Probably dumb question: OK to place amp, streamer/pre, CD player on top of speaker?

[CT Man]

System: Harbeth 40.2 speakers, WiiM Ultra, Teac PD-301 CD player/FM radio, Buckeye 2 Channel NCx500 amp

I'd like to place a humongous TV between my Harbeth speakers. With my space limitations it would be great to place my WiiM Ultra and Teac CD player on top of one of my Harbeth speakers so they could be operated at eye level. It would then be best to have my Buckeye amp on a shelf to be added to the lower cross supports of the speaker stand. Photo below.

Would the components on top of the speaker have any impact on sound? Would there be any EMF problems with the components placed so close to the speaker's drivers? Or any interference issues with power and signal cables running in back of the speaker?

 

[DVDdoug]

Yes, it's OK.

...You have to be careful putting a turntable on top of a speaker because you can get mechanical feedback from vibrations.

 

[tineared]

Just be wary that at elevated volumes your components may become suicidal and try to jump off...

 

[CT Man]

Just be wary that at elevated volumes your components may become suicidal and try to jump off...

Thanks, I had not considered that. It's a pity I'll need to stop cranking up Helmut Walcha's Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor. But my neighbor across the street will appreciate the change.

 

[tineared]

Thanks, I had not considered that. It's a pity I'll need to stop cranking up Helmut Walcha's Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor. But my neighbor across the street will appreciate the change.

You're going to need a serious subwoofer to properly listen to that tune

 

[BeeKay]

Wouldn’t put a CD drive, even less a TT on top of a loudspeaker

 

[CT Man]

Wouldn’t put a CD drive, even less a TT on top of a loudspeaker

Really? If vibration is the issue it seems like there's very little of that on top of the speaker. CD drives work in boom boxes, all-in-one mini systems, laptops on desktops, cars. Is your opinion based on vibration or EMF or something else?

 

[Joe Smith]

I wouldn't, just because quite easy to knock those things off the top if someone passes by the speaker, and also just for appearances' sake...

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

Anything on the top will have an effect on diffraction (they are designed to work without anything on top).

I would be mindful of how I run AC power cords near a speaker and speaker cables.

If vibration is the issue it seems like there's very little of that on top of the speaker.

There's likely some given a large cabinet and resonances. Will it effect the player or the streamer? Shouldn't. Not short term.

Long term it might cause things like poor solder connections to fail earlier than they otherwise would. And vibration is not a friend to electronics in general.



It's unlikely to make things worse in a way you notice, and likely to make your system easier to use, that's my take.