2. amps-preamps
  3. 156499-2546

Who's Gone Topless?

The idea of this goes back decades. Amps and preamps (for the most part) are designed on chassis free breadboards, then voiced, THEN are packaged inside a chassis, which can be the weakest link to hearing what the designer intended. In most cases the chassis sidewalls and bottom are essential, but the top?


First off, beware that doing so will likely affect your mfg warranty, but, if you live in a pet-free, child-free home, then the benefits can more than offset concerns about something getting in that could harm the components. Case in point my Ric Schultz Class D EVS 1200, dual mono IcePower 120as2 modules. HOWEVER, unlike others using the same or similar modules, Ric then sprinkles many decades of modifying pixie dust all around them which are mounted inside an understated (sans bling) Italian sourced chassis.

When I ordered mine it was mandatory to purchase 2 Cubes ($200) which are to be butted up against each board, requiring the owner to remove the top. After doing so, I was anxious to put it in my rack so I could properly isolate it from bad vibes, when I should have listened with and without the Cubes and top.


Ric is also a proponent of weighing down components, but due to the unnecessarily large chassis, it barely fit in my rack, but I had a 5 pound divers belt lead weight that I squeezed in. Now, because RIc chose to put the mute toggles on the back I placed the amp on the first shelf from the rack's top (but out of sight out of mind: I never mute it when done listening), upon which was my CD player/Transport, which I raised up to provide ~ 2" of air space above the top of the 1200 and the bottom shelf of the player. Even though the rack is open on all sides with plenty of air space all around the rack, the amp ran warm

Fast Forward to yesterday. I was listening to Leonard Cohen Essential songs, mostly instrumentally sparse. I removed the weight; and found the music much more open sounding. Encouraged, I FINALLY removed the top. Honestly, I was not prepared for how HUGE doing so could be. It was like the music went from a confined space to an open air 3 dimensional venue. This is so amazing that I am going to get a handle on it via different music before removing the Cubes. Oh, and the amp is now cool as can be. 


So, if interested, stay tuned
tweak1
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Whatever. Different subject. Point is, the OP heard it. The question of why, of what exactly is responsible or the cause, is a completely separate issue from the fact a difference is heard. 

djones is not saying prove to me its vibration control and not something else going on. djones is saying prove to me you heard a difference. Nobody can do that. How would they? Why would they even try? Least of all to him?!
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I don't  need to prove anything, biases and placebo have been understood in science for decades. It isn't a new theory needing proof.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"...biases and placebo have been understood in science for decades."
They have been noticed and accepted, but not all have been fully understood.

At the same time, if someone feels there is a huge improvement in whatever they do to their amplifier, more power to them. I would not want to clean all the dust that settles on what used to be covered. That dust may negatively influence the sound and negate all the improvements gained by removing the cover.

I still do not understand why a person simply would not buy a better piece of equipment to begin with. Who has time to unscrew the cover, store the cover, clean the dust, and maybe something else?

Do iPhones work better with different covers?
djones51
4,947 posts
 
No, iPhones must work better with no cover.
theaudiotweak
2,801 posts
 
Would our emperor become even more our superior if he was topless? Tom
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