Wood vs. metal chassis for vacuum tube equipment

I wonder if a wood chassis could have a positive impact on the sound of a preamp or power amp vs. a metal chassis. I know it's just a case for the electronics but it might resonate different than metal. Any opinions or experience?

Comments

  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,911
    edited November 2020
    From an engineering standpoint, metal is historically/generally preferred for shielding,
    FWIW.

    You may have noticed that you see very, very few nonmetallic chassis in hifi componentry.
    B)
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,534
    A wooden chassis may have problems getting consumer electronics safety clearance. Wood was of course long used for exterior casework though, but mainly for style.

    People have good results by using high quality racks made of thick wood materials for resonance control.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,448
    Granite has its virtues as well.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,576
    Granite has its virtues as well.

    I would have never believed it until I heard it, Some rocks ring like church bells. I went to a mineral museum and they were showing how to tell the differences in rocks. The guy hit several pieces of granite, marble and other I cannot remember now. I was floored at the sounds they made and just rang and rang.
  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,653
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Granite has its virtues as well.

    I would have never believed it until I heard it, Some rocks ring like church bells. I went to a mineral museum and they were showing how to tell the differences in rocks. The guy hit several pieces of granite, marble and other I cannot remember now. I was floored at the sounds they made and just rang and rang.

    So does wood. Do a YouTube search for tongue drums.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,576
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Granite has its virtues as well.

    I would have never believed it until I heard it, Some rocks ring like church bells. I went to a mineral museum and they were showing how to tell the differences in rocks. The guy hit several pieces of granite, marble and other I cannot remember now. I was floored at the sounds they made and just rang and rang.

    So does wood. Do a YouTube search for tongue drums.

    Yep
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,911
    Granite is notoriously ringy. Things like soapstone are much better for antiresonance applications (e.g., plinths).
  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,373
    I don't seem to have any problem with hum or rfi, and my pre is made of wood, plus it uses ac heaters. Ac heaters are supposed to be noisier than DC heaters.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,911
    invalid wrote: »
    I don't seem to have any problem with hum or rfi, and my pre is made of wood, plus it uses ac heaters. Ac heaters are supposed to be noisier than DC heaters.

    Then why did you ask? Sounds like you have the data already! :)
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,448
    Granite works well on my tube amps...
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    invalid wrote: »
    I don't seem to have any problem with hum or rfi, and my pre is made of wood, plus it uses ac heaters. Ac heaters are supposed to be noisier than DC heaters.

    Do you have any pictures? I don’t think I have ever seen a wood chassis for a preamp.

    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • delkal
    delkal Posts: 764
    edited November 2020
    BlueFox wrote: »
    invalid wrote: »
    I don't seem to have any problem with hum or rfi, and my pre is made of wood, plus it uses ac heaters. Ac heaters are supposed to be noisier than DC heaters.

    Do you have any pictures? I don’t think I have ever seen a wood chassis for a preamp.

    beequiet_step_att2.jpg

    https://bottlehead.com/product/beepre-300b-preamplifier-kit/
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    delkal wrote: »

    Is that what he has? It looks like a metal preamp chassis in a wood frame.

    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,373
    4g8kme2j6l0h.jpg


    Do you have any pictures? I don’t think I have ever seen a wood chassis for a preamp.

    [/quote]

  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    Cool. Thanks.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.