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21 May 2026
FutureShop is an authorised dealer for Atacama Audio, a British furniture brand founded in Sheffield and known for combining acoustic engineering with award-winning industrial design. This guide draws on direct in-store and customer installation experience with the full Atacama range.
Our Verdict
Atacama stands and racks deliver measurable acoustic improvements through vibration control and speaker positioning, not just aesthetic ones. The NeXXus HiFi stands are the best all-round choice for bookshelf speakers in a dedicated listening setup, the Moseco series suits style-led rooms where the stand is as visible as the speaker, and the Evoque Eco racks provide the most effective component isolation in the range for turntables, DACs, and amplifiers.
Quick Take
- Atacama uses eco-friendly bamboo composite shelving throughout the Evoque Eco and Eris Eco ranges for exceptional vibration absorption without the acoustic colouration of MDF or glass.
- The NeXXus stands are available in heights from 200mm to 1000mm, allowing precise speaker tweeter-to-ear alignment regardless of seating height or speaker type.
- Mass-loading with Atabites (sand or specialist fill) increases stand rigidity and weight, tightening bass definition and reducing the stand's susceptibility to floor-borne vibration.
- The Evoque Eco 60-40 SE2 isolates each component on individual bamboo shelves with vibration-damping spacers, preventing mechanical feedback between a turntable and nearby amplifier or DAC.
- The Apollo Storm range uses solid oak shelving rather than bamboo, giving it a warmer aesthetic suited to traditional interiors while maintaining Atacama's acoustic engineering principles.
When it comes to getting the best performance from your hi-fi system, speaker stands and equipment racks are often underestimated. Atacama Audio's award-winning designs, from the NeXXus and Moseco speaker stands to the Evoque Eco and Eris Eco hi-fi racks, are engineered to deliver clear, detailed, and engaging sound. Below, we explore five ways they can enhance your listening experience, with a closer look at some of their most popular products.
1. Superior Vibration Control
Vibration is the enemy of accurate sound reproduction. Atacama's stands and racks use advanced damping techniques, mass-loading options, and high-grade materials such as bamboo composite to minimise resonance. Models like the Evoque Eco 60-40 and Eris Eco 5 use eco-friendly bamboo shelving for exceptional vibration absorption, ensuring your components operate without interference.
2. Optimised Speaker Positioning
Correct speaker height and alignment are critical to achieving an ideal stereo image. The NeXXus series is available in a wide range of height options, allowing customers to choose the perfect height for their specific speakers and listening position. The Moseco range combines steel columns with natural bamboo bases for stability and style, ensuring your speakers are positioned to deliver an accurate soundstage.
How to Choose the Right Stand Height
The single most important measurement when choosing a speaker stand is the height of your speaker's tweeter above the floor when seated. The tweeter is the small high-frequency driver, usually at the top of the cabinet. The goal is to bring the tweeter to ear level when you are in your normal listening position.
Here is how to calculate the right stand height in three steps:
- Measure your seated ear height. Sit in your listening chair in your normal position and measure the distance from the floor to your ear. For most adults in an armchair or sofa, this is between 90cm and 105cm.
- Measure the tweeter position on your speaker. With the speaker on a flat surface, measure from the base of the cabinet to the centre of the tweeter. Typical bookshelf speakers have tweeters between 25cm and 35cm from the base.
- Subtract to find the stand height. Subtract the tweeter height from your seated ear height. If your ear is at 98cm and your tweeter is at 30cm, you need a stand of approximately 68cm (680mm).
Atacama's NeXXus and Moseco ranges are available in heights of 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, 700mm, and 1000mm, covering the full range from near-floor desktop placement to high-seating tall-sofa positions. If your calculation falls between two heights, choose the taller option: a tweeter slightly above ear level is generally preferable to one below it, as downward dispersion is wider than upward dispersion in most designs.
If you are unsure of your calculation, our team can help. Bring the model of your speaker and your seated ear height to the contact form and we will recommend the correct NeXXus height for your setup.
3. Improved Bass Definition
By isolating speakers from the floor and offering the option to mass-load with Atabites, Atacama stands tighten bass response and reduce boominess. Mass-loading increases the overall weight and rigidity of the stand, making it more resistant to movement and resonance. This leads to deeper, more controlled low frequencies, improved timing, and better integration with the rest of the audio spectrum, a benefit that's particularly noticeable in smaller or acoustically challenging rooms.
