Gentle reader,
You may recall my recent post showing my amazing thrift store find of 32-year-old Klipsch speakers for $9.99. That post has generated incredible response in the music loving communities, especially those found on FaceBook.
I see countless photos of FaceBook group member's stereos and see lots of speakers, even smaller ones, placed directly on the floor. Music does not sound it's best when speakers are basically firing at your knees. They sound so much better when the tweeters (smallest speaker components on the front, except in the case of horn tweeters as below) are at approximately ear level when you are seated. One other thing, see how far apart my speakers are? Recorded music in stereo and multi-channel is designed to create an image of the band or orchestra arrayed across the room in front of you. If the speakers are smack up against your components, two or three feet apart, how can it achieve proper soundstage? It can't and your listening experience is suffering as a result.
The speakers came from the factory with "risers" that make them a few inches higher. Pictured below is one of the risers. See that dried glue in each inside corner? That once secured four sturdy plastic pieces that were then used to attach the risers to the bottom of the speakers with long Phillips head screws.
Since the risers had taken a beating over the years, I simply removed them and had the idea of screwing a pair of the braces to the same holes on the bottom of the front of the speakers. This effectively tilted the speakers upward so the higher frequencies would reach my ears better.
However, I didn't like the way they looked tilted back like that. So, I began looking around for wooden speaker stands. There are many but not the kind I wanted. So, I began searching for wooden risers and even wooden stools. Below is what I found. They are called "Growing Up Green" child's step stool.
They are made of bamboo, which is not wood, but is very strong, especially for a grass. The color of the bamboo is very close to the color of the oak veneer the speakers are covered with.
The photo above shows a speaker placed upon a stool. However, they are far from secured on the stools. See how the stools are raised on the ends with the legs? Well that is very little surface area. I knew before I started I would have to secure the speakers to the stools with what is generically called Blu Tack. Blu Tack is a brand name from a British company's product made from "reusable adhesive. It is a Play Doh (another brand name used generically, as is Band Aid, Kleenex, Xerox, and many others) or clay-like substance that has amazing holding power one applied and compressed.
I have used it for years. Believe me, it holds and holds strongly! I really have to twist and pull to free speakers secured with the stuff! BONUS: This type of adhesive leaves no residue and as it's description implies, can be reused. Plus, there is a school of thought that speakers should be "anchored" to whatever surface they are on. Some claim they sound better. Some. Do. Claim. That. I just don't want them loosely sitting there where they could vibrate or worse fall off.
Here is a list of Brand Names I came across in my search for reusable adhesive clay: Blu Tack, Tac 'N Stik, Sticky Putty, Fun-Tak and lastly Quakehold! When I read the description of the last one, it was my choice.
I have used Blu Tack in the past as can be seen if you look closely at the photo below. Look through the Lexan (a form and brand name of unbreakable poly-carbonate sheeting similar to Plexiglass, another brand name often used generically to mean glass-like plastic) you will see blue blobs of Blu Tack securing the speakers to the sheet. The sheet too was secured to the metal shelves as are the smaller speakers you see in the photos in this post.
Below is a photo of the package of Quakehold! that arrived today.
Quakehold! comes in one piece, unlike all the other brands. Below is a series of photos showing how I cut Quakehold! into small pieces and put each piece on the corners of the raised ends of the stools.
Once applied, I flipped the stool over and pressed hard to compress it.
The photo above shows all the bracing built into these wonderfully sturdy stools.
Now the speakers look better and the tweeters are much closer to my ear-level when I am seated in my plus, but aged, Barcalounger wing-back chair that also reclines. I was so excited when I found that chair! It is very hard to find a wing-back chair for someone of my 6' 3" height. The fact that it reclines is a wonderful bonus. Barcalounger is one of those quaint brand names, like Sansabelt, that some clever advertising person of yore thought would be a GREAT name for their products. If one did not know that "sans" means without, like I didn't when I was a kid, Sansabelt slacks looked like any other slacks. Something I still at almost 61 have never owned. Nor do I own anything denim. I chose when I turned 50 to stop wearing jeans. I wear cargo pants and shorts when out and comfortable pants and shorts with far fewer pockets when I'm home. But I digress.
I hope you enjoyed my brief lesson in one of the many uses for reusable adhesive clay products. And perhaps, you will heed my advise and position YOUR speakers better to improve your listening experiences.
Thanks for looking!
Scott
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