Do I need to use filler in my speaker stands?


I ordered a pair of Skylan stands for my monitor speakers.
How important is it to fill the stand legs with fill material?
I'm mainly interested in improving imaging and transparency and getting the speakers to disappear.

The tonality I get now on on my monitors (not Harbeths) is about perfect to my ears on some little cheap Polywood tables I am using temporarily.

(Filling or un-filling stands with litter or sand is a really messy process and I'd like to avoid it unless if possible.)
Thanks in advance.
rgs92
Skylan stands do sound best filled. Use white rice it is less messy. Start with nothing and then fill them half way and listen. I ended up filling mine about 3/4. Tonal quality, clarity, and soundstage improved. The top end was always open and lost nothing.
I have a pair of custom 24" stands with two pillars coming up from the base. Similar to what you have I imagine. I filled mine with silicone caulk. You might try 1/2 full and then try the rice or kitty litter and adjust until satisfied. Somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 full you will hit the sweet spot. Buy a dozen from Lowes, you will need about six per side. I do not recommend ever completely filling any stand. Typically 60-70% is about right without over dampening. YMMV!
Yes, if only to test whether an improvement in the sound would result. I've always used lead shot. Most of the speakers were ProAC and the sound did improve.
*The tonality I get now on on my monitors (not Harbeths) is about perfect to my ears on some little cheap Polywood tables.*

What are your current monitors? I have Totem Mani-2's on the totem steel stands--unfilled--& like you, I think my system sounds beautiful with the stands "empty". Honestly, am I going out to buy a big bag of sand, or lead shot, to "see if they sound better that way"? Also, how do you move the stands if you need to? It's gotta be a royal pain to remove the sand, or whatever.

I also have a pair of Osiris steel stands, also "unfilled". I had Merlin TSM's on them, & now Spendor S3-5's, & both speakers sound or sounded beautiful that way. Provided: that all the other components are of very high quality. (My C-J preamp blew up & I'm now using some stupid Krell integrated I had around with the Spendors, so right now I've got a way bigger sound quality problem than filling or not filling stands).

Hhmmm....would anyone know how to cut up a Krell KAV300i into small enough pieces to fill speaker stands.....??
The monitors I referred to are my Lahave Mela monitors. I also have
SF Cremona Auditors (also fine, but the Lahaves are more natural and better in every way I can discern.)

And Roxy54-- believe it or not, I've go an old pair of Celestion SL6s I bought in 1993! Thanks.

Oh, about the rice, very interesting but I thought organic things like rice could rot or get moldy or attract insects.
I never heard this before, but it's intriguing.

Thanks to everyone.