monitor stand question

Technically, they should be anchored. Who knows if you could hear a difference. Anyway, you could try spikes. They would go through the carpet to the floor, and then they wouldn't sway. Maybe narrow screws would work. Like this:

Thanks - the spike idea seems worth a try. Any thoughts on DIY spikes? I'm thinking of trying to make some of my own spikes from lag bolts with sharp points. Dayton Audio seems to make some nice spikes/cone feet.

Pointy bolts or screws seem as good as anything to me, and the price is right!

Well, it was a lot of sawdust for nothing...I used #10 screws which actually were fine. The issue is that the base itself I think is too small, and still tends to have some swagger in it even with the screws going down into the carpet to the concrete. With the 18in round wood at the bottom, I had 4 screws in an inscribed square which was only about 12"x12". I think I need to go to a larger base with 3 or 4 spikes or cones. Also, I might need to add more weight, even to replace the wood 4x4 with 3" pipe filled with sand. But this is also starting to sound like more work, time, and/or money than I expected...

Try just using 3 spikes rather than 4, much more stable and no chance of any slight rocking of the stand.

That's a good point, I didn't realize originally that 3 feet should eliminate the rocking/swaying in theory. My only concern is I would guess the stand would be more likely to tip with 3 instead or 4 feet. Anyway, this is worth trying out. After rummaging around Lowe's tonight, I'm toying with the idea of making some heavier stands with 3" PVC pipe filled with sand, and larger solid wood bases.

PVC filled with sand is really easy. Get 4 Toilet Flanges, some pVC pipe, primer and Cement. Glue the flanges to both sides of the pipes. The flanges give you something to very easily screw a top and base into. Keep the knockout in the Flange on the bottoms, remove it on the top and fill with sand. (or just fill it before putting the top flange on). Spray paint them pretty if you like. you are still going to have the same problem with wobbling though. For spikes, you could try to find some sort of inserts that would take a bolt. Got it! Epoxy nuts into the base. Drill a hole big enough for the bolt all the way through, then drill a hole big enough for the nut only halfway through the wood, then superglue or epoxy that nut in the wood. (have the nut be on the underside, so if they epoxy fails, they will still be held in by tension) This way you could easily adjust the height of the spikes to level your stands. If you are good with a chisel, you might be able to notch a hex shaped hole for the nut. or, you could just periodically yell out "My turntables wobble but they don't fall down!" while mixing and call it good.

I am correct in thinking....... 

...that I read somewhere that cinder blocks were the shit for something like this? Or, was it bricks. Also, has anybody ever tried one of those recoil monitor stabilizers? Like these: Are they what they are purported to be?

Well, here's what I ended up doing: The spikes I got were these: The price was right and they seemed to work pretty well. They pierce right through the carpet and padding to the concrete below. I used some scrap 1x3's screwed to my round base to make 3 spike feet that stuck out a couple of inches, such that the round base was roughly inscribed inside the triangle. Three points was the way to go...there's definitely less sway now. Oh yea, I also cut the stand height down so that now the overall height is about 1 inch lower than before. Does it sound different? Well, I'm not sure. I'm noticing maybe a bit more detail in the upper mid range. Maybe the base is slightly clearer, or maybe I'm being optimistic! I need to do some more listening and checking. I'm probably due to dust off Room EQ Wiz as well since it's been awhile. Appreciate the responses on this. Thanks Chet