Audio T Verdict
The Solidsteel SS-6 has become something of a modern classic. Its distinctive tripod construction dates back to 1992, yet the combination of a sensible 625mm height, substantial hand-welded steel frame and clever top-plate decoupling still makes it an excellent partner for today's standmount loudspeakers.
The SS-6 sits right in the useful middle ground for speaker height. At approximately 625mm, it works particularly well with compact and medium-sized monitors where a shorter stand would leave the tweeter below the ideal listening axis. The standard 160 x 160mm MDF top plate is supported on three precision ball bearings, creating defined mechanical contact points between the loudspeaker platform and the main frame.
The three-legged construction gives the stand a naturally stable footprint, while the frame can be mass loaded if desired. Adjustable stainless-steel spikes allow accurate levelling, protective floor discs are included and each stand can support a loudspeaker weighing up to 40kg.
There is a reason the SS-6 has become a favourite in Audio T demonstration rooms over the years. It combines proper engineering with a design that looks unlike almost anything else, and it gives a good pair of standmount speakers the stable, correctly positioned foundation they deserve.
Choose Speaker Stand Height Carefully
The SS-6 is approximately 625mm high. The correct speaker stand is not necessarily determined by cabinet size alone. Check where the loudspeaker's tweeter or recommended acoustic axis will sit relative to your ears in the normal listening position.
Solidsteel SS-6 Speaker Stands
The Solidsteel SS-6 is the mid-height model in the company's current SS Series of specialist loudspeaker stands.
Supplied as a pair and manufactured in Italy, the SS-6 combines a hand-welded three-leg steel frame with a lacquered MDF speaker platform, three-point ball-bearing decoupling, fillable structural sections and individually adjustable stainless-steel floor spikes.
At approximately 625mm high, the SS-6 is particularly well suited to compact and medium-sized bookshelf, standmount and monitor loudspeakers that need more elevation than the shorter SS-5 provides.
- Supplied as a pair
- Current Solidsteel SS Series
- Original SS design introduced in 1992
- Manufactured in Italy
- Hand-welded steel tripod frame
- Traditional brass welding process
- Approximately 625mm stand height
- Approximately 330 x 310mm overall footprint
- 160 x 160mm standard MDF top plate
- 190 x 190mm custom top plate option available
- Hand-finished lacquered top plate
- 40kg maximum loudspeaker load per stand
- Approximately 12.2kg weight per stand
- Three precision ball bearings beneath each top plate
- Mechanical decoupling between top plate and main frame
- Fillable structural sections
- Optional mass loading
- Filling material not supplied
- Height-adjustable stainless-steel floor spikes
- Stainless-steel protective floor discs included
- Pata-fix speaker securing material included
- Three-point floor contact
- Black finish
- White finish
- Industrial Raw finish
Why Use Dedicated Speaker Stands?
Standmount loudspeakers are designed around the assumption that they will be positioned at an appropriate height and supported securely.
A dedicated speaker stand helps control several important aspects of setup:
- Tweeter height relative to the listener
- Loudspeaker stability
- Distance from the floor
- Distance from rear and side walls
- Toe-in angle
- Mechanical interaction with the floor
- Freedom from resonant domestic furniture
Placing a standmount loudspeaker on a sideboard, cabinet or bookshelf can compromise several of these factors at the same time.
625mm Speaker Stand Height
The SS-6 stands approximately 625mm or 24.6 inches high before the loudspeaker is added.
This is a very useful height for many modern compact and medium-sized standmount speakers.
The aim is to position the loudspeaker's tweeter or intended acoustic axis at the height recommended by the manufacturer, typically somewhere around the listener's seated ear level.
How Do I Work Out the Correct Speaker Stand Height?
Measure your approximate seated ear height, then measure the position of the tweeter or recommended acoustic axis from the bottom of the loudspeaker cabinet. The difference gives a useful starting point for stand height. Always check the speaker manufacturer's positioning recommendations too.
160 x 160mm Standard Top Plate
The standard SS-6 uses a 160 x 160mm MDF top plate.
Although this may look smaller than the base of many bookshelf speakers, the supporting plate does not need to cover the entire cabinet footprint. The important requirement is that the loudspeaker remains completely stable and appropriately supported.
Compact top plates can also keep the stand visually discreet beneath the cabinet.
