Rack market overview for audio systems: varieties of models, specifications, decorative finish. Tips for choosing speaker booths.
The set of four Disc of Silence disks is able to withstand the mass to 90kg
Racks for rear speakers are distinguished by a relatively large height and grace of forms.
Floor stands, unlike wall mounted, take more space, but they can be rearranged
To reduce harmful oscillations, the legs of most racks are equipped with a variety of design acoustic junites. Most often it is a hemisphere (a) or sharp metal spikes (b, d), sometimes spring suspension (B)
The height of the rack is selected, based on the convenience of listening
Many will agree that it is possible to improve the sound of the audio system, if you replace its components (for example, a player, amplifier or acoustics) of a higher class instrument. But the fact that the sound quality is easy to increase, simply placing loudspeakers on a special stand, completely undeservedly overlooked.
Quiet carriers of loudspeakers
Today, the stands for acoustics decorated in a minimalist style are very popular, including those performed in black and white colors among a variety of types of AV-furniture racks and brackets for the AU combines their general functional purpose. First, they allow you to place the speakers in the room so that the sound is optimal. Secondly, these devices serve to insulate equipment from unwanted vibrations, which are often the cause of sound distortion. Thirdly, AV furniture should be stable and durable to ensure the safety of the technique installed on it (especially considering that many high-end class loudspeakers differ not only for high price, but also a large mass of tens of kilograms). Finally, representative properties of such supports are important for residential premises, their beautiful appearance.
As a rule, speaker stands are used for the columns of the so-called shelf type (from the English. Bookshelf- "bookshelf"), inferior by weight and dimensions of floor speakers. The latter are placed right on the floor (from here and their name). However, for these loudspeakers there are peculiar coasters, acoustic junctions, which we will talk about.
Stands from ZKI colors of the red tree of increased strength are intended for especially powerful and massive speakers of light rear speakers or satellites, which are completed, for example, home theaters "from one box". As for the material, as a rule, the racks are made of stainless steel and aluminum, less often from brass.
Along with the metal in the production of supports, chipboard are also used, MDF. Of these, elements of finishing, and supporting structures, such as the STAND802 model (Audiopro, Sweden), as well as the rack of ZKI (Russia) can be made. Stands made from chipboard and MDF, well damping (quench) all parasitic oscillations, but, as a rule, are inferior to bumping metal products (they will be discussed on their device) by weight and strength.
All the subtleties of the sound
Why when installing the columns in the room, is it first to take into account the position of the high-frequency emitters (tweeters) relative to the listener? The fact is that such radiation is characterized by the greatest orientation. The dynamics axis should be directed strictly per person in order to achieve the highest possible sound quality. In the opposity, he becomes gloa. Hence the requirements for the placement of front speakers. The rear speakers located above the head level, for the same reason often unfold in the direction of the listener. Avot to the perception of bass signals The change in the direction of the radiation axis affects much less. Therefore, the subwoofers can be installed on the right, on the left, in front, behind the listeners.
Growth, weight and other indicators
For the installation of the central channel acoustics in the home theater, a special design racks are used (on the photo-right), which ensure the necessary stability of the loudspeaker is not too high on the floor, usually at a distance not exceeding 1/3 of the room height. These requirements can sometimes contradict each other, for example, if the columns are compact enough, and the ceilings indoors are low. In addition, some acoustics manufacturers (however, far from all) give their own recommendations regarding the height of the placement of their columns, so when buying AU, it is worth an inquiry to sellers. The most correct way is to install the speakers in height, based on the results of listening to the house and independently assessing the quality of the resulting sound. The rear speakers in the home theater ("rear") usually have 30-50cm above the listening plane, which makes it easy to achieve the effect of surround sound.
The rack mass is important. Heavy furniture is better than vibration. In addition, she has less chances to tip over with a random push. This is especially important in homes where there are children or animals. In love, as stands for expensive acoustics, it is advisable to use racks
The stronger and more stable rack, the less chances to inadvertently knock over it during the festive design parties. The carrying pipe "When put into operation" is filled with an inert (from an acoustic point of view) with high-density ballast or fraction. This stand can weigh 40-50kg. The Achetle Speaker-stands effectively worked together with columns (in the sense of increasing the total mass), many of the manufacturers of acoustics are advised to fasten them with each other with self-adhesive pads or even bolts and screws. However, the rack store is usually not filled with sand and can be sufficiently light and "ringing". Externally, "ordinary" and flowing racks are no different from each other, so you ask what type of construction is the same type of model. Note, through which channels you can fall asleep ballast, whether there are decorative caps to close the channels.
Another feature is a sustainable design - massive and (or) a wide base equipped with spikes that are maximally separated on the sides. The further the support spikes are made from under the carrier pipe, the more stable will be the resulting structure.
