ViviStand Quattro Four Post Leg Standing Desk (2019 Review / Rating / Pricing)

REVIEW UPDATE: It appears that the ViviStand Quattro products are no longer available as of 7/29/19. They are not available on Vivistand.com website or Amazon.com.

Over the course of the last ten months I have had the opportunity to review more than 20 electric standing desks. Through each of the reviews and comparisons I have done, I personally have learned something new with each experience. While there have been differences in quality, the overall design of the desks have been fairly consistent. The ViviStand Quattro truly broke the mold with every aspect outside the laminate desk surface. From a unique four post leg design, to it’s one-of-a-kind control mechanism, the ViviStand Quattro is truly unique to itself. Let’s take a closer look at the ViviStand and see how it fared for my review.

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ViviStand Quattro Review Snapshot 5.8 Assembly 9.2 Stability 1.5 Electronics 5.0 Weight Capacity 4.0 Adjustment Range 7.5 Adjustment Speed 4.3 Warranty 9.0 Pros Good aesthetics with custom aluminum columns

Super quick assembly process

Unique up/down switch

Overload protection

10 year warranty for everything Cons Stability issues above 34 inches tall

Low quality electronics

Inconsistent operation

Loudest desk we've tested

Slow adjustment speed

OEM Manufacturer

The ViviStand product is new to the market, with its main OEM manufacturers based in China. On their Kickstarter campaign, they have claimed to be the manufacturer. Although, the pictures they have used seem to be a bit suspect. Regardless, they have done a really good job at private labeling all of the components throughout the desk. I haven’t been able to tell really who made what, with the exception of some internal electronic components.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

– Specs / Pricing / Features

– Assembly Process

– Stability Testing

– Electronics

– Column, Foot and Frame

– Motors

– Gears and Glide Systems

– Testing The Specs

– What I Like

– What I Don’t Like

– Final Thoughts

History

The ViviStand brand was originally launched through a Kickstarter campaign on March 13th, 2017. By March 21st, they were fully funded with a pledge goal of $30,000 being reached. When their Kickstarter campaign ended, they had 36 backs totaling $50,286. Their goal was to create what ViviStand believed was the best sit/stand desk in the market. According to their Kickstarter page, after two years they were able to reach their product goals. Reading through additional content on Kickstarter, the ViviStand brand is manufactured by their own factories. According to their page, they have been involved in manufacturing office furniture products to high-end rugged laptops for Fortune 500 companies. Unfortunately, I have been unable to verify these claims through my own research.

Product Specs (Per on our testing)

Height Adjustment Range: 28.5″ to 47.5”

Travel Speed: .84”

Weight Capacity: 200 lbs.

Adjustable Foot Glides: .5″

Noise Level: 70-72 dB (62-63 dB in whisper mode)

Pricing

n/a

Features

Push button control with preset height options

Overload protection

Collision avoidance system

Aluminum frame design

ViviLink system

10 grounded outlets with built in surge protector

Brushless DC stepper motors

10 year warranty on everything

Packaging

The ViviStand Quattro came in two boxes and each was well packed. The desk I ordered came shipped via FedEx Ground; however, I am not sure if desks larger than 60” will ship ground. Inside each box there was plenty of foam and reinforced cardboard structure to keep the surface and legs safe. It’s important to note that the desk surface comes with the upper frame pre-assembled and the box is very heavy. While FedEx will deliver to your door, you may require additional help beyond that point.

Assembly

The ViviStand Quattro would have been the easiest desk I have assembled if it didn’t arrive with loose parts in the columns. Unfortunately, during the assembly process I found a clanking noise inside two of the four columns. After opening up each column I found that both had a loose C clip and large plastic washer loose. After putting these parts back together I was able to complete the assembly. If you receive a desk that doesn’t have these issues, assembly should be pretty quick. Each column slides and locks into place with one bolt. They are tight and I would recommend using a rubber mallet to assist.

