These are the third pair of monitor stands I have had in the current studio listening room. I've had some Thomann own brand and Zaor previously. The Zaor were used with IsoAcoustics isolators.
First, let's start with the bases. Unlike the Thomann stands these are very low profile which means they are very easy to position where you want without the stands not fitting under desks etc. If necessary they can get very close to the rear of the studio desk allowing ultra-near field monitoring if desired. Ultra-nearfield has several benefits. You hear less of the room and more of the direct sound and you can monitor with smaller less powerful speakers. It would be nice if these had optional spikes for use on carpets. The bases are of sufficient stability which is always a trade-off against the amount of area the bases take up.
The stems are sturdily bolted to the bases and seem sufficient for the task at hand. The stems extend much higher than any stands I have used before. This has allowed me to get my monitors well above my computer screen. I have a 49 inch ultra wide so getting monitors into the correct position and height has always been impossible before. The stems have an ingenious latching system that uses the monitor's weight to keep them latched. There is also a screw handle to clamp the stem.
The platforms seem well designed and the twin bolts for adjusting the angle of tilt are easily adjusted. The maximum angle of tilt is more than I required which is good. The platforms clamp to the stems with two smaller bolts and an extended groove allows the platforms to be slid forwards or backwards. This has a big impact on how stable the monitors feel, particularly on a carpeted floor. Considering the height of the stems, I am pleased at how stable these stands are. The platforms have an upward turned lip at the front which will stop monitors falling off when angled. The platforms come with four very small rubber adhesive circles to put on the top of the platforms. These will help in stopping monitors moving around but they could be bigger in area which would aid grip. In addition this would assist with isolation - which is a difficult thing to add to a tilted platform. I will likely invest in some foam isolation pads in future. Whilst four rubber pads may seem sufficient, there is no rubber protection on the upturned lip so there is a risk that this could mark the front bottom edge of your monitors. That is disappointing at any price.
In terms of acoustic performance the monitor stands work well. With a set of Adam A77Xs on board there is a little vibration in the upper stem, very little in the lower stem and nothing felt at the bases. I am moving to an Amphion 2:1 system this week so will report back if anything changes. In terms of clarity of monitoring of the Adam's they have never sounded this clear before and despite my room being heavily treated, professionally, down to 24 Hz there is considerably less low end on these stands. Clarity is improved and I am hearing things in commercial tracks that I hadn't noticed with the same monitors on other stands. Clearly the extra height and the angle works favourably with my room's acoustics.
K&M gear features heavily in my studio. It is well made and lasts a long time. I definitely think it is worth the extra expense. Prior to settling on the Amphions as new monitors, I considered Genelec. Their stands for The Ones are around £600 per pair. So the K&Ms are a comparative bargain. For the majority of producers/mixers these stands will fit your room, allow adjustment that other stands cannot achieve and the quality and performance will be sufficient for the majority of users.
