Are equipment racks oddly the most difficult audio purchase?
- Thread starter Lee
- Start date
Had my previous setup on cheap rack and never really gave it a ton of thought … except that I had the turntable on an HRS platform as it got rid of the humming issue I had as I turned up the volume. Then when I got my first tube amps borrowed a pair of HRS platforms and compared that to the cheap amps stands I had been using and the difference was really amazing with the tube amps. Sound stage really opened up and everything was much more detailed and could lear low level details that previously had been obscured. Made the decision there and then to build a complete HRS setup which I did and never looked back. With the level of gear I now own I think it was a great decision.
George
George
I own a very good rack from Artesania Audio. The Prestige model. 3 racks of 2 layers each.
It's a very good brand from Spain.
It's a very good brand from Spain.
How would one effectively do a valid "comparitive" audition? Given the substantial effort involved, that would seem to be an extremely daunting task.
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I had two expensive commercial racks (same brand). The shelf support system took up so much room I did not have enough space left for equipment. The shelf brackets also posed a risk of scratching equipment as I move it in and out.
I had a local builder make me two racks out of beautiful Claro (California) walnut. It has more red in it compared to English walnut. When I ordered Sound Lab speakers I had the walnut trim stained and oiled to match the Claro walnut and found a matching grill cloth. The effect is very slimming and the speakers are attractive center pieces instead of imposing monoliths. I stained walnut butcher block amplifier stands to match. I built 7 2’x4’ acoustic panels with matching cloth. I built cable supports from walnut. My audio buddies think my system is really “put together”. I am thrilled with the aesthetic result. Sometimes I just look at my system with pride and give myself a pat on the back.
I relied on various isolation products from Symposium (Svelte and Svelte Plus platforms and RollerBlock Jrs), IsoAcoustics (OREAs), and Finite Elemente. I replaced the footers on 4 pieces of equipment with Finite Elemente Cerabase Slimlines.
On the plus side, the Claro walnut racks are more attractive and less expensive than commercial racks. The Symposium platforms protect the wood from scratches. On the negative side, there is no shelf adjustment. How does my isolation system compare to a commercial rack? Darned if I know. Comparison is too difficult and I have made too many equipment changes. So I convince myself I did a good job and love the one I’m with.
Notes on the photos that do not do justice to the actual product:
The double rack is in my audio/video (2-channel only) system. Picture of the rear of the rack shows what happened when I applied Osmo HardWax Oil. I did not use any stain. The red just popped! I enjoyed being involved in the completion of the rack.
The single rack is in my main audio system (Sound Labs). The system is on two walls. I use platforms for amplifiers between the speakers. Source components are on the rack.
I had a local builder make me two racks out of beautiful Claro (California) walnut. It has more red in it compared to English walnut. When I ordered Sound Lab speakers I had the walnut trim stained and oiled to match the Claro walnut and found a matching grill cloth. The effect is very slimming and the speakers are attractive center pieces instead of imposing monoliths. I stained walnut butcher block amplifier stands to match. I built 7 2’x4’ acoustic panels with matching cloth. I built cable supports from walnut. My audio buddies think my system is really “put together”. I am thrilled with the aesthetic result. Sometimes I just look at my system with pride and give myself a pat on the back.
I relied on various isolation products from Symposium (Svelte and Svelte Plus platforms and RollerBlock Jrs), IsoAcoustics (OREAs), and Finite Elemente. I replaced the footers on 4 pieces of equipment with Finite Elemente Cerabase Slimlines.
On the plus side, the Claro walnut racks are more attractive and less expensive than commercial racks. The Symposium platforms protect the wood from scratches. On the negative side, there is no shelf adjustment. How does my isolation system compare to a commercial rack? Darned if I know. Comparison is too difficult and I have made too many equipment changes. So I convince myself I did a good job and love the one I’m with.
Notes on the photos that do not do justice to the actual product:
The double rack is in my audio/video (2-channel only) system. Picture of the rear of the rack shows what happened when I applied Osmo HardWax Oil. I did not use any stain. The red just popped! I enjoyed being involved in the completion of the rack.
The single rack is in my main audio system (Sound Labs). The system is on two walls. I use platforms for amplifiers between the speakers. Source components are on the rack.
