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My book shelves/ audio center.

I had posted about my intentions to build bookshelves and a console for my system and I have finally finished. The end product is pictured below.

A few details: 

The amp sits on the bottom shelf. The shelf under the amp has openings the size of the heat sinks open to the floor so it can draw air up through its very large open heat sinks. It stays quite cool.

The top shelf where the turntable sits comes off completely for access to the pre-amp underneath. On the back wall behind the pre-amp is a heavy duty power strip so with the top shelf off I can access most of the cables.

The speaker cables come out underneath the bookshelves as seen in the picture.

The turntable (low end) sits on a marble slab which in turn sits on 4 sorbothane pads. I know that's like putting lipstick on a pig but I had the marble anyway.

My primary concern is the tube pre-amp. As you can see, it has plenty of clearance and airflow beside it and there is plenty behind it (it is very deep). There is adequate space above it and so far it is not getting any hotter than when it was on top of a cheap audio rack. But, its winter. We'll see how it does in the summer. If I feel like it is getting too hot I will install some fans on the sides of the console to pull cool air across it.

The old iMac to the left is my music server.

There are no other special features to enhance SQ but it is quite sturdy. I can stand on it with no problem.

Yes, I realize the room dynamics are not ideal but it is what it is. As mentioned in another thread the distance from the walls and bookshelf looks inadequate but after lots and lots of positioning the sweet spot is closer than they absolutely have to be.  Material cost was about $350.

https://images.nikonians.org/galleries/data/3564/medium/IMG_1126_1.jpg
n80
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
3,018 posts
 
@n80, I guess the answer regarding cones is "it depends." If the table and platter are heavy and built to specific tolerances, then cones would work to drain vibration from the TT. If your Sony is lightweight and made of plastic, then there may be no audible advantage.
If you have any type of footer available to you, try using 3 of them and see. They should be made of a hard substance and not pliable. If the result is more "air" and better dynamics, then the cones/footers have made a difference.

Many members report positive results using Vibrapod Cones...
https://www.amazon.com/Vibrapod-Cones-Support-Vibrapods-Sold/dp/B00E1P5O74/ref=asc_df_B00E1P5O74/?ta...

How does your analogue setup sound to you? Are you playing records that have been cleaned?

n80 OP
1,227 posts
 
When I play a good clean and/or new record it sounds good. I can listen to it and enjoy it. But it does not sound great. A little flat maybe. There seems to be too much warmth and not enough brightness....but some of that may be because I listen to CDs most of the time.

I assumed a lot of that was due to the junky phono-pre.

I'll probably never jump fully into vinyl but I don't mind maximizing what I have.

I probably have fewer that 30 albums and half of those are old and worn out....but might improve with a cleaning.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
3,018 posts
 
Yes, it could be the phono pre due to noise, lack of headroom. Records should have detail in the highs. If you start to enjoy vinyl, then make incremental upgrades such as better phonostage and cartridge. If you feel vinyl will be in your future, then move up to the next level.
n80 OP
1,227 posts
 
@lowrider57 

"If you start to enjoy vinyl, then make incremental upgrades such as better phonostage and cartridge."

Agreed. 

Now for a little revelation that I'm ashamed to admit: Tonight, just now in fact, I was listening to Alan Parson's Eye In The Sky. Don't know anything about the LP except that it was purchased right when the album came out. I rarely listen to music at higher volume so I've played this album before at the same volume that I listen to most well produced CDs (not overly compressed/loud). Well, for some reason I cranked it up a bit and boy did it open things up and the SQ seemed a lot better, more depth, more precise. Not sure if this is a 'thing' but it sure made an immediate impression with this specific album.
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