Using Maple Butcher Block Under a Turntable

Anyone have thoughts on using maple vs cherry vs walnut for a butcher block base? Maple is harder than the other two (Janka scale for maple 1450, walnut 1010, cherry 950). Cherry would match my system the best. I guess my real question is how important is the relative hardness of maple, or does one just begin to arrive at dimishing returns for a certain hardness? I'm going to put a 40 lb. unsprung TT on it.

So I asked this question to "Butcher Block Acoustics" & he stated the softer the wood the warmer the sound. I'm currently using walnut for my preamp base. Can't say I've done any "A" / "B" type testing with maple, but it is better in my system than the granite I was using before. It may be a bit warmer, but where it excels is soundstage width, depth, & definition.  

I’m inclined to go with maple. It will be more rigid and better for isolation, which is what it’s for. I can always refinish it if I want to.

@boxer12,

The response you received makes a lot of sense. However, one person’s "warmth" could be another person’s "veiled or muffled" sound. It comes down to semantics there.

In my years of experimenting with various isolation devices and platforms, I’d say that response makes perfect sense.

What one should be aware of however is, not using or expecting the maple to be the ultimate problem solvers for any prior/ongoing vibration problems from their rack/stand etc. Boxer, the way you expressed the differences in your system gels with mine, but I might have said "increased transparency". Again, semantics.

Slaw,
You are correct, that is a better way of stating the difference. I also have had good experience using Corian. I'm not sure how well that would work for longer lengths, but it works well cut to 16 X 13 in my smaller rack.