Recommendations for power amp placement/dampening

scothurwitz-

Hi jred

I personally would not bother with the butcher block, when I tried it, it made things sound worse. They are also not cheap. If it were me, I would spend the money on one of the many isolation footers out there. Some of them are expensive but if you get a good set of either 3 or 4 feet for under your new amp, it can make a huge improvement in sound quality.

I would put down a 1/4” piece of wood on top of the carpeting to give you a flat foundation for under the amp. I don’t know what your budget is, so it’s hard to recommend isolation feet. All I can tell you is I put a set of 4 Critical Mass Systems Center Stage feet under my Pass Labs amp which weighs around 100 lbs and I can’t believe how much better it made that amp sound. If those are too expensive then Wilson Audio just came out with a set of them and they are supposed to be even better than the CMS feet. A set of 3 is good for a component that weighs up to 75 lbs. There is a company called Finite Elemente that has them called Cerapucs at various price points with varying levels of effectiveness. I have had good luck with those in the past. There is also a company called Stillpoints that a lot of audiophiles like although I think those were good but not great. These would be a perfect product to find on the used market
such as Audiogon or Ebay. Good luck.

Scot 

Just about perfect. Only things I would add, the board over rug might not even be needed. Try and see. And try BDR Cones, highly effective and a bargain at $20 ea. You only need three.

Thanks all for the advice so far. 

To get a better perspective I’ll be receiving a pass labs xa25 shortly. About 50 pounds. My carpet is wall to wall. Thin office grade. 

Just put the amp on a solid, stable stand with lots of ventilation and no shelf above it.
An IKEA Besta is a very reasonable solid shelf system with solid 1-1/2" top and bottom plates. I added the top tempered glass plate to mine. for additional mass and stability.
On top I have my 60lb Rogue Audio Stereo 100 and it sounds incredible and doesn’t move a mm.
If I had amps on the floor I would trip on them.  

Thanks all with various opinions and recommendations regarding amp isolation etc. 

I spoke to two very reputable people in the industry. Both stated that granite or a block of wood more than does the job specifically for the xa25. 
I’m going to take their advice. If SQ is not satisfactory. I will look into tweeks. Amp is currently not on the floor. 
My best

Jacob. 

roberjerman

You told Jred, and I quote, “don’t listen to scothurwitz, your amp doesn’t need damping”. First of all, I never said it needed damping. All I told him was when I tried a 3” piece of butcher block under a piece of equipment, it made it sound worse. What I did suggest was a good set of isolation feet. Anyone who has tried a good isolation foot under a piece of gear knows it can make a huge improvement. 

Jred,

I wish you the best of luck with the butcher block approach, hopefully you will get better results then I did. To not try a good set of isolation feet is, in my opinion, a mistake. They will always make the amp sound noticeably better than just the butcher block by itself. Go to your local hifi shop and ask them if you could try a set, any reputable dealer will let you take home a set to try, if you don’t feel they make the amp sound better, bring them back. If you don’t try them, you’ll never know. Trust your ears. Good luck.

Scot