Hi jred
I personally would not bother with the butcher block, when I tried it, it made things sound worse. They are also not cheap. If it were me, I would spend the money on one of the many isolation footers out there. Some of them are expensive but if you get a good set of either 3 or 4 feet for under your new amp, it can make a huge improvement in sound quality.
I would put down a 1/4” piece of wood on top of the carpeting to give you a flat foundation for under the amp. I don’t know what your budget is, so it’s hard to recommend isolation feet. All I can tell you is I put a set of 4 Critical Mass Systems Center Stage feet under my Pass Labs amp which weighs around 100 lbs and I can’t believe how much better it made that amp sound. If those are too expensive then Wilson Audio just came out with a set of them and they are supposed to be even better than the CMS feet. A set of 3 is good for a component that weighs up to 75 lbs. There is a company called Finite Elemente that has them called Cerapucs at various price points with varying levels of effectiveness. I have had good luck with those in the past. There is also a company called Stillpoints that a lot of audiophiles like although I think those were good but not great. These would be a perfect product to find on the used market
such as Audiogon or Ebay. Good luck.
Scot |
Put the wood butcher block on the carpet, with or without spikes. Place the amp on the butcher block. Hook up and turn on. Finished. |
Don't listen to scothurwitz! Your amp needs NO damping! It will work and sound just fine naked! Believe me! I've been buying and using amps since 1976! Put it on a stable platform and it will be fine! Stop listening to crazy obsessed people! |
@scothurwitz : Yeah, your golden ears are better than everyone else's! |
"A huge improvement in sound quality" - LOL! |
People that know what to listen for know that isolation done right works, period. Juvenile rants speak for themselves.
It's been well established for many years that proper isolation can have a dramatic effect on audio gear and sound.
Finite Element products under my gear (including a heavy Pass amp) made a world of difference, a huge improvement in sound quality, image more solid, improved soundstage, more detail. Other products can offer similar results.
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scothurwitz-
Hi jred
I personally would not bother with the butcher block,
when I tried it, it made things sound worse. They are also not cheap. If
it were me, I would spend the money on one of the many isolation
footers out there. Some of them are expensive but if you get a good set
of either 3 or 4 feet for under your new amp, it can make a huge
improvement in sound quality.
I would put down a 1/4” piece of
wood on top of the carpeting to give you a flat foundation for under the
amp. I don’t know what your budget is, so it’s hard to recommend
isolation feet. All I can tell you is I put a set of 4 Critical Mass
Systems Center Stage feet under my Pass Labs amp which weighs around 100
lbs and I can’t believe how much better it made that amp sound. If
those are too expensive then Wilson Audio just came out with a set of
them and they are supposed to be even better than the CMS feet. A set of
3 is good for a component that weighs up to 75 lbs. There is a company
called Finite Elemente that has them called Cerapucs at various price
points with varying levels of effectiveness. I have had good luck with
those in the past. There is also a company called Stillpoints that a lot
of audiophiles like although I think those were good but not great.
These would be a perfect product to find on the used market
such as Audiogon or Ebay. Good luck.
Scot Just about perfect. Only things I would add, the board over rug might not even be needed. Try and see. And try BDR Cones, highly effective and a bargain at $20 ea. You only need three. |
Thanks all for the advice so far.
To get a better perspective I’ll be receiving a pass labs xa25 shortly. About 50 pounds. My carpet is wall to wall. Thin office grade. |
Just put the amp on a solid, stable stand with lots of ventilation and no shelf above it.
An IKEA Besta is a very reasonable solid shelf system with solid 1-1/2" top and bottom plates. I added the top tempered glass plate to mine. for additional mass and stability.
On top I have my 60lb Rogue Audio Stereo 100 and it sounds incredible and doesn’t move a mm.
If I had amps on the floor I would trip on them. |
Thanks all with various opinions and recommendations regarding amp isolation etc.
I spoke to two very reputable people in the industry. Both stated that granite or a block of wood more than does the job specifically for the xa25.
I’m going to take their advice. If SQ is not satisfactory. I will look into tweeks. Amp is currently not on the floor.
My best
Jacob.
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roberjerman
You told Jred, and I quote, “don’t listen to scothurwitz, your amp doesn’t need damping”. First of all, I never said it needed damping. All I told him was when I tried a 3” piece of butcher block under a piece of equipment, it made it sound worse. What I did suggest was a good set of isolation feet. Anyone who has tried a good isolation foot under a piece of gear knows it can make a huge improvement.
Jred,
I wish you the best of luck with the butcher block approach, hopefully you will get better results then I did. To not try a good set of isolation feet is, in my opinion, a mistake. They will always make the amp sound noticeably better than just the butcher block by itself. Go to your local hifi shop and ask them if you could try a set, any reputable dealer will let you take home a set to try, if you don’t feel they make the amp sound better, bring them back. If you don’t try them, you’ll never know. Trust your ears. Good luck.
Scot
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I hear ya. Though if I personally spoke to someone directly at Pass and they stated specifically for the xa25 it holds no merit. Maybe they are onto something. The ear is quite subjective. Additionally I’m looking at two weeks for break in. |
I find it hard to fathom too drop 500 used for hockey pucks. Yes imo PC and IC makes sense. Isolation for tube pre or amp. I’d agree. Though SS amp. The jury is out imo. Though going to a local shop - in no way will hinder the situation once all has settled.
Good idea. Thank you! |
@jred ,
Look at my system page. I use springs. You can do various configurations, but my set up decoupled from the floor. Highly effective and inexpensive. |
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Off on a tangent. I have the XA25 as well and did have the XA30.5. Pass Labs also believes that power cords also do not make a difference. They do not make as big of difference as with some other equipment, but I have found a quality cord like Audience or Audioquest can even improve these wonderful amps.
I am reading this thread because I plan to try the Oreas under the Pass Labs soon:) |
