Picking the right studio monitor stands for your needs can be a time-consuming activity, considering the multitude of different designs available tailored to different price points and studio sizes. And of course, the technology behind them that different manufacturers incorporate, in an attempt to create a niche for their product.
This roundup should help provide a brief yet comprehensive overview of your options for monitor stands across a price range.
So without further ado let's discuss how to choose the best studio speaker stands for your specific needs and budget…
Why Do I Need Monitor Stands?
Monitor stands are an essential piece of studio equipment for serious producers and recording engineers who need to eradicate any possible comb filtering effects caused by small vibrations between the monitors and workstation.
A good pair of monitor stands elevate the studio speakers above the work surface that they sit on and help isolate the representation of the audio signal that the monitors generate. This means that the audio produced by the monitors is less likely to be colored by resonances and small reverberations.
There are many different designs and specs when it comes to monitor stands, and this guide should help you to evaluate which are the best stands for you.
What Makes a Good Quality Studio Speaker Stand?
Sturdiness
Stands should not necessarily be heavy but should be sturdy, to ensure that your monitors are held in place safely. (Check the maximum amount of weight supported in the specs).
Adjustability
Adjustable stands are desirable as they create more separation between the monitors and the surface that they sit on. The larger the separation between monitors and workstation, the less likely it is for any comb filtering effects to interfere with the audio signal.
Shelf
The shelf (top plate) of the stand, which holds the monitor should be proportional to the size of monitors that you are using.
Base Design
When considering large adjustable stands, a tripod base is ideal as it suggests a certain amount of stability and will fit well into corners of a room.
Columns
Hollow stands can introduce acoustic vibrations within the columns and are therefore recommended to stay away from, whenever possible. Stick to solid stands without hollow columns.
Locking Mechanism
When considering taller stands the quality of the locking mechanism which holds the monitors in place is vitally important.
How to Choose the Right Stands for Your Specific Needs
Choosing a specific model of studio speaker stands can also be confusing. Answering the following questions should help to narrow down the most suitable options for you...
Are you a recording engineer, a producer or a combination of these roles?
Recording Engineers
Since recording engineers spend a lot of their time stood up, setting mixing desk levels, and communicating with artists in the live room, etc. the design most suited to them are large, extendable stands.
For recording engineers to monitor the mix with accuracy monitors should be at head height.
Image source: bhphotovideo.com
Producers
Producers (especially amateur producers) tend to work in smaller spaces than studio engineers. Typically they will not have the space required for larger stands.
Producers do not necessarily need extendable stands since they do not vary their listening height.
A producer's budget for speaker stands is usually less than a recording studio. So they need to consider the best options for their price point.
This does not mean the stands will be of inferior quality. In fact, some smaller monitor stands can outperform larger more expensive models. However, it should be noted that the performance of smaller stands (that are not freestanding) can be significantly affected by the desk that they sit on, as well as the items on the desk, i.e., external hardware, midi keyboard, reference monitors, etc.
Do you have a studio large enough for separate stands or will they need to sit on a desk?
If you have enough space for stands that are self-supporting, they are the ideal option because the monitors will only be supported by the stands. Rather than the stands sitting on a desk, where any of the contents or the structure of the desk can cause imperfections in the audio.
Attributes That Differentiate Monitor Stands
Our Top 5 Recommended Studio Monitor Stands
These home studio speaker stands are notable due to the sleek design and the tripod base. They are a very reasonably priced considering that they are similar to the "Onstage" stands, which are almost twice the price!
The stands are not full of features, meaning that if there any issues with them, it should be easy to locate and identify the source of the issue.
The locking and adjusting system appears to be robust, and isolation pads on the top plate prevent any comb filtering or resonance effects from the stands themselves.
However, this information should be taken with a pinch of salt since some customers have received their pair and have identified multiple issues with the stands. The most commonly reported problems are instability and poor threading for the screws. Some owners have also stated that the base and columns are not welded together correctly; compromising the integrity and isolation of the stands.
We have conducted a little more research into Zeny, considering the mixed bag of reviews. Most reviews of the stands are positive. However, the small number of negative reviews report some serious issues with some of the models, indicating that quality control is not the companies strong point.
Zeny is a company that makes budget products which include musical instruments, industrial tools, home appliances and healthcare products. Since the company does not specialize in musical instruments and manufactures products to suit people with a low budget, it is understandable that the occasional pair has flaws in the design.
Predominately, the feedback for this product is positive, and on their site, Zeny offers a 30-day return policy. Therefore we would still recommend these stands to those of you on a very tight budget who need telescopic stands. If there are any defects, Zeny claims that they will send new parts or new models as required.
Things We Liked
- These stands are considerably cheaper than their very similar counterparts.
- They can handle heavier studio monitors. (Up to 110 lbs)
Things We Didn’t Like
- Although the columns are thick they are hollow inside. This could cause unwanted resonances.
- Quality control is reportedly inconsistent.
- Zeny is not an audio specialist company.
These products stand out due to the design of the shelves. Instead of having small foam strips to prevent resonance and support the monitors from any slip risks the entire shelf is coated in a foam layer, which should ensure that no vibrations travel down the columns of the stands.
These stands are also very competitively priced and are reportedly amongst the sturdiest stands relative to the price point.
