Why maple? I used to mount my studio recording and playback gear on cones on massive lead or granite platforms. Naturally, I assumed mass dominates. Was I wrong! My first ear opener was testing 15 lbs. of poplar against 125 lbs. of granite. The musicality of the wood blew away the granite: warmer, punchier, far more detail, deeper bass. Clearly, choice of materials dominates—so I tested dozens. Marble and glass were thin and bright; carbon fiber, polymer composites, damped metal laminates, acrylic and Corian were too dead. None matched wood’s natural full tone and sparkling dynamics. Next experiment: solid wood easily bested butcher block and plywood; MDF was the worst wood. Different woods sounded surprisingly different. I listened to carefully matched platforms of walnut, oak, maple, cherry, birch, spruce, fir, hickory, mahogany, etc. Maple was head and shoulders the best.
