed?

It is often a good idea to use a tough poly bag inside the stand and fill that with the sand (especially if it's fine sand) to prevent it leaking out of any small gaps.

But definitely worth doing.

This - if the 'shaft' of the stand comes in a polythene bag prior to assembly (they usually come flat packed) use that inside the stand. Kiln dried sand gets everywhere, you will probably still get some leakage, but it will be much much more manageable

[Guest]

thanks