What's the best audio rack?
- Thread starter caesar
- Start date
If I could choose any rack, it would be the CRAZ rack by Silent Running Audio.
In a resolving system, a good rack will definitely improve the sound by providing:
a. Isolation, i.e. preventing relative movement between the component and the rack, and
b. Damping, i.e. converting mechanical energy (vibrations) into heat, which is then dissipated.
I use the now discontinued EquaRack and in my system, the improvement was on a par with a significant component upgrade. There was a drop in noise floor with improved low level detail. Dynamics and individual instrumental focus improved. The racks gave the system a better grip on the music. Indeed, a quality rack should be considered a necessary component in a highly resolving system.
In a resolving system, a good rack will definitely improve the sound by providing:
a. Isolation, i.e. preventing relative movement between the component and the rack, and
b. Damping, i.e. converting mechanical energy (vibrations) into heat, which is then dissipated.
I use the now discontinued EquaRack and in my system, the improvement was on a par with a significant component upgrade. There was a drop in noise floor with improved low level detail. Dynamics and individual instrumental focus improved. The racks gave the system a better grip on the music. Indeed, a quality rack should be considered a necessary component in a highly resolving system.
For me an audio rack needs to comply with stability, weight and sonicaly unintrusive design- I picked Target among some few options I had the opportunity to try on my system.
i have read a few authors suggest that the footers of Finite Elemente are so good, they ended up making more difference than the racks even! Then there is Wave Kinetics A10-U8 who purposely showcase their footers on crappy racks to show how good they are. OTOH, i think the HRS racks are incredible. super expensive, but amazing. i have their individual isolation productions and think they are also good...but have been told the racks are another level. And i have not spoken with anyone who owns them who has changed up for something else. pls keep us posted!
During a 2008 RMAF system setup & tuning seminar I heard how important the audio "system foundation" is to optimizing audio equipment. Three identical sets of amplification, and digital source fed into the same Avalon speakers was used to demonstrate how symmetrical speaker setup, power conditioning, synergistic cabling, and resonance control can transform audio sound. A Stillpoints rack was used in the "all out" configuration.
I use a Solid Tech ROS with FOS under my digital source and Ti pulsar points under everything else except the speakers which have their own resonance control. I've found isolating all audio equipment including speakers improves system articulation and dynamics. But in terms of optimizing audio sound I believe room acoustics are second only to system setup in this hierarchy.
I personally like the Adona Racks system. I use the tried and true more Spartan Signature Series. Mike Lavigne just received one of the Reference Series Racks that he likes very much and is quite impressed. Regardless of series and appearance they are supposed to have the same sound and performance.
Rich
Rich
I just received my new SRA Scuttle Rack which replaced an EquaRack. The EquaRack was a big upgrade from my prior steel rack, but the SRA take things to a different level and it is much better looking. http://www.silentrunningaudio.com/
I use CMS. I liked it so much I picked up distribution rights. We were the very first international distributor. This was 4 years ago.
What I liked about it most aside from how well they work? It isn't weight or weight distribution dependent. Something very useful if you have to switch components around, especially tube amps and their rear set OPTs. Just solid frame and rack construction and nifty constrained layer filters built into each level.
The downside is that they are pricey. To date all our customers except two are fellow audio dealers who use them in their demo rooms.
What I liked about it most aside from how well they work? It isn't weight or weight distribution dependent. Something very useful if you have to switch components around, especially tube amps and their rear set OPTs. Just solid frame and rack construction and nifty constrained layer filters built into each level.
The downside is that they are pricey. To date all our customers except two are fellow audio dealers who use them in their demo rooms.
I will say, having done some homework (as a consumer), i kept coming across Finite Elemente, SRA and HRS over and over. There is another company that does work very similar to SRA...custom boxes in beautiful lacquer finishes...also very, very well regarded.
i had mine custom-made by an audiophile who does custom kitchens (wood working) for luxury homes. Took four guys to carry the bloody thing into the apartment. 3" thick 21-layer birchply, with the slabs connected with 12" giant screws that bore deep into the wood...then the whole thing is covered in a lacquer finish african black sapele wood...and then placed on top of (not connected) a 1" thick slab of slate that sits on floor. i am sure some of the HRS-material to dampen would help (i have their footers/damping plates) and have just ordered Finite Elemente vibration resonators (s/hand) for preamp and power supply of my Zanden DAC. But the base of what he built is very solid and feels relatively inert but not dead. cost a lot less too. and looks good in living room...
i had mine custom-made by an audiophile who does custom kitchens (wood working) for luxury homes. Took four guys to carry the bloody thing into the apartment. 3" thick 21-layer birchply, with the slabs connected with 12" giant screws that bore deep into the wood...then the whole thing is covered in a lacquer finish african black sapele wood...and then placed on top of (not connected) a 1" thick slab of slate that sits on floor. i am sure some of the HRS-material to dampen would help (i have their footers/damping plates) and have just ordered Finite Elemente vibration resonators (s/hand) for preamp and power supply of my Zanden DAC. But the base of what he built is very solid and feels relatively inert but not dead. cost a lot less too. and looks good in living room...
To paraphrase Benjamin Graham, "the better quality racks seem pricey, the better quality racks are pricey, but the better quality racks are not as pricey as they seem". I would suggest that proper equipment isolation and vibration control is requisite to extracting the maximal performance. I look at the equipment rack as a piece of gear, not an accessory.
agree...my zanden DAC has changed DRAMATICALLY with the use of EAT tube damper for the Ampererx 7308, as well as from HRS feet and damping plate...and now i am going to get Finite elemente resonator for the power supply...because it is a tubed power supply and vents thru the top...so i am concerned the HRS damping plate may get too hot/melt under the intense heat.
