Creative ways to mount your monitors

[M.K.]

"Best solution would be to make some full height stands from PVC and wood, fill them with something heavy (sand works well) and put monitors on them." Was a suggested I've been given. I thought it was a pretty good one. Probably the most practical one for someone who is relying on a friends tools... and it sounds cheap.

Why PVC wood? Because it's cheap, or is their something acoustically ideal about it? I think it's probably the price point the guys addressing.

Ideal height for studio monitors? I'm looking around but so far I've gotten a basic guide, under which there was two different contradictions from users saying he got his dimensions wrong, so I might as well ask to be sure.

[x_25]

Originally Posted by M.K.

"Best solution would be to make some full height stands from PVC and wood, fill them with something heavy (sand works well) and put monitors on them." Was a suggested I've been given. I thought it was a pretty good one. Probably the most practical one for someone who is relying on a friends tools... and it sounds cheap.

Why PVC wood? Because it's cheap, or is their something acoustically ideal about it? I think it's probably the price point the guys addressing.

Ideal height for studio monitors? I'm looking around but so far I've gotten a basic guide, under which there was two different contradictions from users saying he got his dimensions wrong, so I might as well ask to be sure.

Ideal hight ranges from tweeters at your ear level to having them so your ears are level with the spot between the woofer and tweeter (or level with the midrange if they are three way). Ideally, you want them out from the wall, since having nearby boundries does interesting things with freqnecy responce (says the man with his monitors on a desk, jammed up against the wall with a bookshelf next to one, sometimes you have to work with what you have). Best solution, if you can't keep them out from the wall, would to pull the speakers, stand and desk out while you are mixing if you can.

The PVC and wood were reccomended since they are cheep, easy to get and easy to work with. The sand filled is to add stability and mass.

If all else fails, hit up the garage sales until you find a set of stools and use those. :P

Another good option would be a sheet of 3/4" plywood and making the top of your desk bigger. That would look kind of ugly, but work.

[M.K.]

How far out form the wall? (And yes, I grabbed the sandbag thing) I'll probably make into a cupboard at the bottom, (with a door) and use a cement slab, so that I can still use it for things. Just so it's more useful.

Yardsale's, I"ll likely hit up this weekend, but I supposed I should get the monitors before I build the shelf, if I'm going to match the tweeters to ear level. I might to the plywood thing. We'll see what it's like after everything is set up. Then I'll do the crowded vs ugly comparison. If I can't get a coffee cup in there, or move my mouse, I'll get the plywood. :P

Now to research how to gauge monitors for the instrumentalist, rather than the bass pounding electronic writers. I don't know if they even differentiate by purpose like that but, it seems like something I should look into.

Thanks again for the suggestion. I'd already read about tweeter to ear level, so I should have figured that dimensions for this thing should be based around the monitor's tweeter, not an general height. DER. :P

Thanks again!

Any other suggestions out there?

[x_25]

There really won't be a difference between proper monitors for electronica and instramentals, but know that most lower end ones are geared toward consumers who want boom, so will have a bit of exagerated bass. This can be fixed with a sock in the port if they are ported speakers. I would recomend looking into sealed rather than ported for what you are doing (will there be bass and kick drum?). Also, don't be afrade to buy used.

As for how far from the wall, that would vary from room to room and depend on room threatment and such. At least 1.5ft would be a good place to start though.

[M.K.]

Alright, saved me some time looking.

I've heard some complaints about sealed speakers, (although you'll hear complaints for about everything). I'm assuming that it's in the lower end speakers that nulls those kind of complaints though.

As for 1.5 feet from the room... man, I'm going to be posting the dimensions of my room, when I've got my gear set up, and I'm doing my positioning, and even when I get everything out of it, (which I'm going to) I wouldn't think I have 1.5 feet to give up.

But we'll see. Thanks for the tip.

[x_25]

Yeah. 1.5ft is a lot. Really, you want a dedicated room. I will try to find the diagram, but there is a good starting spot, but it ends up with the speakers several ft from each wall (generally impractical).

You would be supprised what you can find though. My room is 11x13 and I have my main stereo speakers 15" out from the wall measured from the back of the speakers. Like I said though, my monitors are up against the wall just because there is nowhere else for them.

[M.K.]

My room is 11*10, and that's the wall with the closet door on it where it hits 11, which leaves a carved space of 2*3.5.

So it's got that shape, if you took two six hole lego blocks side by side, stacked another 4 upwards, and then anther two hole on the top right.

I thought it was a descent visual, as I can't think of a 2d images for anything that takes that shape...

