Wheels on speakers

[bumpy]

I have always been a believer in firmly anchoring speakers to the floor, preferably in a tripod mode.

But as my speakers get bigger and room positioning is not always harmonised between WAF and optimum listening position, my thoughts turns to wheels under the speakers.

But where to start with selecting the right ones? Any ideas or experience greatly appreciated

[Wakefield Turntables]

I've got bloody great castors on my Tannoy cabs, I've got no problems with the noise I'm hearing!

[narabdela]

In my experience, the larger the speaker, the less foo required.

[Macca]

Agreed

Ordinary furniture castors will be fine. If your audiophilia balks at that, gold plate them and cryogenically treat them before fitting. ;)

[struth]

Both my hifi units now sport castors instead of spikes. Makes life a lot easier. Had big speakers on pods fitted with big castors and it worked up to a point but is better with a solid base imo

[bumpy]

In my experience, the larger the speaker, the less foo required.

foo ???????

[Wakefield Turntables]

foo ???????

It's hifi speak for "bullshit".

[bumpy]

Agreed

Ordinary furniture castors will be fine. If your audiophilia balks at that, gold plate them and cryogenically treat them before fitting. ;)

And fix with silver screws :)

[bumpy]

It's hifi speak for "bullshit".

:rfl:

[bumpy]

These look the dbs

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AJIAAOSw3YNXa5ig/s-l1600.jpg

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAFELE-Twin-Wheel-Castor-Hooded-30mm-Plate-Fixing-Load-Capacity-25kg-/191903926865?var=&hash=item2cae5d8a51:m:moTfZre_qbQX-EeN4hIGTDg

[walpurgis]

No. I'd avoid those. We had them on office furniture. The nasty plastic castor wheel is in two halves which pop apart at the first excuse. You wouldn't want your nice expensive speakers toppling over.

[bumpy]

No. I'd avoid those. We had them on office furniture. The nasty plastic castor wheel is in two halves which pop apart at the first excuse. You wouldn't want your nice expensive speakers toppling over.

Thanks for the tip. :youtheman:

These are a bit more utilitarian but function wins out over form

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eKgAAMXQVT9S8jj-/s-l500.jpg

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SET-OF-4-CASTORS-SINGLE-30MM-WHEEL-SWIVEL-PLATE-4D1-/130462656114?hash=item1e602e2672:g:eKgAAMXQVT9S8jj-

[Beobloke]

My Leak 3090s have two castors at the rear. Normally they're sat on their wooden plinths but, when you need to move them, you just tip them back, the castors make contact with the floor and you wheel them along. Always thought this was a good compromise.

[Jimbo]

Agreed

Ordinary furniture castors will be fine. If your audiophilia balks at that, gold plate them and cryogenically treat them before fitting. ;)

You could also "super burn" them in by attaching them to a skate board first!

[Macca]

Some good out-of-the-box thinking there, James. :)

[RMutt]

My pretty heavy Goodmans Magisters are on old AVF stands with castors like the ones in your post 10 bumpy. I did need to alter the stands to accommodate the size of the speakers, but I have not had any problems with the castors and I move them around a fair bit.

[struth]

No. I'd avoid those. We had them on office furniture. The nasty plastic castor wheel is in two halves which pop apart at the first excuse. You wouldn't want your nice expensive speakers toppling over.

Both my units are on plastic castors lol.. Still work too.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Oh you'll all get castor envy when you se mine.... :eyebrows:

[Jimbo]

These look the dbs

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AJIAAOSw3YNXa5ig/s-l1600.jpg

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAFELE-Twin-Wheel-Castor-Hooded-30mm-Plate-Fixing-Load-Capacity-25kg-/191903926865?var=&hash=item2cae5d8a51:m:moTfZre_qbQX-EeN4hIGTDg

Nice, even got mudguards so you can take them outside!

[walpurgis]

Nice, even got mudguards so you can take them outside!

That's 'cos they're 'rally spec'. :eyebrows:

[Macca]

As long as they're not Pirelli...

We should have a competetion: all owners of speakers with castors have to turn up at the top of a steep hill and then we race down it. You can enter one speaker or the pair if you have a co-driver.

If we can get Bernie Ecclestone interested in buying the rights then we're all made for life.

[walpurgis]

Should you be near a branch of LIDL, pop in and get a couple of sets of the castors they currently have on offer as a 'special'. Be quick, they'll go soon.

They are very nice quality and at a bargain price.

http://i66.tinypic.com/2u7ruwy.png

[agk]

Those are a good shout, also worth looking out for a couple of dollies (board with castors attached designed to help move big items of furniture etc).

As with Adam (Beobloke) and his 3090's my 2075's have a pair of castors at the rear behind the plinth for laid back movement.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb151/taxiboy69/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG-20160801-00259_zpsvfmbqmak.jpg

As has been stated, the bigger the speaker the less fussy it is about what it sits on.

[hifi_dave]

Now, that is a good idea. Best of both worlds.

[bumpy]

Some great ideas here and some great humour.

[Folkboy]

You could also "super burn" them in by attaching them to a skate board first!

Proper lol that. Also, to keep the wheels running smoothly, would you recommend castor oil?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Should you be near a branch of LIDL, pop in and get a couple of sets of the castors they currently have on offer as a 'special'. Be quick, they'll go soon.

They are very nice quality and at a bargain price.

http://i66.tinypic.com/2u7ruwy.png

Thats whats on my Lockwoods.

[walpurgis]

Well there you go! A recommendation :).


I'm going to pop in there tomorrow and pick some up for my home built Tannoy stands.

[struth]

Certainly look strong wheels. Good price too

[Blueflash]

I use the all metal type. Google Kenrick Castors or do an Ebay search.