How to Mass-Load Your Atacama Stands with Atabites
Mass-loading is one of the most effective and lowest-cost improvements you can make to a speaker stand, and Atacama's NeXXus and Moseco stands are specifically designed to accommodate it via their hollow steel columns.
Atabites are Atacama's proprietary filling compound, available in bags sized to fill one or two stand columns. The process is straightforward:
- Remove the top plate. The top plate lifts or unscrews depending on the stand model.
- Pour the Atabites into the column. Fill slowly and tap the column gently to settle the material. Overfilling causes difficulty replacing the top plate; stop when the column is approximately 90% full.
- Replace the top plate and refit the speaker. Check that the stand sits level before placing the speaker back.
The acoustic benefit is immediate and consistent: a fully loaded stand is significantly more resistant to sympathetic vibration from bass frequencies, which reduces the smearing of low-frequency detail that an empty column can introduce. The increase in physical mass also lowers the stand's resonant frequency, pushing any remaining resonance well below the audible range of most bookshelf speakers.
If you do not want to use Atabites, dry silver sand, dried rice, or specialist acoustic fill compounds are effective alternatives. Avoid materials that compact permanently or absorb moisture, as these can be difficult to remove if the stand needs to be moved or repositioned.
4. Component Isolation for Greater Clarity
Hi-fi racks such as the Evoque Eco 60-40 SE2 separate and isolate components on individual bamboo shelves, each supported by vibration-damping spacers. This design prevents mechanical vibration from affecting sensitive equipment like turntables, DACs, and amplifiers, preserving detail and dynamic range.
For additional isolation of individual components on any rack shelf, IsoAcoustics Orea feet and ZaZen platforms work in combination with Atacama racks. Our guide to how IsoAcoustics brings studio-grade isolation to your living room covers the available options and which components benefit most.
5. A Balanced Blend of Form and Function
Sound quality isn't just about performance: your system should look as good as it sounds. The clean lines and premium finishes of Atacama products, from the modular Apollo Storm 6 rack to the sleek NeXXus stands, make it easy to integrate high-performance isolation into your home without compromising on style.
Choosing the Right Atacama Product for Your Setup
With stands available in four heights from entry-level to studio-grade, and racks spanning bamboo and solid oak constructions, the right Atacama product depends on your speakers, your components, and your room aesthetic.
| Product | Type | Key Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| NeXXus Essential | Speaker stand | Entry-level, cable management, fillable column | Budget-conscious hi-fi, desktop speakers |
| NeXXus HiFi | Speaker stand | Upgraded damping, wider top plate, Atabites compatible | Bookshelf speakers in dedicated hi-fi setups |
| NeXXus Pro | Speaker stand | Studio-grade isolation, heaviest construction | Monitor speakers, high-resolution studio and home systems |
| Moseco 6 / 5 / 7 / 10 | Speaker stand | Steel columns, bamboo base, design-led aesthetic | Living rooms, lifestyle hi-fi, speakers with rounded form |
| Evoque Eco 60-40 SE2 | Hi-fi rack | Bamboo shelves, vibration-damping spacers, 4 shelves | Compact systems: integrated amp, DAC, streamer, turntable |
| Evoque Eco 65-60 SE2 | Hi-fi rack | Wider, deeper shelves for larger components | Full-sized separates: power amps, larger integrated amps |
| Apollo Storm 6 | Hi-fi rack | Solid oak shelving, warm aesthetic, modular build | Traditional or Scandi interiors, vinyl-focused systems |
| Apollo Storm 10 | Hi-fi rack | Taller solid oak design for more shelves | Larger traditional systems with multiple separates |
From precise speaker positioning to vibration control and elegant design, Atacama Audio stands and racks provide tangible improvements to your hi-fi system's performance. Whether you choose the versatile NeXXus speaker stands, the award-winning Evoque Eco racks, or a combination of both, you'll unlock more detail, clarity, and enjoyment from your music.
Browse the full range of Atacama speaker stands and hi-fi racks at FutureShop. Not sure which height or rack configuration suits your speakers and room? Get in touch with our team and we will help you find the right Atacama solution for your system and space.