ViviStand Quattro Stability

One of the main reasons we purchased and tested the ViviStand Quattro was the questions we received about its potential stability. The common thought was that four legs had to be more stable than two. Unfortunately, the quantity of legs didn’t improve stability with the ViviStand Quattro. The thin aluminum column design, paired with post style legs and a lack of cross support were too much to overcome. The end result was one of the least stable desks we have tested.

Left to Right: The ViviStand started to show small signs of the wobble motions at the lowest height. By 32” the left to right motions started to become bad. Once the desk rose to 36” the motion was significant and would impact your work.

Front to Back: The rocking test was similar to the wobble test, likely due to the four post leg design. With rocking motions noticeable at the lowest height setting. By 32” the motion became bad and beyond 36” the rocking was significant.

Note: As I mentioned in all of my reviews, you have to make sure to fully tighten all hardware. As standing desks become extended, the motion will become exaggerated. If your hardware is loose, your standing desk will have bad wobble and rocking motions.

See The Best Electric Standing Desks For 2020 After months of testing 20+ sit to stand desks, the results are in!

ViviStand Electronics

Taking a closer look at the electronics pack on the ViviStand, this was the most unique system I have reviewed. Honestly, I am not sure I will see another system close to this again. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am not an expert on electronics. I have people close to me that enjoy electronics as a hobby, but outside of that I only base my views on how things appear. The ViviStand control box was three times the size of some of largest control boxes I have seen to date. Housed in a large metal box, the plugs were not easily accessed like the typical control box.

Opening the box, again this was nothing like I have seen across the industry. For the most part, all of the control boxes are similar. I have found the high-end products run on a single board; the lower quality products on a two-board system. I have looked at over 12 lower quality products and their control boxes were all about the same. It was disappointing to see the ViviStand was running on a two-board system with an excessive use of caulk. The electronic system running the desk appeared to be fairly robust and cleaner than the power supply.

Looking at the power supply, the wire system reminded me of a speaker system. They used screws to mount each of the wires coming into the board. The actual board itself was very similar to the other Chinese power supplies on low cost alternatives. There was an excessive use of caulk to hold components in place. The second board was quite a bit different than what I have seen in the past. Again, this board was very large when compared to others I have seen in the category.

Overall, I was not impressed with the electronics of the ViviStand. While it has some different functions, the inconsistencies during operation were a bit concerning. The first issue was the long delay after pressing the up button, for the desk to start to raise. It was over one second, which was odd to me. The second was the lifting capacity inconsistencies. When I first tested the desk, I was unable to lift 100 lbs. plus the weight of the desk top. The desk would raise a short distance and stop. When I attempted to lift the same load later on, it started to function properly. At this point I was able to lift 150 lbs., but shortly after it started to have issues again. I was diligent to ensure it wasn’t unevenly loaded, overheating or any other user errors creating the fault.

I was surprised to find that the ViviStand didn’t come with a programmable switch option. At $1500, I would have expected a digital read out switch. The switch was different than all others I have tested and overall I did like the aesthetics of it.

The ViviStand included a power strip that was a nice feature. It came standard with ten grounded plugs and connected conveniently to the ViviTrack. This is a great way for users to keep wires hidden underneath their desk. One concern I had with the surge protector was the lack of proper certifications. There weren’t any UL, CE or like certifications found externally or internally.

ViviStand Stepper Motors

The ViviStand was the first electric standing desk I have reviewed to include a BLDC motor (Brushless DC motor). Typically electric standing desks use a brushed DC motor, which are also commonly used in automotive products. Automotive manufacturers use brushed DC motors for electric seat adjustment and powered windows. The Brushless DC motor is typically a more expensive option. Just like the name states, these motors do not include brushes. Depending on the quality of the brushless motor, it should outlast a similar brushed motor. The stepper motor used in the ViviStand allowed for them to create a hidden inline drive within their sleek leg design. This was likely a driving force when deciding to use the stepper motors versus the more common brushed DC motor.

