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Arrangement of components on rack

Now and again -- though not often enough, probably -- I spend some time unhooking and unplugging everything in my system, dusting the works, and then setting it all back up again. Makes me feel better, and it seems that the simple act of unplugging and then reattaching cables and power cords etc. improves the sound, too -- if only in my mind.

As I'm getting ready to do that now, I just had a thought: Is there a generally accepted arrangement for components sharing a rack? What I mean is: Are there components that ought be placed close together and those that should be better spaced out? My power amp sits between my speakers, with the rest of the gear over on the side wall.

I've got a turntable, so that takes care of what goes on the top shelf. The other components: A preamp, a separate phono preamp, a CD transport and DAC in one box, a Bluesound Node streamer.

With all else equal, should, say, the phono preamp and the preamp be near each other? Far apart? does it not matter? I've generally just kind of plunked things down and gone from there -- and haven't experienced too much trouble -- though some years back when I had the preamp (the main one, not the phono pre) up close to the turntable I had a bit of hum, so put the preamp on the bottom shelf and have continued to do so.

Still, as I got to wondering and am set to get to work on this soonish, I thought I'd ask if there's a generally accepted way of arranging things.

Thanks very much.

-- Howard

hodu
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,066 posts
 
Appreciate the knowledge here. One thing which I did not look ahead to when I was buying cables was how to arrange things. It turns out to be a very tricky balancing act -- one wants separation between this or that, and one also wants to have good cables, cords, etc. Well, to get separation, one may need distance and distance can mean a lot more money! For example, I have a power cord which sounds good to me -- but I wish it was twice as long. Mucho dinero.


Since everyone is operating in a different room, it's hard to have a rule of thumb, but I'm definitely seeing how tricky it is to keep things separate while having good quality cables and cords.
middlemass
925 posts
 
I am a simple man: Turntable on top, preamp in the middle, amp on bottom.  
petg60
1,486 posts
 
Cable length and cable management are good problems for where to place components.
vinylzone
288 posts
 
Turntable, SUT, Phono Preamp, and preamp, side of the room, 18 feet away from all other components.  TT and SUT on upper shelf, Phono pre and pre on shelf below, power stuff on lowest shelf.

TV, AVR, Node 2I, power amps on front wall.  TV above center channel speaker, AVR and node below that, power amps below that, power stuff on floor below.

No racks, all components on custom shelves mounted to studs.  Wires where possible run in walls and ceiling, dedicated 20A power circuit covers 2 channel system.  Another circuit covers the HT and digital stuff.
dougthebiker
219 posts
 
If you can afford lengthy, high quality interconnects, get the amp(s) on an isolated amp stand on the floor between and behind the speakers.

Keeps the heat and big transformers away from more sensitive components.  Also keeps your biggest power cords away from everything else, provided you put your component rack on a side wall, which I would recommend.

 I also would be concerned about putting a heavy turntable on top with amp(s) right below.  Very top-heavy with big transformers close to that weak phono signal.
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