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what is the theory behind maple stands and racks?

I have not "heard" a maple amp stand or rack - using Billy Bags products now, which are made from steel and mdf - but don't grasp why maple would be a good material to use - quite the opposite. Maple is used for some electric guitars because it "rings" - it is very dense and causes notes to sustain, which is to say, it continues to vibrate for a long time. This would seem to be exactly the opposite of what one wants in a stand or a rack. If there is some claim that vibration is "drained away", well, if the rack is continuing to ring, that would likely cause acoustical feedback - the equipment isn't isolated from the thing it is sitting on. Can anyone who is not a vendor of these things explain the why of it, or relate positive experiences that seem to have a basis in fact?
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Showing 10 responses by guidocorona

guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi Photonman, what is the source size, and pricing of the 4" maple platforms? Those things tend to be ghastly expensive as well.

Post the URL if you can.

Saluti, Guido
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Maple is also used for quasi mystical reasons. .. i.e. there exists the urban legend that the old master luthiers like Stradivari, Guadagnini, Testori, Guarner, Amati, made their violins, violas, cellos mostly from maple. . . truth is that maple was frequently used, but only for instrument backs, and was often replaced by other inexpensive local timber, like poplar, nowdays relagated to constructing orange crates.

Why not experiment with other inexpensive hard timber in racks? Lyptus for example is slightly harder and denser than maple, mechanically as stable, and slightly inexpensive. Ype is even harder, heavier, and even less expensive. . . and then there is Ash, as mentioned by Bill. . . yet, the mystique of maple continues unabated. G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Magfan, I used a 1.5" exotic granite slab under my TEAC Esoteric X-01 Ltd CDp for a while. . . In my opinion it hardened the sound. At the time I 'solved' the problem by interposing a $15 IKEA square stool top between the 2. But now the pretty granite has been relegated to end-table-top duties in the living room, and I have the CDp on top of a 50 year old 42"x22"x2" slab of solid african Mansogna wood. . . it does not seem to impart the system bizarre resonances. Some rack makers do use granite, but often not by itself. E.G. HRS does not use pure granite shelves. . . but uses granite as the top layer of composite shelves. G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Does that mean that, at least in principle, ash platforms may be preferable to maple platforms? G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi Photonman, I have never heard of "TerraStone from Eden Sound"...

But here is the URL....

http://edensoundaudio.com/FAQ_TerraStones.html

The product line is intriguing.... Whether it works better/worse than maple bases, or Adona bases, or HRS... I have no idea.

GUido
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hello Photonman, the problem of 4" of maple butcherblock under speakers is probably not going to be the maple.... 'Tis the darn 4 extra inches, which my raise the drivers too high for ideal listening... Why not experiment with some Terrastone footers first.... They should give you an idea of what the proprietary co-polymer does for living... compared with brass. G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi Photonman.... Could you give us more info about the particular Terrastone platforms you have ordered.... Size and price.... What is your hypothesis about sonic advantages over 4 inch maple? And of course, let us know actual results once you install them.

Saluti, Guido
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Thank you Photonman.... Keep us posted with your results once you install the new platforms! Guido
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Fabulous... Keep us posted Photonman! G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi Photonman, any updates on your experiences with ts plinths?

Saluti, G.
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