[slow_down]

I may soon have to stack my preamp on top of my amp, which is a problem because the amp is top-vented.  On the bright side the preamp is only half the depth of the amp and they will be in an open space with lots of air flow everywhere except for right in between them.  Any thoughts on how I can create some elevation between them?  I was thinking to put some sort of spacers underneath the feet of the preamp, but to get 2-3 inches of space in there and still maintain stability seems a challenge.  Has anyone dealt with this scenario before and solved the problem cheaply?

FYI I tried stacking them with no space in between - briefly.  Not a viable option!

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Hmmm... blocking the air vent of you amp is not a good idea.

   So, how about do it this way? If you amp is not too heavy and your pre's chassis is strong enough. Than why not put your amp on top of your pre? This way you block the amp vent and won't heat up the pre if it were on top of the amp.

   Of course if you amp is a heavy one than that won't work.

    Anyway, good luck.

Take care,
Buddy
   

[slow_down]

That's probably a better idea than my original idea

I briefly considered that option before posting, but wrote it off thinking my amp would be too heavy.  But ya know, I just gave my preamp the once over and damn if it isn't a bit of tank itself.  Plus, because it's only half the depth of the amp, I'd have to put something behind it to prop up the back of the amp, and that would bear a good part of the amp's weight too.

So thanks!

[lonewolfny42]

What amp and preamp are you asking about ?

[slow_down]

Odyssey Khartago and Etesian



That pic is from a review at soundstage - kinda suspicious how they have them stacked that way when in real life that's not a good idea!  As you can sorta tell from the picture the Etesian is shallower than the Khartago - about half as deep.

[mjosef]

Shoot...those Odyssey chassis are pretty heavy duty, you can safely stack the amp on top the pre with 1" or more separators. I used to stack my Adcom amps on their pre(the 555) back in the 80's with no problem...I had some 1" wood blocks between the pre and amp. If the amp is much deeper than the pre(ie rear feet of amp will not rest on top/back of pre, you can always place a solid piece of wood on top of the pre for the amp to sit on. The piece of wood will serve double duty to distribute the weight of the amp evenly across the pre.

[djbnh]

Regarding stacking, there are some strong and mixed feelings about this. Mr. A.J. van den Hul (maker of some pretty fine cartridges such as the COLIBRI, CONDOR, GRASSHOPPER, FROG ® - I think Klaus Bunge of Odyssey sells some of these, or at least used to; Mr. van den Hul also does some wicked great retipping of carts, as well as makes ICs, SCs, etc.) states the following:

3-1 It is better not to stack equipment on top of each other

Electrical equipment plays better when all devices are put separate instead of stacking them on top of each other. One reason is that stacking causes extra hum due to magnetic (stray) field emission from poor quality transformers. Even the better types of transformers can produce extra hum in other equipment.

Another reason is that piling up equipment impedes the free flow of air around and through equipment, which for cooling is especially required with power amplifiers and class A operating devices. Too high operating temperatures reduce lifespan, also see 3-6.

YMMV. Best of luck with your decision making.

[Speedskater]

I use Sorbothane® mounts from Edmund Optics. They do two jobs at the same time (damping and lifting).

http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=1618&search=1

[chadh]

Would these things work?

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?accsrack&1204509508

Chad

[doug s.]

i would recommend trying these:


http://hockeyworld.com/prodHome.ihtml?pid=409&catID=136&shop=1

doug s.

[BobM]

Possibly a bigger issue than air flow, unless your amp is class A or runs very hot, is the type of transformer inside. If it is a "doughnut" style lying flat inside the chassis then stacking is not a good idea. Think of a 6' long javelin running through the center of the hole. Anything above or below that can possibly be influenced by the magnetic field generated. Even shielded there is still a spike up and down, although abbreviated somewhat.

If it uses a standard transformer then the issue is not so pertinant and heat exchange becomes more so.

ENjoy,
Bob

[Joey54]

You might want to try these:

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/isoblocks.php

[IronLion]

If it is a "doughnut" style lying flat inside the chassis then stacking is not a good idea. Think of a 6' long javelin running through the center of the hole. Anything above or below that can possibly be influenced by the magnetic field generated.

Hmmm.  I have Channel Islands Audio D200's with the transformers mounted so that the transformer donut stands up, so to speak, with my preamp in front of them.  I'd never considered anything like that, can anybody else attest to this having negative effects? 

[zmanbands]

I'd try the isoblocks from mapleshade. $24 for 4.    2" separation.    30 day full refund except shipping.   Sorbothane used anywhere muddies the base.

[Jim N.]

Same thing, less money but no money back guarantee:

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?accstwek&1205867259

[lonewolfny42]

Same thing, less money but no money back guarantee:

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?accstwek&1205867259

I bought those awhile back on Agon...that rubber gets very sticky....I would not put them between an amp and preamp...(heat).

[dorokusai]

I like the hockeypuck idea as well but you could also try out.....

http://avrisers.net/default.aspx

It isn't that expensive to get some real material involved.

Mark

[dorokusai]

Same thing, less money but no money back guarantee:

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?accstwek&1205867259

That same idea, is used in HVAC units for vibration mounts. A buddy of mine gave me a box of 50 for free some time ago. I'll email him and ask about more information, but they are cheap.

Mark

[zmanbands]

Those pads listed on agon just above are not the same as isoblocks. Grainger has similar to the agon pads for $7 for 4. You have to convince them you are a company to get them but a creative person should have no trouble doing that.

[mca]

Those pads listed on agon just above are not the same as isoblocks

How do they differ?

Grainger has similar to the agon pads for $7 for 4

Any idea what the product number is?