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Handling Heavy Amps

There are several amps I’m interested in possibly purchasing but I’m dissuaded because of their weight. I’ve had lower back issues so I need to be careful. I live alone. Even if my wife was still alive she would not have been able to help much. Also Children live far. I see that many of you have these 60-100 pound behemoths and I wonder how do you manage. If I buy from my dealer he’ll load it in my SUV. However when I get home it will be difficult to get it out and onto the garage floor where I can place it on my handcart. Then when I get it next to my rack I need to maneuver it out of the box and up onto the rack. I guess I would need to see if my dealer would deliver it and place it on the rack. Probably for a fee. So that may work. But then if I need to paint, move furniture, resell the unit whatever I would need help. I think I can handle up to 40lbs. So how do you handle these amps? Is it a concern for you?  I’m spoiled by my Benchmark 12 lb AHB2. It’s also the reason I’ve been investigating Class D amps. 

jfrmusic

Showing 7 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

The best way to position a big amp is by themselves in between the speakers on an amp stand with the other components to the side.

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

I have the same problems as you. Over the last few years I realized heavy amps are no problem if you think about it. I own a hand truck and carpet sliders with a little fulcrum to lift stuff up a couple inches. It is simple. Even boxing and unboxing 150 lb monsters. You look at the box, think about each movement required and you can remove it from the box or put it back easily. Rolling things gets into packaging… etc. all this is last resort. Remember you could easily move it in position and never again touch it.

 

1) Buy from a dealer and have him deliver and install. Your guy should be asking if you would like it installed, your not looking old enough… hunch over when you talk to him).

2) Give a big tip to the delivery guys (they usually love this and are happy to do it) and have them put the box in front of the position it is in.

3) Hire someone to install … or just carry it.

 

I would never compromise my audio system for an inconvenience. Once in place the are hundreds of hours of enjoyment in front of you.

 

 

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

@cherbib 

👍🎉 That’s the spirit!

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

OP,

👍🎉

 

Just out of interest. Why are folks moving amps and speakers?. Typically I buy an amp or speaker… place it (even heavy speakers are easy to walk for adjustment) and not touch it for ten years or more. What are you guys doing? Moving to dust under them?

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

@jfrmusic 😊

@aewarren 😂

@pindac Wow, a social high end audio guy. Didn’t think one existed. The Venn diagram of audiophile does not intersect with that of social humans. I think I have had four folks over to hear my system in twenty years.

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

@jerry_b2 

 

😁👍

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

@atmasphere

 

You bring up a good point, which hopefully is not poorly understood. It is certainly worth highlighting. Absolutely different designers / companies have vastly different sonic objectives…. Like Wilson, B&W, Conrad Johnson, MacIntosh, and Luxman… all very different objectives. Random choosing would be foolish.

So, you are very right that if do not first choose from companies / models that share your values in sound, you can then spend more and get less. But if you first make sure you are shopping from the right group of companies then typically a larger investment will net you much better sound. So, for me, I’d be comparing Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, and VAC… as each have design objectives in line with my values.

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