Which wood and design for diy monitor stands?

Hanalemike - Nice stands. I've used Ipe (also known as Ironwood) quite extensively in various outdoor projects (outdoor railings and bridge decking). I think most of the Ipe you buy these days is coming from Mexico. Good warnings you've already provided - be prepared to pre-drill everything for the thread, shank and head of screws, or screws will certainly snap right off. I opt to use three separate bits for that as the various countersink bits I've tried burnout in Ipe too fast. Also, very important if you choose to work with that wood - the ultra-fine sawdust it produces can be both irritating to skin and eyes, and is supposed to be carcinogenic - definitely wear a good dust mask and eye protection, work outdoors whenever possible, and clean up thoroughly afterwards. I always wondered about using this wood for vibration and wondered if it would be appropriate. It is remarkably dense and heavy. It is used frequently for outdoor decking and projects that will be similarly exposed. The outdoor lifespan of untreated Ipe is around 90 years! It is also naturally resistant to rot and insects. Not very relevant to use as an audio platform. I wonder why it it is not used more frequently in audio applications. I'd guess the weight of a similarly sized piece of Maple, for instance, would be about 2/3 that of Ipe. It is a bitch to work with though, and that may be why you don't see it that often in indoor projects. It's also not very pretty as wood goes, being rather dull and without much visual depth to the surface. I wonder if, when you get into woods of this density could they be counter to the reasons for using wood in the first place (does Ipe "sound good" as a platform, or does it move into the direction of a marble platform - so rigid that it actually may amplify vibration?).