I think three other racks that come to mind are the Symposium Isis, Arcici and Stillpoints. At one time, the Arcici was the most expensive, but by today's standards, is downright affordable
See this review: http://www.ultraaudio.com/equipment/stillpoints_ess_28-40-3.htmThere also seems to be a less expensive model: http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SPESS3220
The Stillpoint is not cheap either. It's around 9 K list for a three shelf unit.
I use the Isis for my tape deck rack.
Does a generalized question merit a generalized answer?
jazdoc's responses (#2, #11 ) seem to mirror my own.
I had anguished for over a year trying to determine what rack or stand would be "best" for my own situation being unique to myself only, involving the components, space requirements, dimensions, cost etc. After setting up my choice of rack (it functions as an integrated system) and listening it was evident that the rack was allowing my components "true" (?) sonic signature to come through.
The affect was dramatic enough for me to believe that one's rack or stand should be considered as an essential component where it may even be considered the starting point in an audio system. I now look at the rack as being the backbone or foundation of my system. I hope this analogy is appropriate: Comparing an audio system and it's rack to a race car. Each is an assemblage of components. The stiffer or stronger the chassis in the race car the better the overall performance. A rack, if well conceived and made will allow
better overall performance as well.
I cannot comment on the use of your footers with racks of another brand. Though in principal, I do not believe in mix/matching different designer's "philosophies" of the rack's or isolation component's as there is in my experience rarely synergy.
jazdoc's responses (#2, #11 ) seem to mirror my own.
I had anguished for over a year trying to determine what rack or stand would be "best" for my own situation being unique to myself only, involving the components, space requirements, dimensions, cost etc. After setting up my choice of rack (it functions as an integrated system) and listening it was evident that the rack was allowing my components "true" (?) sonic signature to come through.
The affect was dramatic enough for me to believe that one's rack or stand should be considered as an essential component where it may even be considered the starting point in an audio system. I now look at the rack as being the backbone or foundation of my system. I hope this analogy is appropriate: Comparing an audio system and it's rack to a race car. Each is an assemblage of components. The stiffer or stronger the chassis in the race car the better the overall performance. A rack, if well conceived and made will allow
better overall performance as well.
I cannot comment on the use of your footers with racks of another brand. Though in principal, I do not believe in mix/matching different designer's "philosophies" of the rack's or isolation component's as there is in my experience rarely synergy.
One of the problems here is that you have to take a leap of faith. Even if in home demo could be arranged, A/B testing would be challenging at best. I've always hoped that a magazine would take on the task (hint, hint). Most important is to recognize that good resonance and vibration control is required to extract the best sound from our audio equipment.
So do I. The lower my loudspeakers could go, the better racking I required. My racks have no problem keeping the glare off with my system running hard now. This was not the case when I was brewing my own. I remember when my amp stands got snagged by a client. My system stayed off for a while until my new amp stands arrived. Everything was so messy sounding and grating.
Has anyone ever used Finite Elemente Resonators? I picked up 2 of them at 20 cents on the dollar and thought to try them based on their reputation and the 1 review i have seen. I have a Zanden DAC which has 2 units (separate tubed power supply) both of which are encased in a thin metal casing which can ring. I found great benefit from using the HRS damping plate on the main DAC unit and thought i would try out the Resonator on the PSU since (for the price) it was way cheaper than another HRS damping plate (and i was concerned about the damping plate covering too much of the PSU top and preventing heat dissapation.)
Thanks for any advice.
Thanks for any advice.
There's audio racks which make me salivate for their aesthetics, such as HRS, Critical Mass or Finite Elemente. In some of them, it seems there's lots of mechanics research behind, but sometimes it seems they're mostly extremely heavy racks. I'd be concerned to buy a rack which is more expensive than the electronics of the system, and I'd be curious to check whether some tweaks, if really useful, could be substituted by home-made (ugly) ones...
At an audio show, years ago, an Italian company for racks and resonators proposed an active base, to be place under a digital player. It was active, meaning that, acting on a switch, you could "tune" it to "change the sound" of the player according to your tastes. The system was dCS Puccini and Viola Labs amplification. I asked to compare the two settings, but the demo-guy said he was too busy with the demonstration. To me everything just sounded ridiculous.
At an audio show, years ago, an Italian company for racks and resonators proposed an active base, to be place under a digital player. It was active, meaning that, acting on a switch, you could "tune" it to "change the sound" of the player according to your tastes. The system was dCS Puccini and Viola Labs amplification. I asked to compare the two settings, but the demo-guy said he was too busy with the demonstration. To me everything just sounded ridiculous.
Agree...i admit i tried to do better than the HRS damping plates and HRS feet with lesser products, sandbags, rubber-coated weights...they did not do it. on my Zanden DAC, if you place the damping plate on the top and tap anywhere on the Zanden...you'd think it was 3/4" alumnimum...a solid thud. Take it off...and you realize it is very, very thin sheet metal and you can tap it with your fingernail and make it ring. Very weird...and no matter how much home-made weight i put on the thing...it would "ring" if i tapped on the Zanden on the other side of where i placed my home-made weights. With the HRS damping plate...nothing...just solid, '3/4" thick aluminium' response...
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