The ViviStand featured a stepper motor, which is one type of BLDC motor available. Stepper motors require a more robust control panel to function than the typical brush motor. This is when I realized the reason why the ViviStand had such a large control box. Long lifecycles are just one of the advantages of using a stepper motor. These motors are also known to have quick acceleration and high accuracy when positioning themselves. They are also recognized to have the best torque per cubic inch of any type of motor system.

Knowing all of this about a stepper motor, I am baffled why the four stepper motors in the ViviStand struggle so much. I realize that they are small, but the ViviStand only moved at .84” per second. It also struggled to lift loads more than 100 lbs. My only estimation is linked to the quality of the motor. I cannot be certain though, because I have very little experience with stepper motors and the brand used in the ViviStand.

ViviStand Column Build Quality

The ViviStand Quattro was created to change what they believed was a stale market. This was a market that had offered the same designs for many years according to their website. ViviStand’s change from a more commonly used two-leg T or C base to a four-post leg system was quite a bit different than what was being offered by others in the US market. The four-post leg design is more commonly found in Europe.

The ViviStand used extruded aluminum to create their uniquely shaped columns. At first glance you wouldn’t likely assume this was an adjustable standing desk. That part of it was definitely cool, which I liked. The design is a big reason why users would ultimately decide to go with the ViviStand Quattro.

Opening the columns, I found that the thickness of the columns were much less that I would have hoped. This was the second column I have reviewed that used extruded aluminum, the first was the NewHeights Elegante XT. When comparing the two, the ViviStand was much thinner and had very little ribbing left inside for additional support. This left the column with little in the way of structure outside of the shape. When reviewing the NewHeights XT I found that even with almost twice the thickness and additional ribbing, the XT’s aluminum still had flexing issues. That was the case with the ViviStand, but it’s extremely thin columns created a lot more flexing issues. While the bottom column had some ribbing, the upper column didn’t have any, so this was less than ideal.

At the bottom of the column was a custom molded plastic insert used to attach the adjustable foot glide. These glides are used to level the desk when it is used on uneven surfaces and high pile carpets. I am familiar with the use of plastic insert for adjustable foot glides, as we used them on our VertDesk v1 and v2 design. I wasn’t overly impressed with them on our old desk. This plastic part was definitely better quality than what was used on our older version of the VertDesk. The problem was that there were multiple components that slid into place. The large plastic insert, then a two piece plastic threading part and the actual plastic glide itself. All of these parts were made from plastic and cumulatively aren’t likely to be as strong as a metal nut welded in place, a threaded rivnut or even the steel foot plate being tapped to create threading.

Upper Frame Build Quality (ViviTrack System)

The upper frame on the ViviStand was made from more extruded and molded aluminum components. This included what they called a ViviTrack, which has three sides available for mounting accessories. While ViviStand has said they haven’t touched the surface yet on what these mounting areas can be used for, the opportunity is virtually endless.

The desk comes standard with a bag hook and wire management clips. The wire management clips were handy and worked well with the surge protector that is included with the desk. You should have no problem managing the majority of your wires this way. While there isn’t a vertical wire management system, you shouldn’t really need one unless you are running a lot of additional wires from the ground.

The ViviStand Quattro’s columns connect into the upper frame system with only the use of a single bolt. Each of the corners of the desk includes a molded aluminum part that allows each column to slide into place. One concern I have is that the column itself used a plastic part around the upper portion of the column to hold this in place. This means that the entire leg structure for all four legs is held in place by plastic components. While these plastic components are riveted into place, they are still plastic. It appeared to be a weak point in the design and an opportunity for movement.

Gears and Glides

Staying with the same uniqueness theme; the ViviStand Quattro featured one of the most unique gear and glide systems I have seen to date. The gear itself was held in place at the top of the column, but at the bottom there wasn’t anything holding it secure. Because of the five sided column, consistent glides were required to reduce rubbing. Instead of using one consistent collar type glide, they used five vertically mounted glides. Instead they used the collar type of glide at the bottom of the column.

