To stack or not to stack?

Stacking is considered to be a big 'No No' among hi-fi enthusiasts.
But when shelf space is at a premium this can difficult to achieve.

How about stacking of two components when only one is actually used?
For example stacking a DAC on top of an FM Tuner or a DVD player on a CDP?

If electrical interference is the argument against stacking, one could always switch off the component not in use at that moment in time.

Any thoughts?

 

I think that it is important to make sure the amp, cd player and turntbale are all on seperate shelves. Having said that when I moved my Nicam VCR from underneath my TV to a seperate shelf the sound quality sharply and very noticable improved.

I have all my items on seperate shelves apart from my Rotel preamp which is just used at to switch extra things such as my PC/dvd etc.

 

Does it matter if the CDP and the turntable are on the same shelf since only one of those will be used at any particular moment in time?

Of course; this is assuming that the shelf is wide enough.
Will be rather difficult to do otherwise

 

Yes. If the turntbale is stacked on top of the CD Player unless the footprint of the CD player is very large it will be very hard to get the turntbale level. The idea of stacking each item on a seperate shelf is you can reduce the effects of vibrations tranmsitting into each of the componenets. Also buy stacking up things on seperate shelves you reduce the likely of hood of magentic radiation traveling into different boxes from the transformers.

 

It is? My stuff is Linn and Linn specifically says that there is no problem in putting the units (all identically sized) on top of each other. So, the CD player sits on the pre-amp, which, in turn, sits on one of the power amps, and I have never had any problems.

I think some hi-fi enthusiasts don't have enough to occupy their time gainfully.

 

I agree.

But what about stacking of two components when only one is actually used? For example stacking a DAC on top of an FM Tuner or a DVD player on a CDP?

If the component not in use is switched off, will the EM radiations or the RFI still be a problem?

 

If you switch a DAC off you might as well not bother having one - cold digital electronics sound awful; in turn, many digital components will interfere with FM radios if stacked by them.

Never EVER put an amp at the bottom (sorry Tones!) - it'll cook itself and everything above it - amps should always be at the top of a stack - especially if they run hot. This isn't always practical since amps are often the heaviest part of the stack.

 

Re: Re: To stack or not to stack?

I did in fact try stacking the way I mentioned and did not hear any adverse effect in the sound quality.
However, when you are told such things by 'experts', it gets you wondering, "may be my hi-fi is not good enough to show any difference or something is wrong with my hearing!"

It could be that it is one of the ways the likes of Russ Andrews and Audiophilecandy add 'perceived value' to their gizmos

 

To stack or not to stack

IMO you may stack your components as much as you can and it will not damage them unless they fall down and break or get scratches.
If you are instead refering to sound quality then IMO it depends very much on the components used and your ears.
So try if possible to put them on seperate shelves or on racks and see if you hear any difference.
All other technical, physical, mathematical,... explanations is a waste of time.

 

Sorry too, Dom, but garbage. Mine are just fine, nothing ever gets cooked (nothing ever appears even to get mildly warm) and everything sounds OK. I concede your point if the power amp is Class A and doubles as a toaster, otherwise not. (For one thing, when it's at the bottom, it's hard to get the bread out without crumbs going everywhere).

 

Agreed! In fact I never switch off the the system unless they are not going to be used for a few days.
But for stacking, would it not be advisable to switch off the other stacked component to prevent EMI and RFI?
Can the DAC and CDP be warmed up if switched on for say 30 minutes before serious listening? I am not suggesting that this switching on and off is done too often and reduce their life.

Will a DAC that is switched off still affect the FM Tuner?

 

Re: Re: To stack or not to stack?

Mine too, and true enough mostly. But some of the beefier amps run too hot to stack. e.g. 3 2250s in a stack need an air gap of at least 14cm otherwise their internal fans keep triggering.

 

If I might again humbly disagree. I switched mine off all the time and it made not a ha'p'orth of difference. Digital electronics, cold or hot, sound exactly the same to me. Electrons couldn't care a fig if the medium through which they're moving is cold or hot, they just get on with the job. I always switch everything off when finished, because it makes no difference.

 

Re: Re: Re: To stack or not to stack?

My humbler fare (active LK85 and LK100) don't have cooling fans, so I guess they don't need 'em.

 

Now I know why you dont hear differences when you tweak your system... :latte:

My player needs a good half an hour playing before it sounds good, and I keep it on stand-by all the time... :MILD:

 

I think whether stacking is a problem or not is going to be equipment dependent to some extent. When I had an Audiolab 8000C/8000P combo I found there was noticeably electrical hum putting the pre straight on the power, which was much reduced by putting them on seperate shelves.

There is also of course the mechanical vibration issue, where seperating components would seem sensible, but if you can't tell any difference then it isn't a problem.

 

Tones, sorry my fellow namesake, but all my digital gear from the superdac to the 270 transport mate, are shite from cold, and I mean bad, the wadia's are different beasts when cold, Henry T was here a couple of months ago, to listen to the super dac, but we had a power cut that night, and I hadn't been in the listening cell, we came in and hoooooooooo man, it was so naff
Even the dvd player at home has a medicore picture for at least 30 mins till it settles to a constant smps temp
I got to also mention capacitors, do sound different when cold, then for a 'warm state'.
This morning I'm deciding which caps are suitable for a new project I'm working on, and I have to leave them a good 30/40 mins before conducting any serious listening (thats using the same caps, one new(stone cold, our stores are colder than a pair of old val's knickers) and one lifed (4 weeks use) thats been removed from a working piece of kit.
On this one Tones I cannot be more sure Wm

Added, ALL the gear is left on permantly (stand by when not being listen to), we would loose so much time waiting for warm to finish and constant internal temp changes in the electronics arn't good for them, best left on I feel for a CONSTANT consistant level of preformance.

 

My kit is on all the time, even then it sounds better after half hour of actual use as opposed to being just on.

 

...just as I'm equally sure of mine. Tone, I do not mean this at all rudely or disrespectfully, but truly, the longer I peruse this site, the sorrier I feel for all you golden eyes and ears with your super-dooper equipment. I'm ever so grateful that I am not gifted with either your acute perceptions or your depth of wallets, otherwise life would be just one upgrading hell. It seems to be like having perfect pitch - anything even slightly out of pitch drives you mad. I'd really much rather listen to music - from cold.

P.S. How cold exactly are old Val's knickers? And was she wearing them at the time?

 

Could be, Antonio, could be, but as Clark said to Vivienne in the last reel of "Gone with the Wind"...