Check Speaker Stability Before Ordering
The standard SS-6 top plate measures approximately 160 x 160mm. A larger speaker cabinet can overhang the plate, but it must remain secure and stable. Check the cabinet footprint, centre of gravity and any factory-fitted feet before choosing the stand.
Optional 190 x 190mm Top Plate
Solidsteel also offers the SS-6 with a larger 190 x 190mm top plate as a custom option.
This is the same nominal plate size fitted as standard to the shorter SS-5 and may make more sense with speakers that have:
- A larger cabinet footprint
- Widely spaced support feet
- A relatively high centre of gravity
- A base that benefits from additional supporting area
160mm or 190mm Top Plate?
The standard 160 x 160mm plate is suitable for many compact monitors. If your speaker has a particularly broad base or you would simply prefer greater supporting area, ask Audio T about the custom 190 x 190mm option before ordering.
Pata-fix Speaker Securing Material Included
Solidsteel supplies Pata-fix material with the SS Series to help secure the loudspeaker cabinet to the top platform.
This provides additional resistance to accidental sliding or movement without requiring the loudspeaker to be permanently screwed to the stand.
It can be particularly useful when the loudspeaker base is larger than the top plate.
Three-Point Ball-Bearing Decoupling
The SS-6 does not simply bolt its MDF top plate rigidly across the entire upper surface of the main frame.
Instead, the speaker platform is supported through three precision ball bearings.
These create three defined mechanical contact points between the platform carrying the loudspeaker and the structural frame beneath it.
What Is Ball-Bearing Decoupling?
Using three small, defined contact points rather than a broad rigid interface changes how mechanical energy can travel between the speaker platform and stand. Solidsteel uses this arrangement to help decouple the top plate from the main frame while retaining a stable supporting surface.
Vibro-Acoustic Testing
Solidsteel has published technical testing of the SS Series carried out with researchers from the University of Bologna.
During the test, a loudspeaker was positioned on the stand and used to reproduce a frequency sweep while accelerometers measured vibration at different points within the stand structure.
In the published test arrangement, Solidsteel reports that the stand reduced measured signal transmission from the loudspeaker into the supporting structure by approximately 10 to 15dB, particularly at lower frequencies.
What Does the Test Result Mean?
The measurement demonstrates that the SS Series' mechanical arrangement changes the amount of vibrational energy transmitted into the stand under the test conditions. It should not be interpreted as a promise of a fixed 10 to 15dB audible improvement in every system, as the loudspeaker, floor, positioning and room all affect the final result.
Hand-Welded Steel Tripod Frame
The current SS Series uses a main steel frame assembled using a traditional hand-welding process with brass.
The tripod construction has become one of the defining visual features of the SS range and has remained fundamentally recognisable since its introduction in 1992.
The open metal architecture also avoids large flat furniture panels that could themselves become mechanically active around the loudspeaker.
Why Three Legs?
A tripod has a simple mechanical advantage: three points always define a plane.
Unlike a four-foot structure, it cannot be left rocking because one of four feet is fractionally clear of an uneven floor.
The adjustable spikes can therefore be used primarily to level the loudspeaker accurately rather than compensating for an unstable basic geometry.
Three-Point Stability
The SS-6 still needs to be levelled correctly, but its three-point floor contact makes establishing a stable foundation particularly straightforward on real-world floors that may not be perfectly flat.
Fillable Stand Structure
The SS-6 frame can be filled with suitable damping material if additional mass loading is desired.
The filling material itself is not included.
Adding mass can increase the overall weight of the stand and alter the behaviour of the hollow structural sections.
Do You Need to Fill Speaker Stands?
No. Mass loading is an option rather than a requirement for using the SS-6 correctly.
Whether it is worthwhile will depend on:
- The loudspeaker
- The floor construction
- The desired overall stand mass
- How often the speakers need to be moved
- The amount of filling material used
Think Before Filling the Stands Completely
Each SS-6 already weighs approximately 12.2kg before mass loading or a loudspeaker is added. Filling the structure can make the finished installation significantly heavier, so position the stands carefully first.
What Can Speaker Stands Be Filled With?
Speaker stands are commonly mass loaded with suitable dry, non-reactive materials intended for this purpose.
Whatever material is chosen should be clean, completely dry and appropriate for use inside a metal stand.
If you are unsure whether mass loading is appropriate for your loudspeakers or floor, speak to Audio T before filling them.