One of the first parts of the ViviStand Quattro that I was able to take a look at was the gear system. When the desk arrived there were two columns with loose parts rattling around in the column. After removing the bottom plastic insert, I was able to locate a loose C washer and plastic washer. These parts were easily reconnected to the gear with a couple tools. It was a bit concerning that they arrived disconnected.

The gear itself was solid and appeared to be good quality. It wasn’t overly lubricated like other Chinese gears I have reviewed in the past. My only concern being that the gear itself was only secured in place at the top of the column. Because of this, there were additional vibrations from the gear as the desk was in motion. Besides the motors, these vibrations are likely one of the other causes for the high decibel levels I experienced during testing.

The glide system on the ViviStand was unique. Featuring better quality glides on the top and a lower quality collar style glide on the bottom of the column. The upper glide system was most interesting, with eight vertical glides used. These were likely in place to prevent rubbing from flexing of the inner and outer aluminum columns. The glides were clean, with only a dry lubricant used to help each slide efficiently. The columns fit well together.

Wire Management System

ViviStand Quattro had included on the best wire management systems I have reviewed. With their ViviTrack system they included large clips that could easily manage the majority of horizontal wire management required for users. While the Quattro didn’t include any vertical wire management, the standard ten plug surge protector created enough plugs for most users needs. This should only leave users with the power plug for the surge protector running vertically.

Warranty

The ViviStand offers one of the best warranties in the business, with a ten year warranty that covers the desk bumper to bumper. This is great; however, the ViviStand product was launched through Kickstarter and does not have a long history in production. To be honest, outside of their claims on Kickstarter, I am not really sure who they are. While this warranty seems amazing, I recommend treading with caution.

Testing The Specs

Height Adjustment Range: 28” to 47.2”

True. The range was as specified by ViviStand.com.

Adjustment Speed: .87”

Close. I was able to average .84” through cycle testing with only the weight of the desk top.

Noise Level: 39 to 55 db (depending on mode)

False. I found that the ViviStand was significantly louder than what is indicated on their website. Through testing the ViviStand was actually the loudest desk we have tested. The standard adjustment mode averaged about 70-72 db. When switched to whisper mode the ViviStand was closer to the 62-63 db. range.

Weight Capacity: 264 lbs.

False. The ViviStand was very inconsistent with load testing. The max I was able to lift was 150 lbs. plus the weight of the desk top. We had the 30×60 surface for testing, so it was below 200 lbs. My initial load tests were only able to lift 50lbs., but later during additional testing I was able to lift 100 and 150 lbs. Unfortunately, I was only able to lift the 150 lbs. capacity one time. Then it would only lift 50 lbs.

What I like about the ViviStand Quattro



Easy Assembly

The assembly process for the ViviStand Quattro should be one of the quickest products to assemble. With the upper frame preassembled to the desktop, you are only required to attach four legs. Each leg slides into place, but you may want to consider to rubber mallet to assist locking them into place. One screw is then used for each leg to secure the leg in place. Connect each of the four legs to the cable provided and you are done. It will likely take users longer to take the desk out of the packaging than it would assemble the desk.

Good Aesthetics

The ViviStand Quattro was one of the most unique products I have tested. While it’s four column design wasn’t the first to enter the market, it was certainly one of the best looking. The five sided aluminum extrusions stepped up the aesthetic game. For those who are looking to add an electric standing desk without making it stand out, the ViviStand Quattro will fit the bill.

Unique Switch

The up/down switch on the Vivstand featured a green light that acted as the central messaging system. While the switch didn’t feature the digital read out typically found on desks at this price point, it didn’t come with a full set of functions. The programmable function on the switch functioned well and includes a one touch operation. The green lite offered an opportunity for the desk to provide information such as overload and overheating faults. The switch also included a feature I have yet to see, which included a pull out information card. This was a helpful feature that made it easy to access instructions and warranty information for the ViviStand.