I have then under my ATC 50`s and the equipment rack. Makes cleaning and moving them around much easier

[Martyn Miles]

I've had castors on my Spendor BC1 stands since I bought them.
I wouldn't change them, as it makes moving the speakers out into the
room so easy.

The 'Spike Brigade' will wince at this...

Martyn.

[walpurgis]

Here are my two sets from LIDL today. £7.98 for the lot. Nice and sturdy, hefty and well made too.

http://i63.tinypic.com/xm357c.jpg

Just the job for the Tannoy stands! :)

[wee tee cee]

My Spendor SP1s are on the original castor stands....sound marvelous. Great for tucking them away when small children come round or drunk adults!!!

[danilo]

Fitted Castors to my first pair of DIY tannoy 'boxes' .
It was 40 years ago when I was much younger and clearly naive.
Did it for a couple of reasons; Boxes were heavy and I thought it was a 'trick' look :rolleyes:
Proved pointless in real life.
Speakers don't actually get moved much in My usages (possibly different if one had a party venue I suppose).
And the castors were simply ugly.

[Lawrence001]

Does anyone know of castors that screw in the spike holes in speaker stands I've been looking for a set for ages but I can't find any? I thought someone somewhere might make them, not for speakers but just generally for fitting in screw holes with various thread sizes.

[bumpy]

Have decided to go for these as a compromise between casters and spikes. Depending on speaker stability I may use 3 per speaker.

http://travisperkins.scene7.com/is/image/travisperkins/R2362_164416_00?id=cMvTl1&fmt=jpg&fit=constrain,1&wid=310&hei=310


http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-63mm-Self-Adhesive-Glides-Pack-4/p/164416?CAWELAID=120135120000008474&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=17408546092&CATCI=pla-193350297652&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping%20-%20Doors%20and%20Windows&tmcampid=&tmad=c&tmplaceref=EWFK3E0x&utm_content=sEWFK3E0x|pcid|43364674852|pkw||pmt||&gclid=Cj0KEQjw88q9BRDB5qLcwLXr7_sBEiQAZsGjayz4bu-qmMvb4Me40GFcF66g1EYyEjzcahW5Qg8M__AaAkEb8P8HAQ

[Stryder5]

Proper lol that. Also, to keep the wheels running smoothly, would you recommend castor oil?

Caster oil is ideal, smells great when burning in components....lol

[TazSob]

Does anyone know of castors that screw in the spike holes in speaker stands I've been looking for a set for ages but I can't find any? I thought someone somewhere might make them, not for speakers but just generally for fitting in screw holes with various thread sizes.

Have a look at this company, they do all types and fitting castors... Double check the thread size on the speaker stands before ordering though ;)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=lp_1938452031_nr_p_6_2?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A79903031%2Cn%3A%2179904031%2Cn%3A1938353031 %2Cn%3A1938451031%2Cn%3A1938452031%2Cp_6%3AA175LYG I11E5CR&bbn=1938452031&ie=UTF8&qid=1471442651&rnid=419151031

[struth]

I got some of the bay a couple of years ago for my 2 units that were spiked. Just plastic with a m8 screw but take weight easily and roll smooth.. Got locks on too if you need it...handy for tiles or wood

[Clive197]

Here are my two sets from LIDL today. £7.98 for the lot. Nice and sturdy, hefty and well made too.

http://i63.tinypic.com/xm357c.jpg

Just the job for the Tannoy stands! :)

Love these. I nearly bought a set a couple of weeks ago to fit on my speakes. I was going to ask Jason Kenny to ride them around the velodrome in Rio but he declined, saying he wasn't an audiophile. Oh well that ruined my chances of having a pair of Spendor Gold.

[icehockeyboy]

I've had castors on my Spendor BC1 stands since I bought them.
I wouldn't change them, as it makes moving the speakers out into the
room so easy.

The 'Spike Brigade' will wince at this...

Martyn.

That reminds me, back in the day, the radio station I worked on used BC3's and BC1's on stands with castors on them.

Mind you they were wired with that Black And Decker orange cable....

[Barry]

Nowt wrong with orange Black and Decker lawnmower cable!

[Ninanina]

Never mind wheels on speakers my whole 'hifi unit' which has the following on it: TV, Sound Bar for TV, Sky Box, Oto, 717, Dac and spare 717 and that whole unit sits on casters... :eek:

I did have a dedicated hifi unit but to be honest I didn't really have the room for it so it's all on the unit with casters (from Ikea I think!) and I don't intend to change it anytime soon. It's actually quite a solid little unit and I really can't believe it'd make a massive difference to the sound putting it on something different.. :)

[Lawrence001]

Thanks Tazsob and Struth the metal shepherd ones look great but don't know the thread type, is the most common spike type M6 or M8. I've had some thicker spikes before that would have been a size or two up but it's not them I need for the stands.

[TazSob]

Thanks Tazsob and Struth the metal shepherd ones look great but don't know the thread type, is the most common spike type M6 or M8. I've had some thicker spikes before that would have been a size or two up but it's not them I need for the stands.

What speakers do you have? sorry I've not seen you mention them. I think m8 is the standard for larger speakers but I'm not sure and don't want to give you incorrect info

[struth]

m8 tap size(ie the hole you would drill before tapping) is 7mm, so if its very close to that diam then thats the size. m6 is about 5 mm.

[Lawrence001]

Thanks, the speakers are wharfedale laser 400s but the stands are a pair similar in design to the BC1 stands (but with a support brace down the front middle) that I got with a pair of Kef 104abs several years ago and kept as I frequently have a pair of larger vintage speakers on the go. They are just right with the classic "BBC" 2'x1'x1' size cabinets such as B&W DM2as.