Another essential parameter for which the rack is chosen is its bearing capacity. This feature must be taken into account when buying AV-furniture, otherwise, too massive column can simply crush the flip support. Evaluating the carrying capacity of the racks, of course, it is necessary to know the mass of loudspeakers, so you can only pick up the speakers only to the existing speakers.
Excessive wires - from Paul Vaughn!
From the point of view of aesthetics, the advantage of such structures, where hollow pipes or steel profile are used as racks, is the possibility of hidden cable gasket. The named option is not in all models. She, in general, does not improve the quality of the sound, but it looks like such products well. It is advisable to use a hidden cable laying so that it does not interfere under his feet and there was less chance to randomly damage it. Since the channel device for hidden cable wiring is associated with significant difficulties (a large amount of repair work will be required), it is best to produce an acoustic calculation of the room and clarify exactly where the loudspeakers will be located, even before the start of repair.
Heads of happy junction
Sand backing is made after laying a cable folding of the cavities of the stand or fraction - not the only way to make AV-furniture "acoustically dead". To reduce parasitic oscillations, for example, damping elastic silicone gaskets are used. They play the role of acoustic junction, quenching vibration in the stand design.
Another method for reducing the amplitude of vibration is installing a support for the AU for steel spikes. Such a simple and efficient design is usually used in combination with metal wells-supports necessary in order not to spoil the floor covering. The spikes are also used to align the rack relative to the horizontal surface. For this, they are equipped with a carvings and a locknut that allows you to adjust the value of their extension depending on the irregularities of the floor.
A special kind of acoustic junction is vibration-insulating platforms installed on cone-shaped spikes - the so-called manna tables. They are used in cases where the height of the columns is sufficient so that it should not be adjusted, artificially lifting equipment over the floor level. Racks similar to structures for shelf acoustics, rarely are used for floor speakers.
(Eraudio) Interesting Insulating Support Systems offers Solid Tech (Sweden). Acoustics placed on them turns out to be posted on several rubber rings (Feet of Silence) or springs (Disc of Silence). This design allows to eliminate the negative impact of vibrations, transmitted and from outside, and from the instrument itself.
Properly selected stands can significantly improve the sound of loudspeakers. For example, "Harmonizers of space" (Eraudio, Russia) operate on a principle similar to the principle of operation of the violin deck. According to manufacturers, the sound becomes more articulated and clear, and the timbre of tools and voting is natural.
Acoustic junction is also used massive plates made, for example, from natural or artificial stone. They help reduce unwanted resonance on the "weak" floor subject to vibrations.
In pursuit of the calm
Get rid of unwanted vibrations is quite difficult. Some lovers of high-quality sound are resorted to extraordinary measures. For example, in Japan, a rather interesting way was distributed in Japan: the columns ... suspended on the chains to the ceiling, which looks frightened (Pushkin lines immediately come to mind: "In that hole, in the darkness of the sad, the coffin is crystal ..."). However, the "running" said acoustic junction is very effective. In addition, Japanese specialists in this way solve the other very relevant problem-like "stand" are not afraid of underground shocks.
Houses are helping
When choosing brackets for the AU, you must consider the following. First, the carrying capacity of the structure should correspond to the mass of the columns. Secondly, it is desirable that the fee to which acoustics is attached to have two angular degrees of freedom, so you can deploy an audio system in a convenient direction. Finally, thirdly, the AC owners should pay attention to the correct ratio of the fastener design in brackets and loudspeaker housings, so that the speakers manage to securely secure on the support. That is why in many cases the brackets and attachments are included in the collection of columns.
Nuances of good tones
Looks down these stands pretty presentable. However, such an elite audiosebel will cost buyers not suichely (from $ 400-500 to $ 2000-3000 per set). The average cost of racks of other companies is noticeably lower. It averages from $ 50-100 to several hundred dollars. The price depends on the materials used in the finishing, and from the manufacturer.
For filling in racks, as already mentioned, quartz sand or lead fraction are used. The aggregator must be clean, so river
Avota degree of filling racks plays a more important role. It is usually installed by an experimental way. It is believed that the optimal result gives rise to cavity by 2/3 of its volume. There are other options when the pipe is filled alternately with sand layers and fractions. The positive effect of such experiments is non-obvious, but try in such a way to independently improve the sound of the speakers is quite possible.
Finally, I would like to say a few words about the right caring for the racks for the AU. Polished surfaces look well only when they are regularly purified from dust and contamination. It is quite problematic to cope with stains on glass shelves, traces still remain there. Therefore, it is better to use special compositions, such as the Spectral Spray corporate name aerosol, designed to care for glass and plasma and LCD TV screens. As for a veneer or MDF, conventional facilities for cleaning furniture are suitable.
The editorial board thanks A. Klyachin, the company "Russian game", "note +", "Purple Legion", "Techno-Art", Barnsly Sound Organization, Eraudio, ZKI for help in the preparation of material.