I'll steel man the OP...I think audio racks are pretty simple. There is no objective data, so go with your gut, aesthetic preference and budget.
The thing with racks is that you have a lot of flexibility. You can buy a very expensive rack with all of the necessary isolation built in. With several top tier racks (e.g., HRS, Wellfloat, etc.) each shelf is the same as the isolation platforms that are sold separately. Or you can buy a solid but more simple and less expensive rack and add isolation platforms between components and shelves. I have found the 2nd approach to be more cost effective. I have a basic Salamander Archetype rack with custom decoupling spike cups, and Wellfloat isolation platforms on each shelf. This priced out to be less than a third of the cost of the Wellfloat rack for example. .
I did same...custom rack, with smoked glass doors so you dont really see the equipment behind it, but the remote for the Zanden still works.
But each component on the custom rack is in its own 'isolation sandwich' comprised of isolation feet under and mass dampers on top: (Under: SRA, Stillpoints+HRS and Top: Artesania, HRS). And yes, significantly less than a full-on HRS M3 rack or most likely less than the full-on Artesania rack.
But each component on the custom rack is in its own 'isolation sandwich' comprised of isolation feet under and mass dampers on top: (Under: SRA, Stillpoints+HRS and Top: Artesania, HRS). And yes, significantly less than a full-on HRS M3 rack or most likely less than the full-on Artesania rack.
One could energise the room with speakers or a subwoofer, and then see what is happening with accelerometers on the rack.
Or one could turn up the volume and rap on the rack with their knuckles or some more repeatable thing, like a wooden mallet.
To a large extent a dead sounding rack is sucking up energy.
It could still ring at some narrow resonant frequency, but exiting the structure and doing FFTs on any accelerometer or electric output of the front end gear would be one way to quantify things.
To try and compare them against each other, with ears, seems like a snipe hunt.
And if they all dampen then they are likely better than nothing.
Not only avoid metal in the makeup of your component support structures, but keep source to max 2, and space them all apart over 2 rack, or even better 3 racks.
Keep the digital source far from the motor and metallic body of the turntable.
Place the power amp far away from the front end and pre.
^Good question^
That sort of relegates people with smaller spaces to seem to have an inferior set up.
I suppose I can envision some speaker or IC cable laying next to an iron bar, seeming like a ferrite core for adding inductance, but really how much of this is real, and how much is just magical thinking?
I think that that sort of depends on the digital source as well as whether there are magnetic fields emanating out of the motor.
As a blanket statement it is not a bad idea, but there is little evidence to suggest that is needed.
Again, without some evidence that the the devices are interacting, this is more of olden days “Best Practices”, which may have been obviated with equipment these days.
It’s an interesting topic Lee. Like many others said before, it’s very difficult to compare racks side by side especially at home due to many limitations and constraints.
My current rack was completely custom made to me due to the sizes and weights of equipment that I have here. I have custom dimensions for each tier and amp stand with extra spikes, bolts etc. to make sure everything will match perfectly with the sizes of my equipment.
As soon as I made an order for my Pilium amps and wondering whether I would get the dcs, msb or wadax digital here, I made sure the rack must be able to accommodate them without any problem and fed that back to the manufacturer so they could take that into account.
On another hand, woods are always my first choice as they’re not only very beautiful, naturally, but also easy to integrate into the room as parts of the furniture.
I read the manufacturer’s description for each choice of woods and how they will affect the sound in overall then made my decision with exotic walnuts.
As mentioned earlier, I have no clue how my rack helps to improve the sound in my system as I have nothing to compare to, but even without the Absolute Points footers from Hifistay, many said my system sounds great.
So I don’t think and not sure if I will change it to anything else as I am quite settled with my boxes, just looking for some cables at the moment.
My current rack was completely custom made to me due to the sizes and weights of equipment that I have here. I have custom dimensions for each tier and amp stand with extra spikes, bolts etc. to make sure everything will match perfectly with the sizes of my equipment.
As soon as I made an order for my Pilium amps and wondering whether I would get the dcs, msb or wadax digital here, I made sure the rack must be able to accommodate them without any problem and fed that back to the manufacturer so they could take that into account.
