The most attractive thing about Atacama’s Nexxus speaker stands is how modular and versatile they are. You have multiple choices of stand heights and top plate sizes to accommodate a wide variety of standmount speakers, meaning you should have no problem finding a speaker stand that’s completely tailored to the size and weight of your standmount speakers.
The Nexxus speaker stands we’re testing here are specifically the Atacama Nexxus 600 Essential model.
Atacama has form when it comes to making speaker stands. The British company’s Moseco 6 has won Which hi-fi?’s best speaker has been awarded for almost ten years. Can the Nexus 600 Essential impress us enough to replace its stablemate on the podium?
Build quality and compatibility
Built in the UK, Atacama’s Nexxus 600 Essential speaker stands are designed for small to medium-sized speakers. It’s a minimalist metal design available in the standard satin black finish on our review sample, or there’s an optional diamond white finish costing an extra £20.
The 600 Essential stand features two 50.6mm wide support tubes and a 5mm thick laser cut shield design base plate (dimensions 260mm x 365mm). The 130mm x 170mm top plate comes standard, but you can also choose from four larger top plates to better position your speakers.
Our review sample pair comes with the next step up – 160mm x 220mm large top plates – which cost an extra £29.99 over the standard package. In total, the Nexxus 600 Essential Stands we’re reviewing here cost £169.98.
Each larger top plate pack costs an extra £29.99, while the largest size costs an extra £39.99. You can also get a Nexxus stand in different height options ranging from 220mm to 1020mm; our Nexxus 600 Essential model measures 620mm in total.
Atacama Nexxus 600 Essential Tech Specs
Top plate (wxd) 160x220mm
Height 620mm (including spikes)
Base plate (wxd) 260x365mm
Carrying capacity 15 kg (per stand)
Finishes x2
If you choose one of the larger top plates, Atacama recommends that you attach the unused stand top plate to the bottom plate below to increase the “low-down” mass of the stand for better stability. It’s a clever setup (and also means you never lose the original top plates when you need them later).
The Nexxus 600 stands can support speakers weighing up to 15 kg each. Not only is this better than the previous Nexxus generation (weighing 8.4kg each), but it’s also generous enough to accommodate most standmount speaker sizes – from as small as the Elac Debut ConneX and KEF LS50 Meta up to the deeper Q Acoustics Concept 30 and B&W 705 S3 loudspeakers.
Overall, the stands are well built – rigid, sturdy and secure. Carpet spikes and spikes are included, while domed gel pads are also included to place on the top plate. These keep the finish of your speaker cabinet from being scratched by the metal top plate, and add a degree of decoupling between stand and speaker.
The long-running Atacama Moseco 6 stands with a bamboo base are still in production for £149 a pair (about $185 / AU$263), and the build quality of both stands is largely the same. You don’t get the different top plate options with the Moseco 6, but it can still accommodate a wide range of speakers.
Performance
We use the KEF LS50 Meta speakers for the majority of our testing and as usual play locally stored music and Tidal streamed tracks played through our Naim/Burmester reference system.
With the KEF speakers placed on the Nexxus 600 Essential stands, the overall sound of our system is stable, clean and focused. We’re playing Kate Bush’s Run up that hill, and the stands allow the speaker to deliver a good amount of solidity and punch. Timing is no slouch and balance is well judged, although the higher frequencies are boosted a touch compared to the lower notes.
If we switch the KEFs to the Moseco 6 standards, our system sounds a little fuller, more detailed and more spacious. It’s a slightly richer, more dynamic sound. The characteristic bass line of On We March from The social network soundtrack is packed with texture depth and precision etched, showing a bit more dexterity than with the Nexxus stands in the system. Kate Bush’s voice also has a little more subtlety and warmth to it; overall it’s a more engaging performance.
In comparison, the way our system sounds on the Nexxus stands is more frank and snappy, but loses some of the subtlety and clarity that the Moseco 6 assists provide.
Verdict
The modular and versatile design of the Nexxus 600 series will undoubtedly appeal to many. Atacama has created a clever arrangement that fits a wide range of standard speakers and provides a solid, stable and clean sound for your hi-fi system.
However, we still prefer the way our system sounds when using the award-winning Moseco 6 speaker stands. They bring out a more layered performance that still packs a punch – especially for the price.
TO SCORE
- Sound 4
- Build 5
- Compatibility 5
LAKE:
Read our review of the Atacama Moseco 6
Also consider the Sound Style Z2
Best speaker stands: budget and premium