HTPC Placement

[chapsandmutton]

For the last few years I've used a retired 2.66Ghz Macbook Pro as my HTPC, running Plex. It's worked perfectly and is paired with an LG HDTV and some puny computer speakers. I got a hefty return this year and decided to splurge on a restored vintage Marantz 2220B receiver as well as a set of Mordaunt-Short Carnival 2 speakers.

I love the results but the new rig has displaced the area that my laptop used to sit open. I'm toying with a few options ranging from picking up a new piece of furniture, to adjusting the shelving to better fit the laptop to just putting the laptop in the mode where it can function with the lid closed.

I was told by friends that I could not put the laptop on top of the receiver for fears that heat or magnetism would ruin the drive. I think that's bullshit - the receiver doesn't even get warm to the touch, and I couldn't dig up any info about receivers ruining laptops. In fact I found more information saying magnetism won't ruin hard drives. Anyone wanna shed some light?

 

[valve1138]

If there are no vents on top of the receiver and it doesn't even get warm, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

You could always put some stick on rubber feet on the laptop to provide some separation.

 

[ballistic]

Nice Marantz,
I'd love to dig into an old receiver and give it a work over with new caps and add some stuff such as good binding posts and replace the fuse style bulbs with some LEDs.

You could always just toss something like a couple glass bricks on either side of the receiver and toss a slab of wood on top for a laptop stand.

 

[Prav]

One easy cheap option for impromptu spacing between components is an acrylic or class cutting board with feet. I have used them several times as standoffs between items for extra ventilation as opposed to adding shelving.

 

[TESLA]

If heat is an issue, use a riser as others have suggested. You could also purchase a quiet USB-powered fan and place it at the back of both components if you are worried.

Generally though, I would be more worried about the receiver than the computer as the computer has active ventilation and the receiver may not. So if the receiver is not currently warm right now, check on it once the computer is in place, and if nothing has changed, then you are done.

In fact, the only issues I have ever experienced with adding gear to racks (or stacking them on shelving) have generally been due to improper cabinet ventilation. So just make sure that your cabinet is either open or well ventilated.

Magnetism isn't an issue. Even if the receiver somehow produced a powerful (enough to do damage) magnetic field which extends outside its enclosure (not likely), the computer's innards are wrapped in metal and drained to ground. This is what any metal case and screw mounted PSU gets you, and it is terrific at shielding what is inside.

 

[chapsandmutton]

TESLA, thanks for the great advice. My biggest fear was just the unknown factor of magnetism, which I was heavily skeptical about. This receiver gives off virtually not heat to speak of, so I'm not concerned in the least about that. Still, I may try to find a better solution - the piece of furniture that this all sits on has limited real estate in a house that also has limited real estate, so I've gotta be clever.

ballistic - that is precisely what I bought. Bought it on eBay, an old electronics enthusiast went through with a fine toothed comb and replaced all necessary items (even the FM cable!) and greased all the wheels and switches. Bulbs were replaced with LEDs. It's every bit as warm sounding and beautiful looking as I'd hoped. Still saving up for a wooden case for it!

Thanks again guys.