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[Lance Richens]

I need to buy a dozen or so new tripod, boom stands. I want to purchase stands with the "two piece telescoping boom". I'm looking for the best bang for the buck in a solid, fairly heavy stand in the $50.00-$70.00 range.....

[Corey Scogin]

I need to buy a dozen or so new tripod, boom stands. I want to purchase stands with the "two piece telescoping boom". I'm looking for the best bang for the buck in a solid, fairly heavy stand in the $50.00-$70.00 range.....

Here's a thread not long ago about this.
http://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,142136.0.html

The consensus is that K&M, DR Pro, and Atlas are the only thing worth buying.

I had intended to write a review so this may be in place of a dedicated review.

I recently replaced all of my stands as you plan to do. The stands I replaced were On-Staqe MS7701's or Musicians Gear stands both of which are horrible. These failed in one of a few ways.  The main boom pivot clutch rubber pieces eventually crumble.  Once they start, it's not long before they are unusable.  The boom adjustment knob would strip out because it was only threaded into 1/8" or less of metal. 

To test, I purchased a standard K&M (210/9), a higher end On Stage (MS9701TB), and a cheaper Ultimate Jamstands line.

Here's my take on each:

K&M 210/9
-Smooth operation
-Feels solid
-Solid base
-Nice ring around each sliding section where the knob tightens.  This keeps the knob screw from eating into the boom

Ultimate Jamstands
-Feels cheap
-Didn't give this one a close look as it wasn't going to be my choice.

On-Stage MS9701TB
-Feels solid, heavy
-Heavy boom counterweight.  I haven't seen any other stands with an actual weight opposite the mic except for certain Atlas and other recording stands.
-Base sturdy but just a little less solid than the K&M
-Not as smooth of operation as the K&M (sliding boom, lowering/raising)
-The boom tightening screws have rubber pieces that contact the boom.  This makes for a good grip but I fear that these will wear out eventually.  Only time will tell.

I ended up going with the On-Stage because I like the counterweight, it feels very solid, and it's half the price of the K&M.

For someone who doesn't mind spending twice as much, I'd recommend the K&M primarily because of their reputation and I've been burned by On-Stage before.  For the more budget minded, I would absolutely recommend the On-Stage.  I have only had mine for a few weeks so I cannot confirm their long-term performance but based on my observations, I am hopeful.

I have one caveat.  I first purchased one MS9701TB from Amazon.  It was similar, but not exactly like the 9 or so I purchased a week later from MusiciansFriend.  I think On-Stage has updated this stand.  The version pictured may be the MS9701TB+ (note the +).  Also, Amazon's price fluctuates depending on your shopping history, where you live, etc (I think).  I got the first for $39.99.  When I purchased the next group, Amazon's price was around $47 and then $39.99 again the next day after I purchased from MusiciansFriend.

Here's a few pics of the On-Stage.
In one, you can see the weight of the boom assembly and the balance point.  The boom assembly weighs about 2.5 lbs.

[Jerome Malsack]

On Stage has also been very responsive and good about replacement parts.  I also use a 3 and 6 pound weights as needed on stage to supplement the boom or the base.  This works very well for me on one of my older Tama stand that I use for field recording on choirs.  72 in height with 50 in boom.  Stereo pair on end from AT2021 to AT2020.  With 2020 I pull boom back to 40 with 10 behind pivot.

[Frederik Rosenkjær]

In my opinion the best brands are:

1. K&M
2. K&M
3. K&M

In my experience there is NO substitute worth anything at all.
No affiliation.

[John Halliburton]

In my opinion the best brands are:

1. K&M
2. K&M
3. K&M

In my experience there is NO substitute worth anything at all.
No affiliation.

The rest of the top ten list are all K&M too.

Really, one of the items that gets exposed, abused...er I mean adjusted and played with by musicians constantly, then tossed back into a case constantly, and people want to cheap out?

There's a storeroom where a venue I work lets me keep some gear.  Lots of stray stuff in there, but back in a corner are all the other brands of mic stands that people have bought over the years, trashed in one way or another.

This mantra was invented for mic stands:  "Buy once, Cry once". 

Sure, K&M aren't perfect, but they are repairable when they need it, which is far less often than all the other brands.

Best regards,

John

[Brian Adams]

I'll put my vote in for K&M also.  I have 50 K&M telescoping boom stands (25 tall and 25 short), and they're great.  Model 210/9 and whatever the short version of it is.  I still have a few On-Stage stands around, but they've all been retired.  The K&M stands are so much better to work with than anything else I've used, and the availability of parts is nice as well.  It's also nice that I have a consistent inventory, so I know what to expect when I open my stand case. 

All my round base straight stands are Atlas, for whatever that's worth.

I bought all my stands from NSL, usually when I could get a discount on the order.  The regular price for 6 or more is $56.10, so I got all my stands for that amount or less.  Not including shipping, of course.  I'm probably done buying stands for a while though...

[Tim McCulloch]

I need to buy a dozen or so new tripod, boom stands. I want to purchase stands with the "two piece telescoping boom". I'm looking for the best bang for the buck in a solid, fairly heavy stand in the $50.00-$70.00 range.....

Atlas round base stands with K&M booms.  K&M tripod base stands when you can't use round bases.

In the less money category, the short tripod w/boom that Mark & Liz sell at Audiopile.net, the DD-066B, is a pretty good value.  Note that the stand uses a 3/8" thread to mate with the boom, but the boom has USA 27x 5/8" for your mic clips.  You can't use the stand without the boom unless you have adapters.  Not likely to be an issue for most of us.

Stands *should be* "buy once, cry once" items.  You need to keep them nice, but they should last for 20 years, at least.  I have some K&M compact tripod stands/booms that are almost 30 years old.  Only maintenance has been boom clutch washers and the odd adjustment handle.  Probably about $30 worth.

