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How thick is the limit?... never heard anyone say?

I have been looking to buy very thick- 3 inch min to 4 inches thick, Amp stands for years. I am not a big "amp stands are the keys" to better sound person. I just think that thick wooden slabs look good, I have no idea why- but I guess it must be a man thing.
Clearly turntables and digital front ends benefit from mass. Amps however, I doubt benefit terribly much. Just being honest, but the amps are tubed monoblocks so the stands may cut down on the non existent microphony. Couldn't hurt ....right?? ...I hope.
I got lucky, knock on wood!, because a buddy is selling amp stands as if I custom ordered them.
My question is- Can the wood be so thick that it makes the amps sound worse?? In this case they are 3+ inch thick edge grain, audiophile finished natural Maple, block.
mechans
tobias
1,534 posts
 
I had 3-inch thick maple platforms made for my Shanling tube amps. I set them up the way Mapleshade advises, with (factory) brass spike feet into the wood above and resilient feet (Isonodes) below. What an improvement that was--bass, midrange clarity, overall resolution. I plan to have similar platforms made up for my current Audio Space monoblocks.

3 inches is a bit thicker than my best-informed pal says I need. However the difference in price is small. My supplier (Arcadia Audio) says thicker is better. They also offer 4-inch platforms but... that's a bit thick.
markphd
667 posts
 
All physical materials have a resonant frequency. If you excite that frequency, it will resonate. Thickness is irrelevant.

The problem with wood is that its resonant frequency is audible. Speaker designers often use this feature to tune their speakers.

You can certainly use wood. You just have to dampen the possible resonance through isolation or other vibration reduction methods.
krell_man
827 posts
 
Toby,

I realize that the question here is 'how thick', but would you please expound on your answer?

You said that you HAD 3" thick platforms, have you found something that you like better now?

Chuck
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Just being honest, but the amps are tubed monoblocks so the stands may cut down on the non existent microphony.

Can you point to evidence that tube microphony is "non-existant". This is news to me. I know it is less of an issue than TT vibration but "non-existant" - I think not?
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