I'm still yet to have a thorough read up on acoustics. I'm hoping the super Cardiod Mic will help significantly help lessen the effect of poor symmetry.

The other room is 13*11 all the way, but it has noisy neighbors with a dog on that side. I can only imagine what the trade off will bring me... Dead dog? :P

[jiggitysmith]

Somewhat on topic / off topic, but in regards to decoupling your monitors on the stands, I just had a wacky idea of setting them on a zen garden (aka sand box with sand in it you're supposed to rake?).

Would that actually work as well as the foam or sticky tack solution? Apart from looking weird, you'd get the added benefit of being able to tilt them however you want, but they might move around over time with sound vibration if the sand isn't packed well enough?

[tenkas]

Why not buy monitor stands?

I paid 40$ for a pair (brand new).

They are height adjustable, adjustable feet, very nice and solid.

Yorkville makes them.

40$ a pair is as cheap as it gets.

I wanted to build them myself at first, but DIY is more expensive than 20$ per stand.

[M.K.]

Can you list a model number, because everything I'm finding is over forty for a single stand... just like everything else, which is why I figured DIY was necessary.

I've run out of funds for my initial set up, and I'm going over at this point to get the stands. But I need something, so it'd be greatly appreciated.

(PS, what a load of Crap... it's insane... some of the prices for these regular metal stands, and no padding). Gluttony, it's actually quite disgusting.

[2manyrocks]

DIY Monitor Stands (PVC Pipe)

[metrocenter]

I did the DIY PVC ones, and I hated them. If you are going to do them, it's very important that (1) the boards for top/bottom be completely flat, and (2) the floor be completely flat and level. (If you're in a normal building the floor is probably flat, but in a garage or basement you'd better check first.) If not, the stands are going to be too unstable.

So mine monitor stands are now sitting outside, unused and unloved.

Anyway, I now have my monitors setting on either end of a plank, which lies across my desk. The plank overhangs either side of the desk, sticking out a bit, and the monitors sit on top of styrofoam, on each end of the plank.

The advantages of this: naturally very stable (no stands to tip over), excellent isolation from the floor, PLUS you regain all that space under the monitors (which you lose if you use stands).

The disadvantages: well, none that I can think of. Other than it makes your desk look like sort of like an airplane. I have noticed no sonic issues from doing it this way, and with the styrofoam I was able to get them to the perfect height for my ears.

I think far too much has been made out of monitor stands. I've seen tons of pics of production studios with no monitor stands, just monitors set on top of the mixing desk or on a shelf. Maybe people just think they look "cool". Or simply they are another item the gear companies can sell us.

[2manyrocks]

Adding screw or nail on furniture tips to the bottom of each stand might help or you can cut some wood blocks for each corner of the stand. Otherwise, you are correct that the flat bottoms don't work well with uneven floors.

[M.K.]

Yeah, I'm not exactly super excited about the PVC stands, but it'd do. You can make it better as you go, by adding grips/stoppers, and such, top and bottom, and it'd be a very cheap thing to add to as time moves on. The whole thing is cheap, and for someone whose 22 and just bought his first hand saw last month... it's pretty ideal.

Also, on top of the sand thing, I can put cement slabs across the feet. I live in a neighborhood, where everyone seems to be able to afford to do little additions... so I"ll find something eventually, without even having to buy it... or it'll look like crud, until I figure something else out... but at least it's not permanent... or a financial hole.

The airplane idea doesn't appeal. I have a tiny desk laying a piece of wood across, would irritate me to no end. It'd be like a little jab every time I look at it. I'm an aesthetic
Hoou-er, and it'd make my setup feel even more makeshift than the PVC. PLUS, knowing me, unless I bolt it down, (which I can't bare to do as I have soft spot for this little desk)... I'd just as likely knock it over... more likely if anything.

Anyhow. Thanks for the idea guys. Any ideas for the cheapest paint, that actually takes to PVC material?

[gravyface]

I did the airplane thing. Long 2x6 notched to fit into the desk. Desk was contemporary/euro looking and had a monitor riser built into the frame already so it doesn't look that bad. Need to stain it though.

"wing" is wide enough so that I can have two 24" monitors and still have ample room for speakers in a wide triangle.

[2manyrocks]

There are various brands of spray paint at Walmart that say they can be used on PVC. For the best paint adhesion, I'd probably wipe the pvc down with paint deglosser, but honestly, you just want the PVC clean. Rubbing alcohol would also clean the surface as well and be cheaper.

[Boschen]

Ikea offers a variety of add on stands to work surfaces that are cheap and can work well with a pair of monitors.
Not as ideal as side stands with isolation, but it gets the speakers off your work surface.