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Maple, solid vs butcher block, vs other materials

I recently bought the highly touted Marantz SA-14 SACD player. Sounds excellent, but about the same as the 10 year old Krell that it replaced. I expected more, both of CD and of SACD playback. I have heard that setup is very important with this player.

I am about to try my favorite power cord, but I am thinking that I might want to put the player on different material.

It now sits on a stand (that can be seen in my ad for the Krell Studio on this site) made of walnut veneered plywood.

I am looking for suggestions.
I have heard good and bad about granite (other than the negative about the cost)
I have heard that maple is a great, but what type?
The advantage of getting a good thick butcher block is that if it doesn't help, I could use it in the kitchen. The one sold at Mapleshade would be useless if it doesn't work well.
Is another material better?
Should I just forget the base material?
drrdiamond
dogeatpuppy
96 posts
 
check out your favorite home depot, in the kitchen cabinet section they have 18x20x1.75 maple "cutting boards" try it out, if you don't like it, you have new kichen equipment for $30 a pop.....

(these are 2" strips that run the length, not end- grain "blocks")
duanegoosen
355 posts
 
Had a maple platform for about 4 years that could have probably been set up better, and then had an mdf platform on a good rack for a year. Recently picked up a Neuance shelf. The Neuance improved performance way more than I thought it would.
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Buy an IKEA RACK table for $9.99. If you like the sound then you know Neuance is the way to go...
brauser
526 posts
 
A 4" thick base from Mapleshade is the best I've come across. All of Mapleshades products really deliver.
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Go out to yahoo.com and do a searvh on 'butcher block'. One of the better names is John Boos Butcher Blocks.

The best maple is I believe 'end-grain' cuts. You can pick up a 24"x24"x6" for $290. or 24"x"24"x1.5" for about $110. Or anything in between.

Maple is the best practical and inert material and it's quite nice looking too, when oiled.

I can't see why somebody would put a rock like granite or marble under their equipment.

-IMO
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