what is the theory behind maple stands and racks?

Dan_ed,

I think you are most certainly right that different approaches and materials work better for different components. I use heavy wooden bases for many because I haven't found something better yet (but may try some of your suggestions - especially for my TT which I don't think I have quite dialed in yet!?!)

One generality - for most applications I haven't found a piece of wood yet that I thought was so thick and heavy that it actually degraded rather than improved the sound of the supported component compared with a thinner and lighter board.

Thus I see we are at the dawning of the era of the "salvaged timber component stand look" where, as a backlash by pocket protector'ed electronic hobbyists and knuckle dragging hedonistic red meat audiophiles towards the new effeminated PC Enviro-Nazi Congress and Administration, and in search for the ultimate HiFi "High", we as a group reject the increasingly passe' B&O minimalism along with our Volvos, Cuisinarts and All Other European Kinds Of Things in favor of large old growth stumps in near natural condition arrayed along one wall of the listening room, each one supporting a single massive tubed component resting on pure plutonium footers, connected by Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Double Triple Helix "Atlantic Crossing" cables to taller stumps on each end, hollowed out to contain the 35 blood diamond speaker drivers and the finest PBDE and pthalate laden crossovers. All in Pennsylvania (USA!) Amish Maple, of course...

got to get me some of them pure plutonium footers and some extra virgin maple :)

Maple is a very dense wood and does not absorb vibration,it is also very heavy. thus not passing the vibration on to your components.

Steven, I am curious as I have a maple platform for my power amp and was under the impression that the Maple did absorb the vibration created by the amplifier and any external forces. If the vibration is not being absorbed by the Maple or the component, then what is actually happening to the vibration?

The way I understand it the maple will not pass the vibration on, as it is so dense and has so much mass that it is very hard to get it to vibrate at all. I have Know idea what happens to the vibration given off by the component it self. Now you have me reading more to find out what happens on that side of things. I will do my best to find an answer.