DIY Monitor Stands (PVC Pipe)

[JoRillo]

I now see why off the desk stands weren't much of an option.

They look great in there, you did a good job making them look professional.

An OUTSIDE mount flange?! Hmmm. If I were going to do again, I think I'd go with the same inside mount, closed flange for the bottom like I used, just because I think it has a cleaner finished look.

Ehh... I'm a college kid, and they were my trial run, so I'm cool with it how they look for now. I plan on making another set with a 7-8" PVC whenever I get my HS80's, so I'll put a little more time, planning, and finesse on the next set. This set will stay with my cheapo monitors and go out either in my room mates room or my rehearsal space.

Not to mention my method makes life 100x easier when it comes time to pour sand in there. I didn't/don't worry one bit about a sand leak.

[vocom]

My bottom flange is sealed too just the same, it was the top I had to think about, and I do like your solution a lot. Not meaning to be critical at all, just a personal opinion about appearance, and once painted will be less noticeable.

Check out my "Noob Cube" thread to see before pics.

[npulsipher]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

They look great in there, you did a good job making them look professional.

I saw vocom's stands in his "noob cube" thread and assumed they were professional. I sent him a pm to ask what make and model they were

He obviously redirected me here. Thanks for a great thread.

[darkbuddha]

My solution to sand filling them was to insert heavy duty plastic bags into the columns and then fill them with sand to about 1" from the top (to leave room to insert/glue the flange). I filled that 1" space with some left over pink fluffy insulation. Easy as pie, no leaks, it leaves the flange adjustable, and the open flanges were $1-$2 per flange cheaper.

BTW, I think I need to build a couple more... been treating my room and I can hear a pretty significant difference between the front monitors (mounted on the desk) and the rear monitors (on the DIY stands). Obviously the rears sound better.

[JoRillo]

I have mine on front near fields. I'm loving the extra stereo image I'm getting with them an extra foot on each side apart, I didn't have many vibration issues with them on my desk (they were on Auralex pads to begin with and they don't knock all that hard anyway) so I didn't see a huge difference in vibrations but it definitely got my monitoring triangle to a correct position now. Set up perfectly for me to sit back comfortably while I mix.

[darkbuddha]

Built my second pair and found that the monitor sound was noticeably improved... more direct, more focused, better imaging, better depth of field, and all that. I'd never put a set of monitors on a desk or meter bridge again.

[vocom]

How tall? Do anything different? And pics. Need pics. It ain't slutty without pics!

[JoRillo]

I'm building my second set right now, did most of the work yesterday just gotta finish with some drilling/bolting/final painting and shit. They look MUCH better then my first set, and I used a slightly different design.

Will post final pictures tonight, here is a teaser.



Black and Red are my old stands disassemble slightly for painting. The black and white (Yamaha HS80's) are my new stands (two pipes each stand).

[darkbuddha]

Originally Posted by vocom

How tall? Do anything different? And pics. Need pics. It ain't slutty without pics!

I built them to be 40" tall (matching the rears), which places them above the second the third tier of my desk. I considered getting a single level desk but don't see any advantage right now... my ear height when sitting is exactly at the dreaded midway point between the floor and ceiling... not sure how to fix that, other than getting a much higher desk (i.e. counter height or bar height).

As for stuff I did differently, the construction method was the exact same (why mess with something that's both easy and works!), but I made the bases slightly smaller (11x13") to fit in the space available, and I didn't paint them this time. Oddly, I think I prefer the unfinished look better. A couple pics:

[vocom]

The industrial look! And of course with your mood lighting, who cares! I think it's interesting that you can hear a difference. Is it better position, or isolation? How would you describe the difference (I know, very subjective)?

[darkbuddha]

Mood lighting... I like that. I mentioned this in another thread, but I find that lighting the place like that keeps me focused forward and on my work, so it's both functional and fashionable.

As for the sound, the best way I can describe the difference is that there a better sense of clarity and directness... no fuzziness around the edges or anything unintentionally. I think my impression of the depth of field from the monitors improved because of this as well... I can hear more of the room in many recordings now. Appropriately, in the manual for my monitors it specifically says that use of stands (as opposed to being set on a meter bridge or desk/table) may give the best results. Verified!

[JoRillo]

Originally Posted by darkbuddha

Mood lighting... I like that. I mentioned this in another thread, but I find that lighting the place like that keeps me focused forward and on my work, so it's both functional and fashionable.

As for the sound, the best way I can describe the difference is that there a better sense of clarity and directness... no fuzziness around the edges or anything unintentionally. I think my impression of the depth of field from the monitors improved because of this as well... I can hear more of the room in many recordings now. Appropriately, in the manual for my monitors it specifically says that use of stands (as opposed to being set on a meter bridge or desk/table) may give the best results. Verified!