Their range of height makes them very versatile. Perhaps these stands are a good choice for a studio engineer on a budget.
Reviews are mostly very positive with a lot of feedback reporting that they are very stable; especially on carpeted surfaces.
Reviews also praise easy and quick assembly. So if you need telescopic stands which are also relatively portable, these may just be the answer.
There is a considerable lack of negative reviews for these stands. The only issues I came across were people reporting that on some models the shelves required extra drilling or filing down to fit the bolt which connects the shelves to the column.
A less commonly reported issue was a slight height difference between the stands. In a studio setting a height difference could cause some potential issues for mixing, monitoring, and mastering in a treated room.
Things We Liked
- Large shelves make these a good choice for those of you with large monitors.
- The sturdiness of the stands.
- Not preset adjustment holes mean height is entirely customizable
Things We Didn’t Like
- The plastic material that the tripod is made from appears to be quite brittle.
- Lack of a pin locking system.
These stands are very similar in appearance to the Zeny stands. They have a very modern and sleek look. These are at a higher price point than the previous stands but are known for being stable.
Extra features such as clips to keep cables tidy and spikes to aid stability on carpet suggest why these are at a higher price than the Zenys.
The metal carpet spikes are a convenient addition that improves the versatility and function of the stands compared to other telescopic stands. The metal spikes themselves are adjustable. This is particularly useful in case you have an un-level carpet.
Overall there is more positive feedback from these stands than the Zenys. Of the critical feedback available, reviewers mention issues with parts. Onstage do offer spare parts via their website, in case you break or lose any pieces.
Things We Liked
- Height locking pin mechanism makes me more confident of their stability.
- The triangular base can help the monitors fit into a corner.
Things We Didn’t Like
- Very similar design to Zeny stands at a higher price.
- Cable clips cheaply made. (Owners may have to order spare parts quicker than anticipated.)
- According to the Onstage website, the bases weigh 3lbs each. Heavier bases would be more desirable and make the stands more trustworthy with extra weight.
For those of you that do not have enough space for large speaker stands, or are on a strict budget these monitor pads will do the same job as stands and considering the price, they are worth parting with your money!
They are made from high-density acoustic foam. The density of the foam minimizes any amount of sinking from the monitors placed on top of the pads.
The way that foam isolation pads work is quite interesting and very different to stands with metal shelves. Pressure applied at a specific point by an object with a low surface area (i.e., a finger) will cause the material to sink. The foam supports the monitor because the larger surface area of the monitors distributes the weight equally across the pads.
Reviews for these pads are very positive for the majority, with a lot of owners claiming that they eliminated boomy bass caused by monitors sitting on an untreated surface and also provided their mixes with clarity.
The design of the foam pieces allows your monitors to sit horizontally or angled up or down which helps to focus the sound you are monitoring whichever way you want.
Things We Liked
- Very Portable
- Super effective for the price point.
Things We Didn’t Like
- Nothing considering the pricing.
The design of these stands is unique. It's somewhere between a monitor speaker stand and an isolation pad. These are the most expensive stands on the list, however, they are particularly effective for a number of reasons.
- The height can be changed using the different length tubes provided.
- They are very lightweight and portable.
- These stands will fit easily into a small studio without taking up much room.
- The stands can be angled to position the monitors however the listener wants.
We own a pair of these stands, and they support a couple of Adam A7X, (20.3 lbs each) easily. We have noticed that these are effective at their job; preventing any boom from sub frequencies and therefore cleaning the mid frequencies up, reflecting a very accurate representation of the mix.
On the IsoAcoustics website, you can use their online calculator to find the best model of stand for your specific monitors. This is particularly useful as you know that you will be buying the correct size of stands. Not many other companies provide a tool to calculate this for you.
There is some play in the tubes and rubber stop designs, and consequently, I tend to keep my monitors at the lowest height setting. The rubber pieces which support the tubing can start to give way if the stands are not set up correctly; to distribute weight evenly. This can lead to stability issues or monitors leaning a certain amount.
However, if the stands are put together with care and attention the first time (making sure the heights are symmetrical between the front and back pairs of tubes) the rubber tubes should not degrade.
Things We Liked
- Innovative design
- Very Effective
- Customisation options (height and angle)
Things We Didn’t Like
- Changing to different tubes can be clunky and monitors usually need repositioning.
- They are pricey, in comparison to telescopic monitor stands; considering the materials used.
- Height options limited to high or low.
Conclusion
The winner of this roundup is the IsoAcoustics stands. They are the most expensive stands but are the most versatile of all the products listed on this page.
They would suit a large or small studio, but typically lend themselves to smaller spaces with no room for large telescopic stands.
According to general opinion, they seem to outperform the larger Zeny, Onstage and Harmony Audio stands regarding adaptability and quality of isolation since there are no parts that are hollow or could rattle causing improper isolation.
The portability of these stands means that accurate monitoring can be achieved in any location. The fact that you can angle the monitors using the stands gives them the edge over its competitors, which only allow height adjustments.
The IsoAcoustics stands could be used by studio engineers, however varying their height can take some time and can also be fiddly. Although two sets can be purchased and adjusted for optimal sitting and standing heights.
Leave a Reply