Not in this case

Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

Not in this case

Posted by greg7 (A) on March 30, 2008 at 10:25:29

In Reply to: Me for one posted by Charles Hansen on March 30, 2008 at 10:00:51:

Remember, we're talking speaker stands here.

Through my own personal experiences on the matter, MDF (or mdf + polymer in the case of Skylan) is BY FAR the "lesser of two evils" versus steel stands.

Cost is a big arbiter here. The price of audio gear viz-a-viz raw materials is skyrocketing right now. You as a manufacturer know this first hand. You recently instituted a price increase for this very reason, correct?

I'm not going to argue that the right wood is "better" than mdf. I agree. But at what cost for something as mundane as speaker stands? Is it worth 3X or 4X the cost to use maple butcher board or oak or cherry instead? Actually I'd want walnut, spruce, or mohagany over maple or oak but that's besides the point -- and more money still.

MDF is, in my opinion, a "good compromise" material for what it provides in relation to its cost. This is why +90% of all dynamic speakers use mdf for the cabinet material. Is the huge additional cost incurred by using a more exotic cabinet material worth it at the end of the day? Yes, but I'll take proper implementation of drivers and crossover in an mdf box any day over a couple of the exotic box speakers I've heard thus far.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - My steel vs. nonferrous speaker stands experiences - greg7 06:55:23 03/29/08 (13)

And yet ... - andyr 03:06:00 03/30/08 (9)

Huh? Who's general agreement? - greg7 07:12:14 03/30/08 (8)

Me for one - Charles Hansen 10:00:51 03/30/08 (7)

Not in this case - greg7 03/30/0810:25:29 03/30/08 (6)

RE: Not in this case - mightymouse 11:10:57 03/30/08 (3)

Steel cost a LOT more than wood and plastics - mightymouse 12:08:05 03/30/08 (1)

Yes and no - greg7 12:18:46 03/30/08 (0)

RE: Not in this case - greg7 11:20:48 03/30/08 (0)

I think we're all saying the same thing - Charles Hansen 11:06:59 03/30/08 (1)

Spot on, Charles!! :-)) nt - andyr 16:41:22 03/30/08 (0)

Question - unclestu52 14:00:51 03/29/08 (1)

RE: Question - mightymouse 14:34:32 03/29/08 (0)

RE: My steel vs. nonferrous speaker stands experiences - mightymouse 10:56:38 03/29/08 (0)

Follow Ups

Not in this case - greg7 03/30/0810:25:29 03/30/08 (6)

RE: Not in this case - mightymouse 11:10:57 03/30/08 (3)

Steel cost a LOT more than wood and plastics - mightymouse 12:08:05 03/30/08 (1)

Yes and no - greg7 12:18:46 03/30/08 (0)

RE: Not in this case - greg7 11:20:48 03/30/08 (0)

I think we're all saying the same thing - Charles Hansen 11:06:59 03/30/08 (1)

Spot on, Charles!! :-)) nt - andyr 16:41:22 03/30/08 (0)

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