$100 DIY MMG Stands

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$100 DIY MMG Stands

Posted by Tubo (A) on October 4, 2012 at 21:29:11

I’d like to share my DIY MMG stands, recently completed. I have long wanted to raise my MMG’s and to have them stand vertically, as many in this forum recommend. I went the DIY route primarily to save money, but also to make stands that were unique and attractive.

My design uses the original steel legs, which are angled backwards about 9 degrees. The stands are made of 2x12 maple. I chose maple because it is heavy. I simply cut the maple with the top face sloping at the same corresponding angle as the original steel legs. When the steel legs are screwed into the maple stands, the MMG panel is vertical and at about eight inches high off the floor. See attached photos.

For esthetic reasons I wanted the front of the stands to be recessed two inches from the front plane of the MMG’s. I knew this would tip the speakers forward, so I joined each pair of stands with three 3/8” poplar dowels. The purpose of the dowels is to hold a counterweight to keep the speakers from tipping over. My counterweights are VPI Bricks (remember those?), but I could have used rocks, sandbags, or dumbbells.

I added spikes for stability and the ability to fine-tune the verticality of the speakers. As it turns out, I like them best leaning forward about half a degree.

Finally, I added 3/8” poplar dowels as braces. They attach to the MMG’s via a hard plastic finial (see photo) screwed into the MDF frame. (Of course, I had to remove the socks first, seal the pole piece off with plastic to keep any sawdust away, drill the holes, and replace the socks.)

The stands and dowels were finished with two coats of Minwax clear satin Wipe-On Polyurethane.

I spent less than $100 in materials and several hours planning and carrying out my project.

How do my MMG’s sound on their new stands? Imaging, instead of being down near where front wall and floor meet, is higher, at ear level. This makes everything more natural. There seems to be an increase in resolution. While there is less bass it is not an issue because I use a subwoofer. The MMG’s appear to be playing like a big speaker, which, I guess, means a subjective increase in dynamics. The experience of listening to music is much more immersive. All in all, a worthwhile project.

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Topic - $100 DIY MMG Stands - Tubo 21:29:11 10/04/12 (20)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - pictureguy 18:09:00 10/12/12 (2)

Thanks! Great idea and... - Tubo 09:02:34 10/13/12 (1)

RE: Thanks! Great idea and... - pictureguy 12:10:31 10/13/12 (0)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - stigs 23:49:41 10/09/12 (1)

Thank you! nt - Tubo 08:18:52 10/12/12 (0)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - atanks 06:21:07 10/05/12 (0)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - josh358 05:40:00 10/05/12 (4)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - Tubo 06:38:04 10/05/12 (3)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - josh358 06:53:48 10/05/12 (2)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - Tubo 07:31:24 10/05/12 (1)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - josh358 07:38:56 10/05/12 (0)

Really cool! - hella356 00:41:51 10/05/12 (7)

agree; perhaps a cross brace near the upper portion - Green Lantern 01:26:01 10/05/12 (6)

Thanks, guys. Good ideas! - Tubo 06:33:49 10/05/12 (5)

or maybe even a plinth - Green Lantern 05:55:56 10/06/12 (4)

RE: or maybe even a plinth - Norman M 10:46:11 10/06/12 (3)

both beauties-nt - Green Lantern 17:44:34 10/06/12 (0)

RE: or maybe even a plinth - josh358 13:08:56 10/06/12 (1)

RE: or maybe even a plinth - Norman M 13:35:45 10/06/12 (0)

RE: $100 DIY MMG Stands - Green Lantern 21:48:06 10/04/12 (0)

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