Best Budget-Friendly: Rockville Pair RVES1 Adjustable TripodBinnice New Heated Socks

When it comes to speaker stands, like most audio for PA systems, there is a range of choices . . . and prices can quickly escalate. But what if you just need a basic pair of speaker stands without any fancy bells and whistles? We liked this pair of Rockville stands for their bang-for-the-buck.

What We Liked

• Good for speakers 15″ or less. FYI: When we refer to a speaker size like 15″, we mean those with a 15″ woofer. These speakers are most common for basic PA set-ups or small bands.

 • Sturdy.

• Affordable.

• Piston that enables the stand to rise and fall works well.

What Needs Work

• 100 lbs. capacity means these stands won’t work well for larger speakers.

• Narrow 31″ base could result in speakers being knocked over by accident.

• Speaker needs to be on stand to provide weight for stand to lower.

Best for PA System: Pyle Universal Speaker Stand

If you are in charge of setting up a PA system at a church or other facility, you probably need a speaker stand that is simple to set up and use. Since you aren’t transporting it like a mobile DJ, the weight isn’t as much of an issue. In this case, we like Pyle’s universal speaker stand. No, they don’t have the carry bag you find with the Rockville stands above, but we assume most PA set-ups don’t require that.

What We Liked

• Strong and sturdy.

• Easy to set up.

• Lightweight at 3.9 lbs.

• Can hold larger speakers up to 132 lbs.

• Base extends up to 40″ wide, larger than other stands in this price range according to our research.

What Needs Work

• No travel bag means stands may get dinged up during travel.

Best Tried & True Brand: Fender Compact Speaker Stands with Bag

If you are mounting expensive speakers and would prefer a tried and true brand speaker stand, this would be our choice: Fender. Yes, that is the same brand known for its guitar amps and other pro audio. And these speakers live up to the brand reputation, with excellent construction and sturdiness.

What We Liked

• Great for 12″ speakers (60 lbs. each maximum).

• Wide base to prevent tip overs.

• Good quality reputation.

• Durable.

• Travel bag is handy.

What Needs Work

• Only extend to 60″ in height, which is roughly a foot less than other stands we researched for this article. We think this height is fine for small parties or home use, however.

• A bit pricey.

Best For Karaoke: QFX S-14 Tri-Pod PA Speaker Stand

When it comes to karaoke night at home, a simple speaker stand is all you need and this one fills the bill: QFX S-14. No fancy travel bag or other bells and whistles but it gets the job done.

What We Liked

• 60 lbs. weight capacity good for most speakers that are 12″ or less in size.

• 54″ top height is good for most home or small parties.

• Lightweight.

• Easy to set up.

What Needs Work

• Doesn’t extend as tall as other stands in this article.

• No travel bag.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

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