Hi-fi as a hobby (or as a way of life, of course) can be both time and space consuming (… and the less said about the bank balance the better!). One of the biggest problems you as an audiophile will ever face is… where the heck do you keep all of your lovingly chosen separates?
Well never fear. For every hi-fi problem, there is a hi-fi solution. And thankfully this is a solution which fixes several problems in one fell swoop. And that solution is… the hi-fi stand!
Looks and practicality are a big lure when it comes to a hi-fi stand, there’s no question of that. But it’s about far more than just that. A well designed, bonefide hi-fi rack offers benefits in a number of other areas too.
Isolation
One of the most important words in the hi-fi realm. Isolation of the various parts of your system is key – hence the method of separation. But what’s the point of a beautiful system of separates when all they are going to do is interfere with each other? Yes, even a separate unit can still be affected by the vibrational noise of another. Such can lead to interference and ultimately affect your quality of sound. And that my friend, is not on.
This is one of the many areas in which conventional furniture will prove to be a hindrance: specially designed hi-fi stands offer a great deal in terms of isolating each component, which means minimal mechanical noise interfering with thew delicate circuitry in your equipment. Happy separates make for happy speakers, which makes for a happy you!
Spacing
Different components need different amounts of space above and around them in order to operate to their fullest. Every unit is different. Different dimensions, different weight and different in terms of how much heat they omit/can handle. Specialist hi-fi stands are designed – usually to order- with exactly this in mind. Heat is a factor that few fully consider – but overheating and thus affecting other components within the system can be a serious problem, particularly when dealing with Class A amplification (the ones with the valves. Valves get hot.) Stands can be made to account for extra space required, which makes for better ventilation.
Feet
We’ve already talked at length of the importance of speaker stand spikes. And here the principle is very much the same. Hi-fi racks will almost certainly come with some sort of feet as standard, which carry with them multiple benefits:
Stability
Stability means less vibrational energy, and the less vibrational energy, the better. Anything electrical will vibrate and move whatever it sits upon, but greater stability means that impact is significantly lessened.
Purging (i.e. ‘energy management’)
The spikes ‘couple’ the stand with the floor. Coupling at the four corners of the stand rather than in the centre of the plinth allows for equal distribution of the vibrational energy that builds up in the cabinet to evenly disperse from the cabinet to the stand and into the ground.
Isolation
You really can’t get ‘too much’ isolation as far as hi-fi is concerned.
Materials
As with anything hi-fi, the key is in the detail. And this is just as important with stands as is is with everything else! Because of the nature of their function, cheap materials are practically unheard of (at least, they are in anything worth investing in). There are a plethora of options out there – glass, hard wood, veneers of every sort, stainless steel to resin. Each one will be carefully crasfted, with the aim to achieve everything from an aesthetically pleasing finish to that all-important isolation.
And… most importantly…
Versatility
Every system is different, as is every interior. And the boffins behind the hi-fi stands we proudly retail know exactly that. And this is where the hi-fi stands strongest feature lies: its sheer customisability. Whatever the look, whatever the style, whatever the shape and size or needs of your system – there is a rack to match. And if there isn’t one – one can be made up for you. You’ll find very few retailers actually stock stands (unless they’re ex display, of course) because of this. The beauty of a stand lies in how it is made for you, your system and the room it will become the centre-piece of.
Usually, I would take this time to give you a few examples of the ‘best’ racks we offer – but the options are simply too varied and vast. Instead, I want you to take a look at your system and the room it will live in and have a browse through our options. Then get in touch and see what we can recommend for you and your system. We know what we sell like the back of our hand – and we know the importance of tying your system neatly together.
And isolation. That’s important too.