On-Stage Stands SS8800B+ Power Crank-up Speaker Stand Reviews

4.7/5.0 based on 3 customer reviews

Sort By Date Sort By Rating

Customer Reviews

Ron M
from Sydney, Australia
June 7, 2012Music Background:
Over 40 years as a Sound Supervisor/Audio Director, mostly live and on location.

Top Engineering

Raise 80lbs or 36.7kg ? (Stated rating.) ...Rather you carrying speakers that size than me, mate...

But these featherweight wonders WILL do just that.

Let's be quite clear about their unique mechanism. SLANTED grooves (on the outside of its internally re-enforced riser tube) mesh with the crank's winding gear to form a screw jack, ...decidedly NOT the rack and pinion or "cable and reel" solution offered by most others.

Why am I prattling on about this ?

Because, when UNclamped ...the screw jack is the ONLY mechanism of these that will remain solidly fixed unless it's actually being cranked.

The riser's knobbed "locking" bolt therefore becomes optional, mainly to prevent acoustically induced rattles or buzzes.

I weigh around 95kg or 210lbs. Applying my full weight (plus G-forces) could not force ANY retraction whatsoever when "pogo sticking" an inverted SS8800B that was extended without its "locking" bolt being screwed in.

That being said, a word about the spreader position in the "brochure" snapshots.

Under NO circumstances should any speaker be raised with the tripod base's legs angled as shown. The stand should only be loaded AFTER the correct deployment (for maximum stability) of the spreader mechanism, a procedure I'll detail below.

(I find that working the legs upside-down is often the easiest way to both start and conclude their spreading.)

Here's how:

1) "Over-spread" the legs past their largest "footprint".

2) With the large "locking" knob UNclamped, plant the stand in its intended location.

3) Use your full weight (probably a lot less than mine) to bear down above the crank housing so as to find where the tripod spreader is most "happy" to sit. This is the position of highest stability, which will have the triple-hinged leg collar a lot lower than shown in the snapshots.

4) Only then should you lock the spreader mechanism, safe in the knowledge that you're now NOT relying on its clamp for stability.

Also, I often use a pair of (or, very rarely, even three for a "hurricane") 15kg (33lb) shot bags for wind-loading.

These are best added AFTER the above procedure, (but before the speakers) by dint of sliding their webbed strap over the entire centre column (the removable crank's a great help) so that the bag ends up "dangling" between the legs, its strap handle securely hooked over the triple-hinged spreader collar.

Hooked this way they're not only less of a "target" for mischief, but they're also transferring their effective ballast to the lowest possible centre of gravity, right at the very end of the stand's legs.

All in all, this is finest and most "back-saving" rig I've ever experienced.

It's also one of the cheapest.

Collin
from Connecticut
October 25, 2011Music Background:
pro musician, engineer

Does the Job

Light weight, smooth operation and with the average modern speaker weighing less than 50lbs more than adequate

MukfromOhio
from Chardon, Ohio
October 5, 2006Music Background:
Active Musician

Sturdy and Easy!

I checked this stand out for our band. We're now using the On-Stage stand without the crank and we love it! These stands are lightweight, well made, very sturdy, and easy to use. And they look great! The large adjustment knobs are easy on the hands. This new model makes it even easier to raise your speaker up over the heads of your audience. A little pricey but worth it for ease of use!