40kg Maximum Loudspeaker Weight
Solidsteel currently rates each SS Series stand for a loudspeaker weighing up to 40kg.
That is approximately 88lb per stand.
The rating makes the SS-6 suitable for many substantial standmount loudspeakers, but weight is only one part of compatibility.
Check Size, Height and Weight Together
A speaker weighing only 15kg may still be unsuitable if its footprint is unstable on the top plate or if the 625mm stand height places the tweeter too high. A good stand match considers all three factors together.
Approximately 12.2kg Per Stand
The established SS-6 specification gives an unfilled stand weight of approximately 12.2kg each.
A pair therefore weighs around 24.4kg before optional filling material and the loudspeakers themselves are added.
This provides a substantial foundation while still allowing the stands to be repositioned during initial loudspeaker setup.
Adjustable Stainless-Steel Floor Spikes
Each SS-6 uses three individually adjustable stainless-steel spikes at floor level.
These provide defined contact points with the floor and allow the stands to be accurately levelled once their final position has been established.
Accurate adjustment is particularly useful when setting up stereo speakers because both cabinets can be kept at consistent heights and angles.
Stainless-Steel Floor Protection Discs
Solidsteel includes stainless-steel protective floor discs with the current SS Series.
These sit underneath the pointed spikes on timber, laminate, tile, stone and other finished floors where direct spike contact could cause damage.
Use the Floor Protectors on Hard Flooring
Pointed spikes can permanently mark wooden, laminate and other vulnerable surfaces. Use the supplied stainless-steel protection discs beneath each spike where the underlying floor requires protection.
Correct Speaker Positioning
Speaker stands provide the foundation, but the position of the loudspeaker within the room remains equally important.
Useful variables to experiment with include:
- Distance between the loudspeakers
- Distance from the rear wall
- Distance from side walls
- Toe-in angle
- Tweeter height
- Listening distance
- Room symmetry
Small changes can make surprisingly large differences to bass balance, stereo imaging and overall presentation.
Why Not Put Bookshelf Speakers on Furniture?
Despite the name, a bookshelf speaker does not necessarily perform at its best when placed on an actual bookshelf.
Domestic furniture can:
- Position the speaker at the wrong height
- Resonate along with the loudspeaker
- Place the cabinet too close to a rear wall
- Prevent accurate toe-in
- Restrict left and right speaker spacing
- Create additional reflective surfaces around the cabinet
A dedicated stand allows the loudspeaker position to be chosen around listening requirements rather than the location of the furniture.
Can Speaker Stands Improve Sound?
A speaker stand does not change the electrical specification of the loudspeaker, but it can change several important aspects of the way the speaker operates in the room.
These include:
- Listening-axis height
- Cabinet stability
- Distance from room boundaries
- Toe-in
- Interaction with resonant furniture
- Mechanical interaction with the floor
How much audible difference results will depend on the loudspeaker, room, floor and support being replaced.
An Audio T Favourite
The Solidsteel SS-6 has appeared repeatedly in Audio T demonstration systems over the years.
Our Cardiff team used the Raw SS-6 with KEF LS50 speakers and took a detailed look at its construction and isolation system in Solidsteel SS-6 Raw - A Stand That Won't Join the Band!.
The Cheltenham team has also explored the effect of moving standmount loudspeakers onto the SS-6 in Can You Get Excited By A Loudspeaker Stand? SolidSteel Stands To Reason!.
And in our wider guide to hi-fi furniture, the SS-6 again received a mention as a favourite speaker stand in Rack 'em up! - Dispelling the Myth Around Hi-Fi Furniture.
SS-5 or SS-6?
SS-5
- Approximately 525mm high
- 190 x 190mm standard top plate
- Approximately 11.5kg per stand
- 40kg maximum load per stand
- Better suited where the speaker itself is relatively tall
- 100mm lower than the SS-6
SS-6
- Approximately 625mm high
- 160 x 160mm standard top plate
- 190 x 190mm custom top plate available
- Approximately 12.2kg per stand
- 40kg maximum load per stand
- Better suited where additional elevation is required
Which Height Should You Choose?
The Solidsteel SS-5 is approximately 100mm shorter than the SS-6.
The choice should be based primarily on the acoustic height of the loudspeaker rather than simply whether the speaker is described as small, medium or large.
A compact monitor may need the taller SS-6 to bring its tweeter to seated ear height, whereas a physically taller standmount cabinet may work better on the shorter SS-5.
