2. amps-preamps
  3. 137281-115924

New to this. How do I stack my stuff?

I'm new to hifi. I've asked a lot of questions here and some of you may already know my situation but I got the following by chance and for free: Audio Research LS16 tube pre-amp, Arcam CD92 cd player, Madrigal Proceed HPA2 amp. 

It is all up and running and I'm loving it. Now just trying to maximize the little things that I can. For instance, speakers had spike stands but spikes were missing so I made a set.

Now I read in the CD manual that it recommends sorbothane feet and says sound quality will be better.

I'm now figuring out that placement of components is important and that proper stands, expensive ones, are best. Well, expensive stands are not going to happen. But I can try to make accommodations that are cheap and won't turn the room upside down.

Here is how it is all situated now...let the ridicule flow, but keep in mind that I am space limited to a serious extent. Was not sure I'd get the system in my house at all:

The (very) heavy Proceed amp is sitting on a carpeted floor on strips of wood which raise the bottom of it well above the carpet. It is higher above the carpet than it would be above a hard surface just on its own feet.

The CD player is sitting on a small, simple, wooden, antique side table. It is sturdy. The pre-amp is on top of the CD player. I have no idea what this might mean in terms of SQ but the CD player actually puts out a fair amount to heat which rises up into the pre-amp of course. That concerns me.

So other than getting some sorbothane feet for the CD player, what else would be a priority here?

Finally are there issues with which cables contact which cables, how much speaker cables are looped, etc. (Most of the cabling is Transparent Super Bi-wire.)

Thanks for any assistance.
n80
n80 OP
2,116 posts
 
Elizabeth, is your concern about wood under and amplifier purely a safety concern or a sound concern?

I've been digging around in my basement and have found a 3x3 inch walnut post. I am planning on cutting it into 3x3 inch cubes to use as feet under the amp (which might still be sitting on carpet with those feet under it) That should get the amp well above the carpet. I will bore out a depression in the center of the block for the amp feet to rest in with the ability to but various materials (like a silicone washer, sorbothane disk of even brass etc) into the depression between the wood and amp feet. This walnut has some checking in it so it will not look perfect but when sanded and finished it should still look beautiful.

I will probably make similar but lower(1x3") feet to put under the CDP and pre-amp as well if I have enough material left.

I also found a 19"x22" 1 inch thick marble slab. I may make similar feet to go under that once I polish it up. Then I could put the amp on that or even my crappy TT.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Couldn't you put the 3x3 feet you're planning on putting under the amp under the marble slab instead and put the amp on that? 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I guess I am not quite understanding what you're trying to do. I use an audio rack I bought about 20 years ago, heavy metal frame with heavy wood shelving that would hold a tank. I simply place my components on the shelves using the "feet" of the components. I havd never had an amp or cd player or anything that didn't come with some type of foot or base. I did make a table or box that fit over a cd player once to place a dac so it could fit in the same space. You don't any type of special rubber or stuff to put under you components existing feet. They make items you can use and after you get everything placed try them then if you want I have never noticed a difference the couple if times I tried them about 10 years ago have no idea what I did with them probably tossed em. 
n80 OP
2,116 posts
 
Yes. That’s what I mentioned in the last line. The nice thing about these block feet (if they ever happen) is that they could be very versatile. I could even fit a sorbothane disk between the foot and the marble.

Now I wish I had a bench belt sander...........you know, in this attempt to do-it-myself and save money......;-)
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Sold all my old wood working tools on letgo before I downsized to a condo less  than half the sq ft of my house. Suppose that's why it's called downsizing. 
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