Should you put your speakers on stands?

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Getting the most out of your audio system is all about making small adjustments. Increasing speaker size and distance is one way to change the performance of your AV receiver. Choosing better quality speaker wires and HDMI cables can also make small audible improvements. But one of the most significant additions you can make to a home theater or hi-fi setup is a set of speaker stands. If you have a pair of floor-standing speakers, you obviously won’t need stands for the front of your surround sound setup, although you may still want to hang them for your rears.

Yes, bookshelf speakers are literally called that because they’re usually the right size to sit on a traditional bookshelf. The problem is that it’s not an ideal home for any speaker; Vibrations caused by speakers can actually distort the sound produced by your speakers. Additionally, for enclosed furniture like a large bookshelf, you might end up with an overly reflective acoustic mess. Not only will speaker stands help dampen vibrations and reflections, but they will also help your shelves look less cluttered and more cohesive.

Whether you invest in stands for the front or rear of your system, ideally you’ll want your ears to be at the same height as your speakers’ tweeters. The latter is responsible for high frequencies, and the better you and your speakers are positioned, the more defined your sound will be, especially regarding dialogue and vocals.

Let’s say you invest in a simple hi-fi installation. You will purchase a stereo amplifier, two bookshelf speakers, a vinyl player, and speaker wire. Adding a set of brackets would be the icing on the cake, as they will allow you to create an audible “sweet spot”. By placing both speakers the same distance from your seating area, you should be able to visualize a complete soundstage, with each instrument or vocalist claiming a specific position in the mix.

Want help determining the height of your speaker? Our friends at Crutchfield have a genius formula: measure the height of your ears while sitting in your favorite seat. Next, subtract half the height of your ready-to-mount speakers; the result will be the media size you should be looking for. Conveniently, many stands are height adjustable, which can also come in handy if you’re shopping for larger or smaller speakers down the line.

An organizational bonus: Many speaker stands are hollowed out, allowing you to run speaker wires and other AV cables through the posts. A pair of speaker stands may not be guaranteed for every hi-fi or home theater system, but they are not an accessory to be taken for granted.