[avalon65]

Ahoy!

After reading a recent post here it got me to thinking. The poster suggested that stacking your amps may not be a good idea. Due to space constraints, I stack my Stratos Monos. The first amp is resting on an amp stand I fashioned out of a 3/4" piece of plywood with speaker spikes that work their way through the carpeting/padding to the sub-floor. The second amp is placed directly on top of the first with nothing sandwiched in between. Question number one is, do you feel this is a real issue? I have no other way of placing them and will not be changing the configuration anytime soon. Any suggestions on a better, INEXPENSIVE way of stacking these hefty lunkers? If you have ideas, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Thanks.
LJ

[DogWizard]

If it was my post - I'm sorry for the confusion. I think that stacking the Stratos Mono's is perfectly OK from all of the information I have absorbed recently. The larger case and the huge integral heat sinks make a big difference in heat dissapation. My concern was regarding stacking the Khartago Mono's as the cases are much smaller and they tend to run hotter from what I hear. My guess is that stacking the Khartagos could potentially lead to heat issues better avoided (but I'm new here so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt)...

Good Luck,
-DogWizard

[Wizard454]

I had this very discussion with Klaus and his response was that it is fine to stack the mono's, there was no concern on his part at all.
Mine are not stacked at the momment but I would not hesitate to stack'em if the need arose.

[gooberdude]

Hey guys,

I have no experience with your amps, but dabble a bit into vibration issues inherent to components.  Amps vibe the worst, next to turntables, and understanding that can bring out the utmost performance from gear. 

Heat issues aside, if your amps are stacked they are vibing one another...this ain't optimal.  keeping them separate may bring out all the qualities you desired when purchasing monoblocks, and then some.   Mapleshade makes nifty neoprene/cork/neoprene sandwich isoblocks for $25 a set.   these are twice the size (and a proprietary mix of materials) than what you can find at a hardware store for underneath Air Cond compressors...in other words you'd have to buy 8 OEM ones (@$3 each + tax) and still they won't work like the MS design.    MS states that if you have to stack components, separate them with the isoblocks.   having a 2" air gap would help alleve any heat probs too, and possibly reduce the effects of non-uniform transformer leakage.        those blocks have a 30 day $ back trial, you have nothing to lose...   no affiliation whatsoever.

i don't stack, so i won't comment more than I have. 

GD

[klaus@odyssey]

GD  has good advice.
As I always, always, always preach:  each system is organic. (well,  that, and synergy is the other point)
Try it and see what happens.  Fluctuations in ambience temp and voltage and physical placements can make big differences.

Your system, your time, your ears.  Experiment,

Klaus