Risers for MC240 on top of Metregon

[jack the knife]

Well now that my MC240 is safe and sound at home...

... I'm looking for some feet or else some kind of riser to get it to clear the refracting panel in the middle, which is about 0.9" or so. Currently the 240 sits on a book. Both the 240 and my C22 could certainly benefit to being on another shelf, but for the time being this is where they have to be. Sadly my living room is challenged on where everything can go without it being crazy far apart. While I think there is some benefit to isolating a tube amp from a big vibrating cabinet, I'm not so sure about the mighty claims made by various vibration isolation companies. I'm also looking for something that won't damage the finish of the Metregon, so that rules out anything with spikes.

Anyone have any ideas? The cheap ones Viborg retails on Amazon look nice, but they're sadly a bit too short. IsoAcoutics seems to make a well-regarded product but the huge branding is off-putting and I feel they are overpriced. I'd need the "Indigo" ones owing to the weight of the 240. Certainly fits the dimensions bill and is a visual match somewhat to everything. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Topper]

Do you have room to move the Metregon out a foot from the wall? You could put a rack/shelf/support behind and get your pre and amp off the speaker.

 

[jack the knife]

I wish! I’d considered even some nice shelves that match, anchored to the wall, but haven’t found anything that I feel comfortable holding this stuff. No room to move it out since it’ll block traffic. Already sorta does.

 

[tonyp063]

I don't know your price point requirements, but mnptech makes some nice feet. They may be suitable.

Mnpctech Turntable Isolation Feet Sets

Mnpctech is the newest “Made in USA” contender in the Home Audiophile Market. Many people ask if our turntable upgrade feet will change or enhance the sound of their music? We don't make any claims or promises that your music will sound better or our turntable isolation feet eliminate ALL...

www.mnpctech.com

 

[jack the knife]

I don't know your price point requirements, but mnptech makes some nice feet. They may be suitable.

Mnpctech Turntable Isolation Feet Sets

Mnpctech is the newest “Made in USA” contender in the Home Audiophile Market. Many people ask if our turntable upgrade feet will change or enhance the sound of their music? We don't make any claims or promises that your music will sound better or our turntable isolation feet eliminate ALL...

www.mnpctech.com

Wow, they have lots of options. I'll give them a ring.

 

[Topper]

240 on the floor and isolators under the pre? I wouldn’t trust rubber or plastics on the speaker's finish, myself. It’s a tough ask to isolate components sitting right on a speaker in any circumstance but given the amp’s weight versus the pre you’d probably be doing less sonic damage that way. Assuming you have studs in that wall spaced reasonably I don’t see why you couldn’t work out reasonably attractive solid shelving, either, though you’d have to lose the maps...

 

[jack the knife]

240 on the floor and isolators under the pre? I wouldn’t trust rubber or plastics on the speaker's finish, myself. It’s a tough ask to isolate components sitting right on a speaker in any circumstance but given the amp’s weight versus the pre you’d probably be doing less sonic damage that way. Assuming you have studs in that wall spaced reasonably I don’t see why you couldn’t work out reasonably attractive solid shelving, either, though you’d have to lose the maps...

I was thinking a furniture pad under whatever I ultimately chose. Pre is tough because it’s the slant leg cabinet.

Wall is a possibility, 50s house so thick plaster over lathe and concrete block beyond it.

 

[Wardsweb]

Have you thought about a shelf that goes over the Metregon like this?

 

[Wardsweb]

You can even bend a sheet of plywood. Corners are kerf cut 14 times spaced 3/8” apart. You would only need half this depth.

 

[jack the knife]

I'd prefer to not put anything on top of it or going over it, detracts from the look IMO.

But I am thinking of something like the old Poul Cadovius shelves, provided I can anchor them to take the weight. Then again, they were (and remain) pretty confident in their LP shelves and that's quite a bit of weight. I'm thinking three or four bays behind the Metregon with the amp inside an open cabinet or on a shelf, though it might look funny sitting there on such a thin shelf.

There's also the Vitsoe 606 shelving. I'd considered finding some rails and other hardware and having my own walnut shelves made instead of the bland white (they'd done this themselves in the 70s under a 606 licensor, I think). Those shelves always looked more like something that belonged in a retail atmosphere, though.

While DK3 still makes the Cadovius shelves, I don't like the metal hardware and I think the shelves are some type of MDF I'm pretty darn sure. Top originals are plywood, and I like the wooden supports more.

I just wish I could build a new house where everything is built-in and well-anchored...

 

[jack the knife]

Temporary solution I've decided is furniture pads, then extra large sorbothane feet. Beats being on a book. But both of these will be off of the Metregon some day.

 

[midnightmayhem]

You need to find where your studs are, build a shelf out of walnut that attaches through the drywall and into the timber frame of your home. That will certainly support a heavy Mcintosh tube amp.
You'll probably have to get a cabinet shop to make it, but it will look sweet and it will fit correctly and thats worth paying a few bucks for.

 

[Ski]

You can even bend a sheet of plywood. Corners are kerf cut 14 times spaced 3/8” apart. You would only need half this depth.

