I agree with Marakanetz but would take it one step further. A "high bias" amp needs a LOT of room to breath. A 4" space above it is not enough and this can create problems. Not only are you trapping heat in and around the amp, you would also be "heating" the shelf above it. This in turn can transfer more heat into the component resting on that shelf, causing drifting or stability problems. This primarily holds true for digital based circuits, but others may also be effected.
Other than that, i'm sure that there is some "logical" way to arrange components in terms of "best performance". I have seen things written about placement of digital tuners ( probably also applies to transports / dac's / players ) due to the RF that they emit. I typically just lay them out for greatest convenience. Then again, most of my gear is spaced further apart on shelves than what most people have. I do not like having components or cables all bunched up. Sean
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Other than that, i'm sure that there is some "logical" way to arrange components in terms of "best performance". I have seen things written about placement of digital tuners ( probably also applies to transports / dac's / players ) due to the RF that they emit. I typically just lay them out for greatest convenience. Then again, most of my gear is spaced further apart on shelves than what most people have. I do not like having components or cables all bunched up. Sean
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