Holostages - critical review
- Thread starter Halydean
- Start date
I was terrified of removing the 3M Command strip tape that comes with the shelves, so I looked for a demo on YouTube. It worked perfectly, and I've relocated three shelves since their first installation with no wall or paint damage at all. Basically, you pull the Command tab straight down (assuming that the tab is at the bottom), keeping the tab parallel with and close to the wall. You do not want to pull the tab away from the wall, and you don't want to peel it off the wall. It's kind of cool (and non-intuitive). But look at the videos...
I have mine as follows:
One each on top of my Crossovers, 24" off the ground right next to the speakers.
One each on the kitchen counter about 36 "off the ground and directly behind my seating area.
That works great for me, but I have 12 in total. What really works great is adding two more between my seating area and the speaker on a table that is 24" off the ground. My seating area is not centered between the speakers.
I am not going to attach shelving to my walls. In my system, I do not need to. The whole point is just move them around where you think they may aid in your listening pleasure.
One each on top of my Crossovers, 24" off the ground right next to the speakers.
One each on the kitchen counter about 36 "off the ground and directly behind my seating area.
That works great for me, but I have 12 in total. What really works great is adding two more between my seating area and the speaker on a table that is 24" off the ground. My seating area is not centered between the speakers.
I am not going to attach shelving to my walls. In my system, I do not need to. The whole point is just move them around where you think they may aid in your listening pleasure.
My biggest take away after having these in my system for a few weeks is to have fun with it and move in smallish increments. If they don't sound great when you place them, I would move them 2 at a time to a new location. Then move the next two if needed. They sounded killer when I first placed them in my room. Then around a day later the sound change and actually for the worse. It became compressed, bright and lifeless. Then I moved the set that was on the side walls from in between the speakers and me to align with me on the side walls and the sound came back only to revert to what I was trying to escape from again after about a day. I ended up purchasing 10 in total along with the ground box and breaker panel box. I was getting a little frustrated thinking I made a mistake, because I would add more and the sound would become better than anything I've heard in my system, even including when I placed the first four. Then I went back to step one and removed six I put four in a different room with a TV and Sonos surround and two off the kitchen on our 2nd system. That was about 2 weeks ago. After going back to four on my main system and letting it settle in ended up working. My system sounds absolutely stunning right now. Back to what the sound I've been chasing and staying there. The other 6 units work on my other systems so I'm planning on leaving them put. I might slowly introduce them back in but I'm thoroughly satisfied right now and want to continue to enjoy the bliss for a while, besides, I'm afraid I'll mess up a good thing.
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Re: the Command tape. You can buy replacement tapes cheaply online or (in the US) at Home Depot or Lowe's. Use fresh tape for each mounting.
Here is my latest update:
My Clarisys Planar speakers are 53"H and do not radiate sound out the sides nor above the panels. And when you stand up the soundstage drops.
At first, I placed the HoloStages up high and then lowered them to about 5 feet (60") at the 4 corners of the room. But I have found the higher I placed the units the more I lost the soul of the music. And the bass and lower midrange beauty were overshadowed by too much upper mid/treble.
So, I just moved the front units to the height of the speakers (53"H) and the sound started to sound more balanced and pleasurable. I also placed them on the Command/shelves with the units laying horizontal. The 2 that are in the back corners are still at 5' high.
I'm not sure yet if this will be their final resting place, or even if these are keepers, but the Planers with the HoloStages are different animals when it comes to room placement.
ozzy
My Clarisys Planar speakers are 53"H and do not radiate sound out the sides nor above the panels. And when you stand up the soundstage drops.
At first, I placed the HoloStages up high and then lowered them to about 5 feet (60") at the 4 corners of the room. But I have found the higher I placed the units the more I lost the soul of the music. And the bass and lower midrange beauty were overshadowed by too much upper mid/treble.
So, I just moved the front units to the height of the speakers (53"H) and the sound started to sound more balanced and pleasurable. I also placed them on the Command/shelves with the units laying horizontal. The 2 that are in the back corners are still at 5' high.
I'm not sure yet if this will be their final resting place, or even if these are keepers, but the Planers with the HoloStages are different animals when it comes to room placement.
ozzy
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Once you find the right placement you'll know it. It's as if the room is taken out of the equation and your speakers are given the space they need to breathe.
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Don't underestimate placing them lower ie, seat level; Also, try moving the rear ones in front of you in line with the speakers to your listening area.
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