Overload protection

Through testing I was able to verify that the ViviStand comes standard with overload protection. It is surprising that more brands do not offer this as a standard feature on their desks. Because customers can accidentally overload their tables, this function allows you to safeguard breaking the table. Having a gear or motor break because of user error will void most warranties. My only concern with the overload protection on the ViviStand was that it tended to be a little inconsistent. Load testing well below the max rated capacity oftentimes set off the overload protection.

Anti-collision

Having an anti-collision function on an electric standing desk is also another function that should be standard. While most of these systems are only able to detect solid collisions from furniture, it does help to extend the life of your furniture. It is important to note this is not a safety function and will not work on soft collisions. This includes things like your fingers, arms and legs. Always be careful when using the one-touch button setup.

What I don’t like about the ViviStand Quattro

Stability Issues at All Heights

It was a real shame to find out how unstable the ViviStand Quattro was. One of the main reasons we decided to purchase this desk for review was the questions we kept getting about it’s stability. The lack of a traditional foot design, no cross support system and thin aluminum extrusions were all at fault for the ViviStand instability. Through testing we found the ViviStand showed signs of motion at the absolute bottom. While this motion wouldn’t impact your work, raising your desk another 6” the motion becomes bad enough that it likely would. The ViviStand should not be purchased on the premise that it is a stable standing desk.

Low Quality Electronics

While the ViviStand includes a fair amount of technology geared towards a healthy working environment, the electronics running the system were subpar. After opening the oversized control box, I found a lot of the same problems prevalent in other Chinese made boards. The power supply was loaded with caulk to prevent components from vibrating off the circuit board. I found it odd that the plugs for the legs had to connect directly to the board. This left the board exposed to contaminants such as dust, dirty and hair. I would have preferred to have seen a control box that was sealed. This is the most common type of control box uses in the market.

ViviStand Was Inconsistent

This follows with the low quality electronics issues found above. The ViviStand had a lot of inconsistencies while using the desk. The first was a long delay when using the up button. On average the delay was over one second, which is not something I would expect from a desk this expensive. The second inconsistency was related to lifting capacity on the Quattro. Rated at 264 lbs., it falls somewhere in the middle of the pack for lifting capacity. The problem is that I wasn’t able to get it to lift that load one time. The most I was able to lift was 150 lbs., plus the weight of their 30” x 60” desk top. With that load I had troubles lifting it consistently; the desk kept faulting out and overload protection kicked in on most attempts.

Loud While in Motion



The ViviStand is hands down the loudest desk that we have tested to date. This was a surprise to me, considering it has an average weight capacity and well below average adjustment speed. Had the desk been extremely fast or could lift large loads I feel this would have been a fair trade off. Unfortunately, it is just a load desk to operate. Even when the desk is switched to Whisper mode it operates between 62-63 decibels. When the desk is operating at full speed I found it was between 70-72 decibels. This is well above the advertised 39-55 decibels on the ViviStand website.

Slow Adjustment Speed

The ViviStand is the slowest desk that I have reviewed. With an adjustment speed of .84”, with only the weight of the desktop, it was disappointing to say the least. Especially when you consider this desk comes with four motors and an oversized control box. Should you decide to operate the desk in Whisper mode, the speed dropped down to .54” per second. This is incredibly slow for an electric standing desk and especially for one of the most expensive products out there.

Final Thoughts

To be honest, I was very excited for the opportunity to review the ViviStand. While I was skeptical of the stability from the start, the desk was extremely unique in our industry and that always interests me. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily the desk went together; I know this can be a deciding factor for many users. When put together the ViviStand had a really sleek look and wouldn’t stand out as much as other standing desk products tend to. The ViviTrack wire management system with the surge protector was another nice touch. Unfortunately, the ViviStand retails for over $1400 with shipping and that raises expectations. The lack of stability at all heights was a major concern for me. This would likely impact users of all heights when standing. Slow adjustment speeds, low lifting capacities and loud operation were all red flags as well. I would recommend the ViviStand for aesthetics only, if you are looking for a stable standing desk you should likely look elsewhere.

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