View attachment 124616

I disagree. You could do that and it will be a piece of art. Us normal people can't.

 

[Pup]

I don't think the vibration from your beautiful speaker is doing you any favors with the gear on top. Sorbothane will dull the sound btw.

In the 50's and 60's, your speakers vintage, my mother would have used linen bureau scarfs or placemats.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/206525596224?_skw=Vintage+White+Linen+Dresser+Scarf+%E2%80%94+15%22+%C3%97+22%22&itmmeta=01M233GC3X5N73G9ZCRFCQQ0AR&hash=item3015e28240:g:bI4AAeSw1INqlL70&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAABEGfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xA3Yztgk9SYcUA2ClXeAGqZndHISJBFz18dVj4LVRkKMUNcdGjKpap8xwTKJ4Tf1A9AZIrRn1iFzqnGxHqogG2U3sdG059T0JzfiusZVS2DHzBw0iFjQYQT0pbpVybgLVes9Bs34q%2BPr2yPw8%2Boqvin0RMuDKmGrHgb6sr1fAn3WaBu8P%2BIB3e1ibfl4ehlpvaJuyaTOluWJS37KnFigbETq8Q%2FDd4DZjFyaWcUbaPczAioZ%2FZTCcmyR3ap4O1fz5eY0%2F8s4PZ6PbhxJdRZyQ4Uv5bdbLFKf%2Fv4b9Z9U28aagYZv8cmgZgLC6%2FsEaibdPoeUOPE7gkgLQkbMOAY4NAG%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5DCweOQaA

or:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336785430378?_skw=vintage+linen+placemats&itmmeta=01M232NQN94JB4WNB6QTSXZPKX&hash=item4e69f9d76a:g:010AAeSwFFJqoHg2&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xBtpHwpAR3xL77W0F8VIeqecLM3NRdCPalt6L0LJnC9uKcIVc4Hue4YnMkfjESqCkabCUEtQJFbCZqretBjsSjNUrIHtYEtCNiow17G%2B8pbQU8DJguBMc8rpB%2BFqHuXrBkRvF71yqr9ywKwXUbYkjBVkOvWoLBRUEScNyhfTspJAXbG0kGGVGFFtjmidzWYyksu6uB8KliXj4aeFhueF4w4JohBCuw9q4dZB3TLRxywkVmNMjs%2BFk2d%2BRDSsdThIG9rm28haXiPrvxN6iaKxVU0GWfQszjaHJwNDzLqOrb81A%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-r61uKQaA

Then you could get these for under each piece to match:

Steve's Gift Shoppe 1.5 Inch Natural Unfinished Walnut Hardwood Blocks - Wooden Cubes (Each is 1 1/2 inches Square) Pack of 10 Blocks​

https://www.amazon.com/Steves-Gift-Shoppe-Unfinished-Hardwood/dp/B014VXCMG6/ref=sr_1_19?crid=11X73MTG7YVFE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fffsyUY3jrdLxdF0ADzJedJ7bQJJlj1fC0ebexLRT54Ajv0Y7LqMpRVP70HntcMnKmmBWaWXYwjNBKHzecE9knZV6FuIB2bWeRrHuRArJ_GX2kQBgVvpbFoytF_ffRSOCdxT9VyePTYTUPeqwjoilEwKLCqNhFwFWvG3H4SwLj84UtUa3OIKgzR-UH4pcfQJ0FSC4Lb7nF7ATMStaUgJQ71YgFzD5Zlt9brwCeI4VQyMjjuJThvU2-Sr9bjuKR_q1vo6Jwvm0LRjpjz2Q_ujHenBV1Goj2i0M73GziTsd7c.D3OIeHZ30xKhJQSdQilaCMpAGM3gdAMQzhCbUK1Ut6s&dib_tag=se&keywords=1.5%22+walnut+blocks%2Fcube&qid=1788959531&sprefix=1.5+walnut+bloks%2Fcube%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-19

just a thought....

​

 

[Pup]

Or remove the feet on the MC240 and replace it with these:

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-DRFS1-1-3-8-x-1-Heavy-Duty-Rubber-Feet-4-Pcs.-240-712?quantity=1

1 3/8" tall. Use original screws or go to hardware store and get 4 longer ones.

 

[jack the knife]

Or remove the feet on the MC240 and replace it with these:

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-DRFS1-1-3-8-x-1-Heavy-Duty-Rubber-Feet-4-Pcs.-240-712?quantity=1

1 3/8" tall. Use original screws or go to hardware store and get 4 longer ones.

View attachment 125717

Yeah I'm not in love with the deformation of the sorbothane so far. What needs to happen is some built-in shelves. In period photos of this system and similar, I can see people would keep their stuff on an entirely built-in shelf. Not an etagere or standalone bookcase, but something integral to the wall. That also gets around the furniture mismatch issue I'm having.

Of course, some guys built look-a-like integrated systems, like the fellow below! 150% scale, wow! Article is from 1961 in a New Jersey newspaper. At 17, he sure would've fit around with the intrepid DIYers here...