Why the SS-6 Is Such a Useful Height
Around 600 to 650mm is a common stand height for many compact modern standmount loudspeakers.
This is one reason the SS-6 is such a versatile model within the range. It provides enough elevation for many conventional bookshelf designs without pushing them excessively high.
Speaker-specific setup guidance should always take priority, but 625mm makes a very useful starting point for a broad range of monitors.
Black, White or Industrial Raw
The Solidsteel SS-6 is available through Audio T in:
- Black
- White
- Industrial Raw
Black gives the distinctive tripod frame a relatively understated appearance, White works particularly well in lighter contemporary rooms, while Industrial Raw makes the welding and engineering much more visually prominent.
The speaker-supporting MDF top plate retains its finished surface rather than simply being an exposed metal platform.
A Design Dating Back to 1992
The original SS speaker stand design was created in 1992 and remains recognisably the same concept today.
That longevity is unusual in hi-fi accessories and has helped the three-leg Solidsteel stand become something of an identifiable design in its own right.
The combination of exposed metalwork, hand welding and tripod geometry gives it a look that works equally well with traditional monitor loudspeakers and contemporary standmount designs.
Who Are the Solidsteel SS-6 Stands For?
- Compact and medium-sized standmount loudspeakers
- Bookshelf speakers
- Monitor loudspeakers
- Speakers requiring approximately 625mm stand height
- Loudspeakers weighing up to 40kg each
- Systems where speaker positioning is important
- Listeners interested in mechanical speaker decoupling
- Owners wanting fillable speaker stands
- Rooms with slightly uneven floors
- Customers wanting a three-point tripod design
- Speakers suited to a compact 160 x 160mm support plate
- Speakers requiring the optional larger 190 x 190mm plate
- Customers looking for Italian-made specialist speaker stands
Who Are They Not For?
- Speakers whose recommended stand height is significantly below 625mm
- Speakers whose recommended stand height is significantly above 625mm
- Loudspeakers weighing more than 40kg each
- Speakers that cannot sit safely on either the standard or optional top plate
- Speakers requiring a proprietary bolt-on manufacturer stand
- Desktop systems where floor stands are unnecessary
- Installations where the 330 x 310mm overall footprint cannot be accommodated safely
Key Features
- Solidsteel SS-6
- Supplied as a pair
- Current SS Series
- Original design introduced in 1992
- Made in Italy
- Hand-welded steel frame
- Traditional brass welding process
- Three-leg tripod construction
- 625mm stand height
- 330mm overall width
- 310mm overall depth
- 160 x 160mm standard top plate
- 190 x 190mm custom top plate available
- Lacquered MDF top plate
- Three-point ball-bearing top-plate support
- Precision ball bearings
- Mechanical top-plate decoupling
- Fillable structural sections
- Optional mass loading
- 40kg maximum loudspeaker load per stand
- Approximately 88lb load capacity per stand
- Approximately 12.2kg weight per stand
- Adjustable stainless-steel spikes
- Stainless-steel protective floor discs included
- Pata-fix speaker securing material included
- Published vibro-acoustic testing
- Suitable for bookshelf speakers
- Suitable for monitor loudspeakers
- Black finish
- White finish
- Industrial Raw finish
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Solidsteel SS-6 speaker stands sold as a pair?
Yes. The Solidsteel SS-6 is supplied as a pair of loudspeaker stands.
How tall are the Solidsteel SS-6 speaker stands?
The SS-6 stands are approximately 625mm or 24.6 inches high.
What speakers are the Solidsteel SS-6 suitable for?
The SS-6 is designed for compatible small and medium-sized bookshelf, standmount and monitor loudspeakers where a 625mm stand height provides an appropriate listening axis.
How do I choose the right height speaker stand?
Start by checking the height of your ears when seated and the position of the loudspeaker's tweeter or intended acoustic axis. The stand should position the speaker close to the listening height recommended by its manufacturer.
What size is the standard Solidsteel SS-6 top plate?
The standard SS-6 top plate measures approximately 160 x 160mm.
Is a larger top plate available for the Solidsteel SS-6?
Yes. Solidsteel lists a 190 x 190mm top plate as a custom option for the SS-6.
Can a speaker be larger than the SS-6 top plate?
Yes. The loudspeaker cabinet can overhang the support plate provided it remains completely stable and appropriately supported. Check the cabinet footprint, centre of gravity and any feet fitted beneath it.
