New Gear Review: LIFT Motorized Speaker Stand by Space Lab Systems
“LIFT is configured to perfectly pair with your speakers to achieve the highest degree of stability and isolation.”
In the pro audio and music-making world, monitoring is one of the most important factors.
While many think of monitoring as only your speakers, it’s actually an entire chain of equipment. So much of what you have in your room affects how you perceive sound, and ultimately the choices you make:
AC power, converters, monitor controller, signal processing, speakers and their placement, acoustic treatment—and, yes, even your monitor stands, play a vital role in ensuring accuracy and fidelity in your setup.
Space Lab Systems aim to improve your space in at least two of those categories with their new LIFT motorized speaker stand.
These were designed by Tim Crossley and Matt Schaefer of Crossley Acoustics, and Alex Sterling, owner and operator of the prestigious Precision Sound in New York City. Let’s take a quick look and see how their new flagship model fares.
Features
Space Lab Systems’ newest offering is unique and configurable. Starting at the bottom, these steel stands feature an X-shaped, laser-cut base. Each leg has an independent, locking, adjustable foot to allow for leveling on any surface. These also allow for cleaner cable runs in most directions.
The stands use a motorized lifting column, like a standing desk, meaning the height is adjustable from the mix position via the remote control. The swing here is sizable with a minimum height of 24.40”, and a maximum height of 50.39”.
The column consists of three concentric steel tubes that telescope out as the height is raised and conceal the column. The bottom of the lifting column also houses the connection points for the controller and power supply.
Atop the column is the speaker isolation platform, which is available in two sizes, and three levels of isolation to fit nearly any speaker size/weight. Also constructed of heavy-weight steel, the platform consists of a two-piece housing, isolated by Sylomer blocks. Sylomer is an elastic polymer often used to isolate vibrations in all sorts of applications from railways to floated rooms, to entire buildings, and it has excellent damping characteristics.
The stands come with a power supply, remote controller, and all the requisite cabling. The controller can mount via screw set to the bottom of a desk if desired. A smart and included method of cable management consists of a magnet on ball-bearings connected to a loop that you can attach anywhere along the lifting column. It’s insanely simple and effective, but I wish it came with two per stand.
In Use
The LIFT stands arrived in minimalist cardboard packaging. As much as I can appreciate the look of the fancy packaging and the unboxing excitement, it’s wasteful and expensive. Nothing of the sort here.
I’m impressed with how well-designed and recyclable the packaging is. The product arrives disassembled but is easy to put together. Having recently moved, and put together more furniture than any one person should, I can comment with insight that these stands are solid, and built well. Tolerances feel great and nothing is wobbly or loose.
My speakers, the excellent Unity Audio Super Rocks, weigh in at 33 lbs, so I had selected the medium platform. At first glance, I worried that the platform was too small, but I have had no issues at all.
After assembly was complete, I had a friend come over to help with getting the placement and angles correct. Once aligned, we began listening. With many stands, the cabinet is directly touching the stand, which in turn directly touches the floor. They are, in that case, coupled together, and act as one.
If the speaker, stand, and floor act as one, then vibrations from the speaker transfer to the others. This results in a loss of efficiency, cone excursion, and a smearing of the signal. Decoupling the speaker from the stand, and thus the floor, has tremendous effects on low frequency and transient response, and evidence of that is borne here.
With LIFT, immediately, I noticed a solidity and clarity in the bottom register that was absent before. Transients also saw an improvement as well. According to the accompanying literature, it is effective down to 8.8 Hz!
The clever design of the top platform isolates the monitor and top plate from all else using the Sylomer blocks mentioned earlier. This is all accomplished very well while still feeling stable and safe.
The motor and height adjustment features all function perfectly as well. Movement and travel were smooth and consistent, and the remote stores up to three memory locations. I initially was interested in these as I upgraded to a sit/stand desk (sitting is the new smoking according to some, and I also like to dance and move a bit while mixing) that also offers motorized height adjustment. Using the stands in conjunction, I can go from seated to standing in seconds with the speakers at the correct relative height either way.
Most people will continue to use a traditional desk or console, but the real benefits of motorized, adjustable stands will still do wonders. They can be summed up in one word, and that is “imaging”.
As much as properly optimizing placement/angle/distance makes a difference in the imaging and stereo field, proper height adjustment can impact the vertical imaging as well. There is an optimal alignment between the drivers and your ears. When set properly, the image and soundstage come alive.
My previous speaker stands were decent mid-level stands, but they only come in two heights. I felt like I was always slouching to get right into the sweet spot, which did nothing for my health, mood, or mixes. Now, regardless of my height, I can easily and consistently set my monitors in the ideal position in seconds. (This can be different depending on the design of the speaker so check with your speaker manufacturer to find the ideal alignment angle in regards to your ears).
Mixing is now easier and more fun as well. Studios that have multiple engineers working can enjoy this as one size will fit all.
To Be Critical
I only have one issue with the LIFT speaker stands by Space Lab Systems. Moving them from side-to-side and front-to-back in the initial setup can be challenging.
What makes the platform so effective at isolation, also means users must be careful when lifting the stand, as the two parts of the platform are only connected by those Sylomer blocks. Additionally, the center column is completely smooth.
Lifting the stands alone is no problem, but trying to change the angle of the stand, with a heavy speaker on it, on top of a carpeted floor, was a little harder. I would love to see optional handles that would make lifting/rotating the stand easier.
Summing it Up
In the end, I was very impressed with and will end up keeping the LIFT stands. The closest competitor with adjustable stands charges more, and those are not even motorized. The build quality and design are excellent, and they have improved the sound quality of my studio. The LIFT system is available in mono, stereo, or LCR configurations. Surround sound/installation users can buy multiple systems to meet whatever speaker layout they have.
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