Equipment levelling

[electric beach]

Could someone explain why it is beneficial or necessary to ensure that equipment is level? I can understand this with turntables but I can't understand how it could effect CD player, DAC, pre or power amps.

I'm using dissimilar support devices under each component, unequal in height by 2-3mm.

Many equipment instructions insist that the unit must be levelled. I can find a way to address 2-3mm if really necessary and I've done it but can't hear a difference.

[Themis]

Levelling ? On solid state ? I never heard of that.
On tubes, I don't know...

[DSJR]

CD players shouldn't (!!!) be affected by a few degress either way (and the Dual 1229 turntable was shown (with mofified bearing) running perfectly well upside down, so well balanced was the arm...

Valve amps are generally used with the output valves in a vertical position. My Quad II's were used horizontally in a cabinet for 30 years or so, so apart from one KT66 failing I don't know.....

[Spectral Morn]

Hi

Well if you view a CD player like a turntable it makes sense, is logical to think that if a disc is spinning at a angle i.e is not level this may generate reading errors in the lazer as it passes through the poly-carbonate layer above the data on the disc. The error correction would no doubt cope with any reading errors generated by not being level or perhaps vibration caused by being at an angle, or the motor spinning the disc having to work harder. All I can say is that I have always leveled CD players and have heard improvements in sound quality depending on the degree of how out they were to being totally level (I use a mana level for this).

As to amps etc...well the tables I use are level (looks better that way imho) so I can't say if being level or not effects sound quality here, but again I guess if the case work is at an angle then vibration entering the case might effect the sound...however I just don't know if thats the case or not. I have always leveled the stands, since I got into audio, so I haven't had a ureka moment in that regard.

To my mind set up is attention to detail and being level is just part of that detail....I just do it and always have.


Regards D S D L

[electric beach]

I'm relieved it's not a stupid question with a glaringly obvious answer that I'm missing

I just do it and always have.


Regards D S D L

That was my position Neil, until I came to a reason to question it. I considered the CD reading/errors possibility, my company produces printing inks for CDs and there are very strict design criteria to avoid creating wow and flutter by upsetting the surface tension, but physically the laser would always be aligned and held true to the disc within the transport mechanism.

I'm assuming that any statement like "ensure the unit is sited level on a stable support" is a caveat to cover gross misuse of a reasonable tolerence in this respect. I don't know enough about valves to assume anything, but I have seen them mounted at 90 degrees.

I really can't see that being perfectly level should make a difference, certainly as opposed to a few degrees.

Thanks for considering the question guys.

[DSJR]

Domestic Top End CD players are such quirky things it may well make a difference if the platter bearing is severely off kilter, but the Philips swing-arm laser assemblies needed a quite surprising shove to beat the servo locking the arm in place.

[hifi_dave]

Turntables and arms definitely need to be level. Certain CD players might possibly need to be level but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. As for amps - yer gotta be avin a larf... Do electrons struggle uphill ???

[Ali Tait]

Interesting when you look at something like an xbox.That can play a cd in the vertical position.I doubt the mech is much if any different to a cd or dvd player.

[Steve Toy]

The Bel Canto CD2 transport is robust and the disc is clamped in place with a rather heavy-weight puck. The shelf I use bows in the middle due to it being acrylic with a large hole in the middle. Subjective listening tells me there are greater benefits of this than the losses of the transport being slightly tilted.

[The Grand Wazoo]

From The Grave