How much weight can each Solidsteel SS-6 support?
Each stand is rated to support a loudspeaker weighing up to 40kg, approximately 88lb.
How much does each Solidsteel SS-6 stand weigh?
Each stand weighs approximately 12.2kg before optional mass loading.
What is the footprint of the Solidsteel SS-6?
The overall footprint is approximately 330mm wide by 310mm deep.
What is ball-bearing decoupling on a speaker stand?
The SS-6 supports its MDF top plate through three precision ball bearings. These create defined contact points between the loudspeaker platform and main stand structure rather than a broad rigid connection.
Does the Solidsteel SS-6 help reduce vibration?
The SS-6 is designed to manage mechanical interaction between loudspeaker, stand and floor. Solidsteel has also published vibro-acoustic testing in which the SS Series reduced measured loudspeaker-to-stand vibration transmission under the test conditions.
Does a speaker stand improve sound quality?
A dedicated stand can affect the result by changing loudspeaker height, stability, room positioning and mechanical support. The audible effect will depend on the speaker, room, floor and support being replaced.
Can the Solidsteel SS-6 stands be filled?
Yes. The structural sections can be filled with suitable damping material to increase mass. Filling material is not supplied.
Do speaker stands need to be mass loaded?
No. Mass loading is optional. Whether it is useful will depend on the loudspeaker, stand, flooring and desired overall mass.
Why does the Solidsteel SS-6 have three legs?
Three floor-contact points inherently define a stable plane. The tripod arrangement therefore cannot rock in the same way an incorrectly adjusted four-foot structure can.
Are the Solidsteel SS-6 spikes adjustable?
Yes. Each stand uses individually adjustable stainless-steel floor spikes for accurate levelling.
Can the Solidsteel SS-6 be used on wooden floors?
Yes. Stainless-steel protective floor discs are included for use beneath the spikes on timber, laminate and other finished surfaces.
How are speakers secured to the Solidsteel SS-6?
Solidsteel includes Pata-fix material to help secure the loudspeaker cabinet to the top plate and resist unwanted slipping or movement.
What is the difference between the Solidsteel SS-5 and SS-6?
The SS-5 is approximately 525mm high and uses a 190 x 190mm standard top plate. The SS-6 is approximately 625mm high and uses a 160 x 160mm standard top plate, with a 190 x 190mm custom option available.
Should I choose the Solidsteel SS-5 or SS-6?
Choose according to the loudspeaker's intended listening-axis height. The SS-6 raises the speaker approximately 100mm higher, while the SS-5 is better suited to speakers whose tweeters already sit relatively high within the cabinet.
Are the Solidsteel SS-6 suitable for heavy standmount speakers?
Yes, provided each loudspeaker weighs no more than 40kg and can sit safely and stably on the chosen top plate.
Can the Solidsteel SS-6 be used with studio monitors?
Yes. Compatible passive or active monitors can be used where their dimensions, weight and required listening height suit the stand.
What finishes are available for the Solidsteel SS-6?
The SS-6 is available in Black, White and Industrial Raw finishes.
Where are Solidsteel SS-6 speaker stands made?
The Solidsteel SS Series is manufactured in Italy.
When was the Solidsteel SS speaker stand design introduced?
The original SS Series design dates back to 1992.
Do the Solidsteel SS-6 speaker stands require assembly?
Yes. Final assembly, spike fitting, levelling and positioning are required before the loudspeakers are installed.
Related Solidsteel Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy the Solidsteel SS-6 From Audio T?
Choosing the right speaker stand is about more than finding something the cabinet will physically sit on. Stand height, tweeter position, top-plate dimensions, loudspeaker weight, room positioning and the listening seat all affect whether the match is right.
Audio T can help check your loudspeakers against the SS-6, compare it with the shorter SS-5 and advise whether the standard 160mm or optional 190mm top plate makes more sense for your speakers.
- Friendly specialist loudspeaker advice
- Speaker and top-plate compatibility checks
- Stand-height guidance
- SS-5 and SS-6 comparisons
- 160mm and 190mm top-plate guidance
- Tweeter-height setup advice
- Loudspeaker positioning guidance
- Toe-in and stereo-image setup advice
- Mass-loading guidance
- Spike and levelling assistance
- Hard-floor protection advice
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store with your loudspeaker model if you would like help checking whether the Solidsteel SS-6 is the right stand for your system.