[Rob Spence]

Atlas round base stands with K&M booms.  K&M tripod base stands when you can't use round bases.

In the less money category, the short tripod w/boom that Mark & Liz sell at Audiopile.net, the DD-066B, is a pretty good value.  Note that the stand uses a 3/8" thread to mate with the boom, but the boom has USA 27x 5/8" for your mic clips.  You can't use the stand without the boom unless you have adapters.  Not likely to be an issue for most of us.

Stands *should be* "buy once, cry once" items.  You need to keep them nice, but they should last for 20 years, at least.  I have some K&M compact tripod stands/booms that are almost 30 years old.  Only maintenance has been boom clutch washers and the odd adjustment handle.  Probably about $30 worth.

I also have the short stands from Audiopile. I love em.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Jon Ross]

Musicians Friend had a deal a few days back on a mic stand without boom for $13.99. I studied the specs since there was no model number listed and decided to pull the trigger on 6 of them. They just showed up and believe it or not they are the MS9700b+

[Bob Leonard]

Atlas round base stands with K&M booms.  K&M tripod base stands when you can't use round bases.

In the less money category, the short tripod w/boom that Mark & Liz sell at Audiopile.net, the DD-066B, is a pretty good value.  Note that the stand uses a 3/8" thread to mate with the boom, but the boom has USA 27x 5/8" for your mic clips.  You can't use the stand without the boom unless you have adapters.  Not likely to be an issue for most of us.

Stands *should be* "buy once, cry once" items.  You need to keep them nice, but they should last for 20 years, at least.  I have some K&M compact tripod stands/booms that are almost 30 years old.  Only maintenance has been boom clutch washers and the odd adjustment handle.  Probably about $30 worth.

Atlas round base stands are what I've used since Moby Dick was a minnow. They're not always easy to move in large groups, but they always look good and are built like the proverbial brick shithouse. And my booms are now all K&M.

[Brian Jojade]

I use all Atlas round base stands.  I have some that are older than I am that still function just fine. I use their telescoping boom with counterweight, and it works very well.  The only issues I've run into is that occasionally, a counterweight will come loose and need to be tightened, or the pressed on ends on the tightening handle fell off and had to be re-crimped.

Of course, I have one that's bad because some idiot didn't understand the concept of cross threading and destroyed the threads. But other than that, rock solid.

[brian maddox]

I use all Atlas round base stands.  I have some that are older than I am that still function just fine. I use their telescoping boom with counterweight, and it works very well.  The only issues I've run into is that occasionally, a counterweight will come loose and need to be tightened, or the pressed on ends on the tightening handle fell off and had to be re-crimped.

Of course, I have one that's bad because some idiot didn't understand the concept of cross threading and destroyed the threads. But other than that, rock solid.

Atlas stands are built to LAST.  at the sound co. where i cut my teeth 20 years ago the mic stand case required that all mic stands be broken down to their component parts.  so it was bases in one compartment, poles in another, and booms [mostly K&M as i recall] in another.  And us kids pretty much just threw them in there when we broke them down.  This company worked CONSTANTLY so those stands got rode hard and put away wet 24/7/365.   If i were to go to their shop today i have no doubt i would find the same stands i broke down a few thousand times still working hard.

Buy Once, Cry Once indeed....

[Caleb Dueck]

In my opinion the best brands are:

1. K&M
2. K&M
3. K&M

In my experience there is NO substitute worth anything at all.
No affiliation.

+1

[Bob Leonard]

While were all just standing around here, does anyone have a really good method for packing Atlas stands without removing the base?

[Earl F Young]

not for -BIG- iron, but MS12 and such- not cheap at $30/each (sweetWater): http://www.atlassound.com/Product/1527/1526/MICSTANDS/MICSTANDS-ACCESSORIES/QUICKMOUNT/QR-2

otherwise, I like the stacking version (6 in 1 footprint) http://www.atlassound.com/Product/1994/1993/MICSTANDS/MICROPHONE/STACKING/SMS5B

While were all just standing around here, does anyone have a really good method for packing Atlas stands without removing the base?

[Cosmo]

First, another +1 for K&M, used them for 25 years and wouldn't buy anything else.

Second, @ Corey, very nice photos.

[brian maddox]

not for -BIG- iron, but MS12 and such- not cheap at $30/each (sweetWater): http://www.atlassound.com/Product/1527/1526/MICSTANDS/MICSTANDS-ACCESSORIES/QUICKMOUNT/QR-2

Where these things when I was a kid?  I'd have at least a year of my life back....

[Earl F Young]

my stands all have the quick-release for interchangability of mic/boom/stands: no more threading for me. I also like the Ultimate MC05 because of the large thread; quite strong without spinning the base on/ off for days to break them down. Cheaper than the add-on upright-base Atlas aftermarket part (got a couple-- more of a hassle than worth the price i think)

my MS- 20, 25, 43's I leave assembled..

Where these things when I was a kid?  I'd have at least a year of my life back....

[Bob Charest]

not for -BIG- iron, but MS12 and such- not cheap at $30/each (sweetWater): http://www.atlassound.com/Product/1527/1526/MICSTANDS/MICSTANDS-ACCESSORIES/QUICKMOUNT/QR-2

Hi Earl, I got a couple of these hoping to cut some setup/teardown time, but found that the tolerances of the mating parts left too much wobble. Great idea though, if only they fit together much more snugly.

Best regards,
Bob Charest

[Earl F Young]

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Hi Earl, I got a couple of these hoping to cut some setup/teardown time, but found that the tolerances of the mating parts left too much wobble. Great idea though, if only they fit together much more snugly.

Best regards,
Bob Charest

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