2. misc-audio
  3. 956786121

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.
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Showing 7 responses by garfish

garfish
1,840 posts
 
Hi Albert and Redkiwi; I read, enjoyed, and learned by reading each of your long posts above, and I've concluded that I'm on the "steep part" of the learning curve re: high end audio. Thanks to both.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Nanderson; I don't believe that double blind testing can take the place of long term (days, weeks, months), relaxed, listening to music that the listener is intimately familiar with. I would rather trust my ears (and eyes) and make my own informed judgments and choices. As far as I'm concerned, aesthetics and common sense alone dictate that a hot running amplifier(s) should not sit directly on carpet, and if music quality is improved so much the better. Aside from that, when I spiked my speakers and weighted the bases, bass tightened up distinctly and mid-range detail improved noticeably. Vibration control certainly can produce noticeable results-- or maybe not; depends on circumstances. But in any event, why would you get pleasure from "sending audiophiles home with their tails between their legs"-- sounds perverse to me. I also believe in the "Placebo effect", as do many doctors. If people enjoy this sort of thing (tweaking etc.) why do you feel the need to ridicule them? I say again-- blind testing is NOT the same as LONG TERM, RELAXED LISTENING.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
...Well said Mikela. Also, I'm sure that Nan... should be aware, as most audio enthusiasts are; "it's the journey not the destination" that is important. Personally, I don't EVER want to reach the "destination"--- but when I do I'm hoping for the purest harp music imaginable. And as for the financial and family concerns of others; well, I don't think those are any business Nanderson or this chatroom.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Redkiwi--- I enjoyed your well stated post (above) and agree heartily. It really is about the psychology of hearing, and of course an important element of this psychology is time.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Nanderson; Carl is one of the "good guys". And you may have just touched on the main nerve of this whole issue: music has emotion at its very core. Whereas blind testing is logical, intellectual, and cold. Of course there is a place for both (a very narrow place for blind tests), but when I listen to music for enjoyment, which is almost all the time, I listen for its emotional content, and for the way it "moves" me. you just can't capture those things in blind test listening, IMHO. And when kept in proper perspective (and I decide what that perspective is), I also enjoy Stereophile magazine.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Hi Gallaine & Carl; While I generally agree with Gallaine's post, I thought Carl had a good and well reasoned response. It is an emotional hobby and sometimes provokes passionate posts-- I find myself sometimes getting "excessively caught up in it" also. On the other hand, Nanderson's cold, calculated sarcasm is hard to stomach, ie it does not appear to be born of a passion for the hobby(IMHO). I still like amp stands. Craig.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Agreed Redkiwi. I've had it with this thread too. Craig
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