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Amp stands- Do they work?

I recently purchased a Pass Aleph 3 and loved it so much that I "had to buy" a pair of the Aleph 2 monoblocks. I have been A/B-ing them at my home for the last 3 weeks for most of my free time. The 2s have a lot more presence, but lack the for lack of better words "musical reality" the 3 has. Forgive me for the term, but if you've heard the 3, then you probably understand. Anyway, I have asked most of the guys at Pass Labs and they essentially tell me I am hearing things- that the 2s "have all the sonic characteristics of the 3, just more of it" I have eliminated all other variables except that the 3 is on the bottom of my rack (Salamander Archetype), and the 2's are on the carpet in front of my system. I am interested in anyone's input as to the impact a reasonable stand might have on the sonics of my amps. I currently am acting on this hypothesis and have put the 3 on the floor next to the 2's. If it is of any help the components are in order- my source is a Muse Model 5 transport, Illuminati D-60 digital, EAD 7000 MkIII D/A, Kimber KCAG, Muse Model 3 preamp, WBT 5151 -great cable!!!!!, Pass Amps, Nordost Red Dawn speaker cable, B&W 804s. Counterpoint PAC-5 conditioner, API Power Wedge 4A conditioner. Marigo RMX ref power cables. Amps are using stock power cables- Nelson Pass's recommendation. Thanks for listening and I look forward to any input.
tsquared
redkiwi
1,092 posts
 
As an outsider to the US market, I have the impression that the US audio community seems to under-rate the importance of equipment stands. Equally, while the UK audio community has grasped the importance of very rigid equipment stands, they have not done so with using room treatments. While these are necessarily generalisations, I find it quite odd that someone would buy an amp as good as the Aleph 2s or 3 and not put it on a decent stand. What is more I do not think the Salamander stands are in the same league as your amps either. From experience, putting a power amp on a decent stand will tend to; increase instrument separation (particularly depth), provide much better timbral balance, and most noticeably improve treble purity.... but the list can go on endlessly - the sound just gets better. However - it is not uncommon for a good small 'un to beat a good big 'un when it comes to solid state amps - particularly bipolar designs, regardless of what Pass have to say. Go with what makes the music most enjoyable.
south43
386 posts
 
I don't have any experience with Pass amps but I recently put my Aragon 4004 on a Lovan stand and WOW. Everything was better-I should have did this a long time ago. Take a stand and do it.
7p62mm
97 posts
 
Putting your amps on a set of stands may help by increasing air flow and may provide some protection from dropped beer bottles. Other than this I don's see how they can make a difference in how the amps 'sound'. It may be that you are over driving your speakers with the bigger amps. Note: this is a voice coil thermal issue and not a clipping issue.
gerrym5's avatar
gerrym5
286 posts
 
Do they work? Probably not as well as advertised. From an engineering concept and point of view a benefit can be had buy carefully controlling vibrations and draining them properly. First approximations by good intuition could yield good results. I think that my Sound Anchor stands under my Audio Note Ankuro's are better than the tip toes I they replaced. The thick Berber carpeting was better penetrated with the longer spikes supplied on the stands and made they made better coupling to the concrete slab floor. The stands cost were a huge $ investment over the tip toes way beyond any true cost benefit, but I am very happy. I did it when it was a detail I could afford. I never invested in partial answers between the tip toes and the Sound Anchors because I had an idea where I wanted to get to in the end. More cost effective elements can be found in stone yards, scrap yards, junk stores. The benefits of better air flow of raising the amps nine inches above the floor is clearly a tube life win. It also looks cooler. Go with your intuition, I do and it will be generally correct to a point. Good luck.
nanderson
291 posts
 
A common reality check on most audiophiles is that their habit has made retirement a more distant reality. Often I find tax time a prime time to benefit from this phenomenon. The tweaks are like a drug addiction a habit out of control. Lets get real, explain using physics how a solid state amp is going to sound different on a stand or floor, that is, enough to pass a double blind test. No offense to those who use syrupy terms like sound stage, lushness etc. I was once caught in that cat racing after its tail. Do your self and wallet a favor, invite a impartial neighbor or friend over to double blind test you. I bet that you will end up saving tons of cash by not buying things common sense would tell you not to. Good luck, life is a big picture, don't burn all your beans in one pot.
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