DIY Speaker Stands vs. Professional Speaker Stands

When setting up speakers, some people go the homemade route and use concrete blocks for DIY speaker stands. They're cheap, easy to find, and heavy enough to hold most speakers. 

But even if they seem to have solid support, are they any good for sound?

The short answer: not really. 

One of our customers, Colt Capperrune, put this question to the test by comparing a few options using the same speakers in the same room, measured with pro-level gear to check sound accuracy. 

He documented all of this in a recent YouTube Video. The shocking SOUND DIFFERENCE Between Speaker Stands (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC96O99wAAg&t=4s)

Below is a synopsis from the video of what he discovered. For this blog, we only focused on DIY concrete blocks v.s Sound Anchors Speaker stands:

Concrete Blocks:

Even when paired with special isolation pucks that are supposed to help with vibration, they didn’t perform well. The sound they produced had noticeable problems—some parts were too quiet, others too loud, and the bass sounded messy and bloated. It was like the low notes just hung around too long and got in the way of everything else. When tapped, the blocks even made a ringing noise, showing they were holding on to vibration instead of stopping it. All in all, they were the least accurate option.

Sound Anchors:

These speaker stands are designed specifically for audio work. The difference was obvious. The sound was much cleaner and more balanced. They felt incredibly solid and steady, and the audio was clearer across the board. They offered a big improvement where it counts.

Sound Anchors with IsoAcoustics Pucks: 

This was the best combo. This setup delivered the cleanest sound by far. The bass tightened up, the muddiness disappeared, and everything just sounded more natural and polished. It wasn’t just something you could measure—it was something you could really hear.

Key Takeaway:

If you're serious about how your studio sounds, what your speakers sit on is a big deal. DIY Speaker stands on concrete blocks might save you some money, but they can actually hurt the quality of your sound. Investing in a good set of stands, like our Sound Anchors stands, and pairing them with proper isolation gear can make a big difference. You’ll hear more detail, more clarity, and your mixes will translate better to other systems.

In the end, it’s not just about holding your speakers up—it’s about getting the best sound out of them.

Want to hear the difference for yourself? Check our products.