A classy studio monitor stand that can carry the weight

Blue Sky The Stand (illustration BSI and NJN)

Studio monitor stands seem to come in two types – low cost and shaky or high cost and ugly except for the elegant Blue Sky International The Stand.

The Stand is a premium priced stand that combines good looks with steady support and adjustability.

The Stand, generically named, can hold near field monitors up to 80 lbs each. I’m not sure if I’d go put them to that test, although they are very stable at 30 lbs. 

For most powered studio monitors, The Stand can position the monitor height between 33″ and 45″, on any horizontal plane and vertically plus or minus 20 degrees. That should look after most situations in a home or project studio.

Monitor Stands compared

Studio monitor stands range from the low cost On Stage stands around $80 a pair to Sound Anchors around $650.

It is inevitable that you’re going to bump into the monitors or stands while wiring or adjusting something around the mixing desk. You don’t want the monitors falling down.

While the On Stage stands have a stated capacity of 90 lbs, they become unstable at 20 lbs or more. The leg and stand assembly are too weak and the stand will sway. Trusting them with expensive powered near field monitors seems foolhardy.  Even 20 lb Dynaudio BM5 or BM6a monitors swayed on them.

Studio Anchors STUDADJR

Raxxess and Argosy (range $300 a pair) stands achieve more vertical stability by using two legs or a boxed leg. They also allow sand filling to give the stand more mass.

Sound Anchors (Studio Economik) are made from welded steel and are the tanks of studio monitor stands. They are not particularly handsome but are not going to drop the monitor. The cost $650 to $800 a pair.

All of these stands suffer from relatively narrow bases which can create lateral instability. Given the monitor is at least 3 feet up in the air, there is considerable vertical leverage to the monitor which causes swaying. It makes me nervous.

Blue Sky’s The Stand has a 30″ wide base, more than double to 10″ x 14″ base of the Sound Anchors. However, with the four leg configuration, the stand nests in closely with other gear and doesn’t get in the way. Each stand weighs 25 lbs.

Heights adjustments

The Blue Sky Stand adjusts in height from 33″ to 45″ in 3/4″ increments with an ingenious mechanism.

You put one foot on the cast iron base and simply lift the monitor to the desired height. At each 3/4″ increment, there is an audible click which is locking the inner and outer cylinders. It’s quite simple and easy and felt secure with a 30 lb Klein + Hummel 0 300 monitor on the stand.

To move the monitor down, you have to lift the inner cylinder to its maximum height and push it gently to the bottom of its travel. At that point you lift up to the desired height.

When the stand and monitor are installed in a tight spot, returning the monitor to the lowest setting may require moving things out of the way.

The Raxxess and Argosy stands are not adjustable. Sound Anchor Compact Adjustable is adjustable with two bolts to secure height.

Mounting the studio monitors

Main bracket, with visible adjustment for 20 degree angle Blue Sky The Stand (photo S. Pate)

The Stand comes with a main bracket for easy installation of Blue Sky monitors, for which it was designed.

Blue Sky Monitors have mounting brackets on the bottom which screw into the main bracket.

The bracket allows + or – 20 degrees of angle if you want to aim the speakers downward for instance.

There is an optional Universal Adapter Plate (Blue Sky Universal Accessory Kit as it’s variously listed) for mounting other monitors that provides a wide base plate and safety strap.

However, you can remove the mounting bracket and install your own bracket or plate using a 1/4″ coarse threaded 3/4″ bolt.

Stability

Blue Sky The Stands with K+H O300 in a tight spot (photo S. Pate)

The Stands are well made. The cast iron bases are perfectly flat. In case your floor is slightly uneven, adjustable rubber feet can take up the slack. You can also install feet for carpet although they are not supplied.

I was impressed by the quality of the manufacturing. The base and cylinders came in two boxes. Assembly was well explained and easy.

Other than a tiny bit of play between the two cylinders, there is virtually no side to side movement in The Stands supporting 30 lb studio monitors. It’s the first time I have felt confident with mounting my K+H O 300s.

Where to buy

Amazon.com sell the Blue Sky The Stand at $600 a pair. The units are shipped from Sweetwater. Many online stores use Amazon.com as a storefront since Amazon.com has the best order processing software in the business.

Reviews

James Lehman’s review of the The Stand and Blue Sky monitors was re-printed in Sound on Sound.

In the next article I’ll detail how I adapted Blue Sky’s The Stands to support Klein + Hummel 0 300s. That made them a perfect fit for me.

Blue Sky International,  an American company, makes a line of monitors for home, recording and project studios.