To add to that, it made my listening triangle waaay nicer, the stereo separation is on point, and it frees up desk space.

[bugg100]

Adding my experience here....

I used the same OPEN toilet flange and stair tread (Home Depot!) with no glue or any other type of seal and hex head lag bolts. Two years in and no sand leaks, moved as well in this period.

3" pipe glued on the bottom but not on the top (friction fit only) allows for any adjustment needed.

Joe

[Cegor]

Turned out pretty good! It would just bug me that the materials were different

[darkbuddha]

BTW, just totaled my receipts for treating my room, including building the speaker stands, and the cost for building the 4 stands is $76. Pretty darn good compared to buying something comparable.

[CRSO]

Mine came out awesome because I'm awesome. I'm so awesome that I didn't sand the sides like a ******...

They still look good though... Great idea!!!

[Carrello]

You guys got me extremely excited while viewing this thread... I ran to Home Depot the other day and managed to put these guys together. Even stained the wood.

[kickdrummer58]

I saw this post and loved the idea. Seems like they will be heavier than anything you can buy. Would it be smart to make them double column so that I can use 1 pair of stands for 2 pair of monitors or should I build 1 stand per speaker?

[JoRillo]

Originally Posted by kickdrummer58

I saw this post and loved the idea. Seems like they will be heavier than anything you can buy. Would it be smart to make them double column so that I can use 1 pair of stands for 2 pair of monitors or should I build 1 stand per speaker?

I would probably build two separate stands for both monitors. I did a double column for my single monitor stands. I have HS80's so they are very large speakers, and I feel they needed some extra support.

Then again I am no acoustics expert.

[kickdrummer58]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

I would probably build two separate stands for both monitors. I did a double column for my single monitor stands. I have HS80's so they are very large speakers, and I feel they needed some extra support.

Then again I am no acoustics expert.

Yeah I don't think stability would be a problem in my case but more acoustic worries. If I build them and find out its better for them to be separated I could easily cut them apart. But it seems like more mass would almost be better with only one set of speakers being utilized at a time?
Thanks.

[jitterybit]

Originally Posted by kickdrummer58

I saw this post and loved the idea. Seems like they will be heavier than anything you can buy. Would it be smart to make them double column so that I can use 1 pair of stands for 2 pair of monitors or should I build 1 stand per speaker?

maybe do a long base with two poles/pipes, with smaller top plates so that the monitors are separated but you have the additional stability of the floor plate.
at that point, I would add some front and back wings for
total stability.


you could also us a counter sunk hex bolt to make a height adjustable top plate(using two plates)
may require some more advanced routing.

[JoRillo]

Just realized I never updated with my newest speaker stands... Here are my bad boys in action.

[vocom]

Like the double posts!

[bugg100]

these flanges can also be double columned by using both 3 & 4 inch pipes on one flange, then sand filled both inside the 3" and between the 3 & 4" pipe...

[JoRillo]

Does anyone know if there is a benefits of this and what it would be?

[jitterybit]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

Does anyone know if there is a benefits of this and what it would be?

in theory it would lower the resonate frequency, but we're talking about sand...
moot point

they other thing it might do is make it a bit stronger(max #s supported), but seems a bit overkill as well

[BOP]

Hi,

Cool stuff - I will be building some kind of stands soon so I can get a smaller, more comfortable desk, just for my screen and control surface.

Would be good to be able to adjust the stands - now I have to adjust my back to have my ears level with the tweeters depending on a number of factors and it's killing me.

I was thinking about making something out of old stage unit kind of bits. You know the sort of stuff that you put up to hold lights for a gig.

Cheers,
BP

[jitterybit]

Originally Posted by BOP

Hi,
I was thinking about making something out of old stage unit kind of bits. You know the sort of stuff that you put up to hold lights for a gig.

Cheers,
BP

truss?

[JoRillo]

What do you guys think about the double pipe design - but using the space between pipes to be used for your cables?

More complicated then it's worth - or you like the idea?

I am fabricating these stands to sell to other engineers in my area. Got a name or two on the list already - so I am just trying to maximize the design before selling them.

[2manyrocks]

I might not be picturing your idea correctly, but visually, I think having a cable hanging between the two pipes detracts from what you have.

If it were me, I'd rather have the cables partly hidden behind the rear pipe. They make cable stays, but you're obviously resourceful and probably have your own ideas.

Something else to consider might be to cut a 4" hole in the wooden base and mount the pipe flange from underneath the base so only the pipe is visible-not the toliet mounting flange. Making the 4" hole cleanly could be a challenge.