Q: I recently purchased the GoldenEar Aon 3 speakers you
recommended and the guy at the local independent audio store
said the sound of any bookshelf speaker is better on a speaker
stand, so we bought them. Is that for real, or are speaker
stands a high margin item like an expensive HDMI cable?  --
Mickie Pearsall, Milwaukee  A: You should go back to the store
and thank the person who sold you the speaker stands. Though
many speakers are called "bookshelf speakers," a better term for
them would be "stand mounted speakers." A speaker stand will
provide solid support, allow the speaker to be placed out in the
room where it can "breathe" and provide the best sonic
performance, and you have practically unlimited placement
flexibility. Given the $999 price and class-leading performance
of the Aon 3 speakers, I consider the speaker stands to
practically be mandatory.  Given my harsh words about high
priced HDMI cables a few weeks ago, I would like to follow up
with the other side of the coin in regard to accessorie