How heavy should my surround sound speaker stand to be?
Heavy enough to not fall over. I know this may sound like a smart-alecky answer, but it’s the truth. More specifically, stands sitting on carpet need to be heavier than stands sitting on a hardwood or tiled floor.
At what height and in which direction should my surround sound speakers be mounted?
With the exception of the subwoofer which is best placed center on the floor underneath the sound source (i.e., your TV), Your surround sound speakers should be pointed towards the listener at ear level. In a perfect world, the front and rear speakers would be the same distance from the listener, but it is rare for this to be possible.