Stacking Components

Not a good idea. Vibration is the problem and heat can also be with certain pieces. Do not overlook footers and their importance

Heat is an enemy of all your internals. It looks nice, but I always separate and ventilate components.

Stacking is especially unwise with phono stages, which work with very low signals and are vulnerable to noise.

Not a good idea as far as heat is concerned, but also bad for sonics. Each piece should have its own vibration draining feet or platform of our choice. The difference is audible.

Depends on what you stack and the order of the stack. High power amps should not be stacked and should be by themselves. Other low heat components can be stacked without worry. 

Very bad idea isolation is the way to go.You can never get this by stacking.

Not the best idea but can do if space is a factor.
I would put the heavier unit on top.

This all sounds academic. But what does it really mean, here in the real world? 

Many years ago back when I was just starting to learn how much these things matter I brought a set of BDR Cones over to show a friend how great they are. They had by this time been used under scores of different components in dozens of different systems, including ones just like his mid-fi rack of Sony, Kenwood, JVC, etc. It was always easy to hear the same improvement every time.

The only difference with his system, all his stuff was stacked one on top of the other. 

In this case he heard nothing and I could barely hear any difference at all. This had never happened before.

So the real world implications of stacking are you wind up with smeared distorted garbled dreck, bad enough to mask even a significant upgrade. You are in other words throwing your money away. Own goal. Don't do it.

Agree with what everyone else is saying plus the RFI/EMI interplay potential. You really need to give your gear a chance to sound their best and it’s you’re reducing that possibility by stacking.

@petg60 said,

" Not the best idea but can do if space is a factor.
I would put the heavier unit on top."

Even though my Yamaha CD-S1000 CD/SACD player has pretty solid heft(33 lbs) to begin with, I have it's matching A-S1000 integrated amp and it's 48.5 lbs sitting right on top.  No issues(noise, vibrations, etc.) at all and maybe a few benefits.

Bill

Been discussed before, https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/stacking-gear-no-more-rack-space-does-it-affect-sound-quality
*All electronics fail mechanically first. Either due to heat or vibration, good luck.

willand, you said:
Even though my Yamaha CD-S1000 CD/SACD player has pretty solid heft(33 lbs) to begin with, I have it's matching A-S1000 integrated amp and it's 48.5 lbs sitting right on top. No issues(noise, vibrations, etc.) at all and maybe a few benefits.


Try separating them with proper isolation underneath each, and see if you still feel the same.

Thanks for your insights

take a look at my system here

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9511

the Cayin Tube Amp sits on a glass top of a ventilated stand/surround I designed and built to surround McIntosh Tube Preamps like my old mx110z which has 17 small tubes as it is a tuner as well.

Sides float on 1/4" thick rubber bumpers; glass top sits on same; front and back fully open for ventilation and full rear access. Partial top with strong steel angle braces, inside height has to just clear the big chrome tuning wheel.

On for many hours, indoor/outdoor thermo, measured temp beneath the Cayin never reached 100, Donna can stand on it, holding something, supports 150 lbs easily.

On the left are two identical units, less heat involved, but a nice flexible stacked look for smaller stuff.

Then I added the deeper glass shelf on top for the big TT Plinth. Happily the weight is forward, so no further rearward support needed.

I did some research, and wrote McIntosh. The original McIntosh factory preamp enclosures had no top vents. The receiver cases had vents, then they used the same vented case for preamps to simplify things. Mine has more ventilation than theirs did, and you can slide the lower component fully out leaving the heavy beast on top. I slide my separate cabinet around, or forward, pull the preamp to check it’s tubes, ... or, adjust it’s trim controls on top.

Solid mahogany, cherry, solid maple: natural, stained black, grey, maple color; semi-gloss urethane finish. Three heights: short, medium shown, tall. Any exotic hardwood (available in small quantities) can be used.

I have local woodworker cut and finish the 3 pieces, I assemble and buy the tempered black glass.

Was going to sell on here and eBay, friend died, inherited 4,000 lps, sidetracked by re-organizing .... and

I’m still looking for a proper name for it.