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Would a real butcher block be going to far?

My original plan was to purchase a couple of kiln dried maple slabs from the lumber yard to put under my equipment.

Being into antique furniture I decided to look around on Facebook marketplace and was able to find true old world butcher blocks from butcher stores and old farmhouses.

Companies like Butcher Block Acoustics are edge grained and get $200 and up for units that are 2 inches thick or more. Depending on what you would like to order.

Old true butcher blocks are hard maple end grain, which I believe is better, and generally run 10 to 15 inches thick. 

These can be had for as little as $250.

I am curious if anyone on here has ever went to this extreme.

My system is comprised of an Eversolo dmp-a6 streamer, Peachtree Carina integrated and Tekton Impact (not double Impacts) tower speakers. 

Power distribution is via a Shunyata PS8 with a High Fidelity Cables MC-0.5 Helix plugged in to it. 

All of my cables and cords are from Audio Envy. 

bgpoppab
lak's avatar
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lak
4,642 posts
 

I have not gone to the extreme that you asked about above but I think it's an interesting idea as long as you have the ability to cut, plane, sand, and finish the raw maple to the desired size you want. Honestly, I don't know if you will notice a difference within your music. I own 2" and 4" thick maple blocks from Butcher Block and Maple Shade (a rack and several individual blocks) and I do not notice a difference in sound.

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carlsbad2
1,623 posts
 

You used th word "better".  Are you after better sound?  Are you trying to isolate your equipment from the floor and vibrations or couple them?  Just putting a butcher block under them will raise the natural frequency of the system so you might avoid low frequency resonances--but you probably don't have them anyway. 

If you want to isolate, then spring platforms are the way to go.

If you're after a look, then beautiful old (refinished) butcher blocks should be great.

Jerry

erik_squires
16,118 posts
 

If you are going to be cutting on it then yes, you want end grain

Otherwise, no.

Also, end grain never really gets clean of the meat products. It has to be re planed.

erik_squires
16,118 posts
 

I should also point out, very few of us have the space for an old-world butcher block.

As you point out they are super thick, so the make nice side tables, and conversation pieces but where do you put your gear??  A rack, like those from Butcher Block Acoustics, has at least 2 shelves. 

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