Thick 2" maple amp platform--couple or isolate?

George

Here is what I did and the price was very reasonable.

I had a local cabinet maker buy 2" maple butcher block. He cut it to the desired sizes , then gently smoothed off the edges with a router and sealed the maple with a light oil sealant. I would NOT suggest that you stain or varnish to minimize potential vibration.

Definitely get the Aurios Pro MIB

You can find them at http://www.audionut.com

Ask for Bob Williams

Thank you guys.

Guidocorona,your marine plywood idea sure sounds like a good project to do.I just need a source to get the stuff,Home Depot don't carry it.I did my own sandbox in the past,and also a home made all aluminum rack.

Oneobgyn
Thanks for the suggestion,I will definetely get the Aurios.

George

George, my local wood crafting supply store in Austin (Wood Crafter (512-407-8787) sells Baltic Birch plywood sheets 3/4 inch thick for $35. A single sheet can be cut into 6 tiles measuring 20 x 30 inches. All of them can then be sandwiched together to form a single platform 4.5 inches in thickness. I defy anyone to make such a beast resonate. . . at any frequency!
An interesting variant would be to bond this structure to a top sheet of Corion. I am expecting a call from Dupont today with some pricing.

I use a 20"x20"x3" maple block from Tony's woodshop (~$77) on top of Mapleshade brass footers into carpet over concrete. Amp is also on brass footers into the maple. Works well.

I tried 2" maple. It is very mellow sounding with no dynamics. The cork and rubber isolators from Mapleshade further killed any of the pace of music. I cannot imagine why anyone would like maple as a base. Butcherblock although made of maple sounds more neutral, especially as used in the Walker Audio bases with his Valid Points. With these you use points under the components and the bases also have points below. If you can find 2 or 3 inch thick maple, I would think this is the way to go.