Much good content on this forum (thanks to all) but I couldn't seem to find anything specific to whether folks preferred an isolation rack / platform over footers let alone any compares of one versus the other (there are many choices as we all know). Some use both.
For my situation I'm looking into replacing my DIY baltic birch mass loaded rack and amp stands with mfr. racks (Grand Prix, Adona etc. candidates). Focus would initially be on my amp stands whereby my amps are on CS2 footers - to sell the CS2s + add $$ and buy SRA stands or go for something more affordable like aforementioned Grand Prix Audio stands and keep the amps on the CS2 footers. Which is better, I have no idea.
Feedback is very much appreciated.
Much good content on this forum (thanks to all) but I couldn't seem to find anything specific to whether folks preferred an isolation rack / platform over footers let alone any compares of one versus the other (there are many choices as we all know). Some use both.
For my situation I'm looking into replacing my DIY baltic birch mass loaded rack and amp stands with mfr. racks (Grand Prix, Adona etc. candidates). Focus would initially be on my amp stands whereby my amps are on CS2 footers - to sell the CS2s + add $$ and buy SRA stands or go for something more affordable like aforementioned Grand Prix Audio stands and keep the amps on the CS2 footers. Which is better, I have no idea.
Feedback is very much appreciated.
Getting back to the original post - I use racks/platforms to isolate together with footers to drain/tune internal component resonances. You need both. My amp sits on the floor on
Marigo Mystery Feet, on top of a DYI Corian amp stand. My sacd player is on
Dalby Audio Lignum Vitae footers, on top of a
Townshend Seismic Sink air platform, on top of a
Salamander Archetype rack. Power conditioner on the bottom shelf of the rack is on
Clubwood mpingo cones/
Star Sound brass cups and a
Sound Mechanics isolation platform. I have custom isolating spike receptacles under the rack's spiked feet. The separate Modwright power supply for the sacd player is on
ASI Top Line Feet, on top of a custom isolation platform which sits on the floor. The Dalby, Marigo, and ASI footers are expensive, top of the line items. They are the best I've encountered at any price. The Salamander rack and DIY isolation platforms are basic and relatively inexpensive. The Dalby and ASI footers are unique in my experience because they seem to both drain internal component resonances (increasing clarity and articulation) and tune the components' resonant signature (increasing naturalness and musicality). Footers of course work differently with different components so you have to experiment. I have not been in a position to try any of the really high end racks/platforms (e.g., SRA, HRS, etc.) which are supposed to isolate and drain so I can't comment on them. I also have not owned components that came with really high end feet that you would not want to replace (e.g., like the Stillpoints built into the Vinnie Rossi amps). With most racks and platforms I've seen, including Grand Prix Audio you will still need draining/tuning footers. Top shelf footers between components and relatively inexpensive platforms/racks have worked well for me - much better than just the platforms/racks by themselves. Top shelf footers and the highest end platforms/racks together might be better still - no experience with that. Photos below: