Audio & Headphones · Head-to-head
Monoprice Monolith by Monoprice 28in Speaker Stand vs Kanto SX26 Fillable Speaker Stands
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Speaker Stands: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Monolith gives you four fillable steel columns and a far higher load rating than anything near its price, and selling singly makes it the practical choice for surround systems too. The Kanto SX26 costs more and carries less, but it is the better-finished object, with contained fill bags, two top plates and cable routing that actually disappears.
Monoprice Monolith by Monoprice 28in Speaker Stand
Buy itFour fillable steel columns, a 100 lb rating and a sold-singly model that makes it the default for stereo and multichannel alike.
- All four hollow steel columns take sand or steel shot, so you can tune mass and damping yourself
- About 21 lb empty before filling, with a 100 lb rating that no bookshelf speaker will trouble
- 8.5 by 6 inch top plate on a 12 by 9.9 inch base, enough for most bookshelf cabinets
- Sold as singles, so a 3.1 or 5.1 system does not leave you with a spare stand
- Filling four columns with sand is a messy afternoon job you only want to do once
- No rotating top plate and no dedicated internal cable channel, so wires tuck between the columns
- At 28 inches it is tall for low sofas, and the 24 inch version is the safer default there
Kanto SX26 Fillable Speaker Stands
Buy itThe most thoughtfully finished fillable stand here, with contained fill bags, two top plates, a bubble level and genuinely hidden cables.
- Fillable column with supplied fill bags, far cleaner than pouring loose sand
- Two top-plate sizes with foam pads, so narrow and wide cabinets both sit properly supported
- Spiked feet, domed rubber feet and a bubble level included for a level, rattle-free setup
- A separate hidden column routes speaker wire and power cables away from the fill
- A pair costs more than two of the steel-column stands
- Rated to 40 lb per stand, which is plenty for bookshelf speakers but well under the steel-column alternative
- Top plates are sized for typical monitors and get tight under unusually wide cabinets
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Monoprice Monolith by Monoprice 28in Speaker Stand Our pick | Kanto SX26 Fillable Speaker Stands | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone with real bookshelf speakers who wants maximum mass per dollar and may need an odd number of stands. | Listeners with resolving stand-mount monitors in a visible living space who want the finish and the fit to match the speakers. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Height options | 18in, 24in, 28in or 32in, fixed | 22in, 26in or 30in, fixed |
| Fillable column | Yes, all four steel columns | Yes, fill bags supplied |
| Top plate and fit | 8.5 by 6 inch plate | Two plate sizes with foam pads |
| Rated load | Up to 100 lb | 40 lb per stand |
| Isolation hardware | Adjustable spikes plus rubber top pads | Spikes, domed rubber feet, foam pads, bubble level |
| Cable routing | Tucked between the columns, no dedicated channel | Separate hidden cable column |
| Sold as | Single stand, buy as many as you need | Pair |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Monoprice Monolith by Monoprice 28in Speaker Stand if
anyone with real bookshelf speakers who wants maximum mass per dollar and may need an odd number of stands.
Know before buying: filling four columns with sand is a messy afternoon job you only want to do once.
Pick the Kanto SX26 Fillable Speaker Stands if
listeners with resolving stand-mount monitors in a visible living space who want the finish and the fit to match the speakers.
Know before buying: a pair costs more than two of the steel-column stands.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Monoprice Monolith by Monoprice 28in Speaker Stand - Four fillable steel columns, a 100 lb rating and a sold-singly model that makes it the default for stereo and multichannel alike. Choose the Kanto SX26 Fillable Speaker Stands instead if listeners with resolving stand-mount monitors in a visible living space who want the finish and the fit to match the speakers.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Speaker Stands: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).