If a speaker stand is mass-loading, how much does it matter what they're made of?


Looking for speaker stands. At this point, I'm not sure of the height of my long term listening chair/couch, so I don't want to break the bank on stands.

Looking over different options (Sanus, Monoprice, Pangea, Skylan) raises a question — if a stand is can be filled (shot, sand, etc.), does it make much difference what it's made from (steel, MDF)? What is that difference, in your experience? (Listening, durability, aesthetics, etc.)

With the above in mind, any opinions on modestly priced stands? Perhaps 20" - 22" high?

(Again, I'm not in the market for expensive stands, right now.)
128x128hilde45
hilde45:

I did not realize they were an MDF polymer mix (just researched them) and thought they were some sort of hard plastic.

Pangea has 20" steel stands (currently out of stock) @ Crutchfield that are coming back  in late September, but the top plate is rather small.

The VTI's (mentioned) look good, but for the top place size and orientation.

DeKay 
Thanks. Consulting with Timbernation, too.

I know a local woodworker and might also try a local metal fabricator, too. It should really fit properly, right? Otherwise, a lot of the other factors are much less effective.
@hilde45
In your state, hmmm.  Custom speakers deserve nice custom stands. 

Deer Creek Audio Custom Steel Stands Hand Crafted by Master Artisans - Colorado USA  h t t p s : // deercreekaudio .com/ p / custom-stands

squish spaces back together, link should work and not get filtered.  
@hilde45 

Take a look at the adjustable stands from Reference 3A.  Galen Carol is a dealer and I am sure there are others.

http://www.reference3a.com/stands.html