On another hand, woods are always my first choice as they’re not only very beautiful, naturally, but also easy to integrate into the room as parts of the furniture.
I read the manufacturer’s description for each choice of woods and how they will affect the sound in overall then made my decision with exotic walnuts.
As mentioned earlier, I have no clue how my rack helps to improve the sound in my system as I have nothing to compare to, but even without the Absolute Points footers from Hifistay, many said my system sounds great.
So I don’t think and not sure if I will change it to anything else as I am quite settled with my boxes, just looking for some cables at the moment.
“Are equipment racks oddly the most difficult audio purchase?”
No, for the simple reason that isolation footers and platforms can solve most issues that crop up. What’s probably more important is where the rack is located.
For something different.....
Two years ago, I lamented that few firms made a performance audio rack offering the build quality and appearance of fine furniture and a level of performance commensurate with the finest audio components. I am a fan of racks from HRS, Finite Elemente, Grand Prix Audio, and others; however, they do not appear as fine furniture.
That led to collaborating with my long-term partner, a top industrial designer, and a young second-generation European cabinet maker located on the front range of Colorado. Today, the product has come to life as a new enterprise - Folgenhaus Audio Furniture. Each rack is made and finished to client specifications—height, depth, number of shelves, you name it.
The constrained-layer vertical uprights are 2.5" thick and accept solid brass or aluminum inlays. Shelves are made from 1.5" or 2" thick hand-selected rock maple, then hand-stained to meet clients' tastes. Brass and compression-damping layers are used throughout. The feet are adjustable solid brass. Folgenhaus racks comfortably support up to 6000 pounds.
Further information can be found on our website, www.folgenhaus.com.
Two years ago, I lamented that few firms made a performance audio rack offering the build quality and appearance of fine furniture and a level of performance commensurate with the finest audio components. I am a fan of racks from HRS, Finite Elemente, Grand Prix Audio, and others; however, they do not appear as fine furniture.
That led to collaborating with my long-term partner, a top industrial designer, and a young second-generation European cabinet maker located on the front range of Colorado. Today, the product has come to life as a new enterprise - Folgenhaus Audio Furniture. Each rack is made and finished to client specifications—height, depth, number of shelves, you name it.
The constrained-layer vertical uprights are 2.5" thick and accept solid brass or aluminum inlays. Shelves are made from 1.5" or 2" thick hand-selected rock maple, then hand-stained to meet clients' tastes. Brass and compression-damping layers are used throughout. The feet are adjustable solid brass. Folgenhaus racks comfortably support up to 6000 pounds.
Further information can be found on our website, www.folgenhaus.com.
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You know that tubes dislike vibrations. As do turntables. Back in the day when I lived alone, I had my TT in the next room...
I had good experience with SRA, Live vibe audio (surprisingly good), and finite elemente. At the time however, these cost more than I was ready to invest and I settled for a suspended design that I ordered from a metal workshop (i.e. a metal frame from the top og which I suspend the equipment. This sits on Nordost footers & Alto Extremo pucks)
In my case it helped -- but I have a vintage suspended wooden floor (floor resonance @ 33Hz)
After looking at racks till my eyes glazed over, and seeing prices that to me - in my personal opinion were nuts for racks that frankly were pretty ugly and I had no idea how they would affect the sound, I've decided to go a different route.
I'm having a custom piece made for me by a custom furniture builder that will look like a piece of furniture, be a able to support 600 lbs per shelf (the Aries Cerat integrated is 170 lbs each and their DAC's are well over 100 lbs and I'd like three units to a shelf) and then I'l continue to use my choice of all the vibration platforms and feet I have to custom tune each component to the sound I like.
This will cost much less money - and I'm betting better results - than a crazy expensive rack that I don't even know how it will sound or how well it will work.
I'm having a custom piece made for me by a custom furniture builder that will look like a piece of furniture, be a able to support 600 lbs per shelf (the Aries Cerat integrated is 170 lbs each and their DAC's are well over 100 lbs and I'd like three units to a shelf) and then I'l continue to use my choice of all the vibration platforms and feet I have to custom tune each component to the sound I like.
This will cost much less money - and I'm betting better results - than a crazy expensive rack that I don't even know how it will sound or how well it will work.
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