What's the best audio rack?
- Thread starter caesar
- Start date
Interesting experience!
Anyway, I wish all the most respected manufacturers provided their products with appropriate chassis and feet.
Anyway, I wish all the most respected manufacturers provided their products with appropriate chassis and feet.
Will this do?
It would be perfect for me (other than the price which probably is more than my speakers cost)!!
They systems I like most being those from SRA, HRS, Symposium and my own do have a lot of science behind them. All these use constrained layer damping which basically uses materials of differing resonant frequencies and getting their opposing Q factors to cancel out while turning the vibration into heat. The science is there and as in any case it comes down to implementation and practicability for any particular purpose.
In my case, having a platform that handles components with different weight distribution is a HUGE factor. I swap out evenly distributed hybrid amps and rear heavy tube amps whenever the mood or necessity strikes me. This rules model specific platforms for me although I've heard these and can not fault their operation. Yet another case of horses for courses.
In my case, having a platform that handles components with different weight distribution is a HUGE factor. I swap out evenly distributed hybrid amps and rear heavy tube amps whenever the mood or necessity strikes me. This rules model specific platforms for me although I've heard these and can not fault their operation. Yet another case of horses for courses.
OK...i have now received my 2 Finite Elemente Resonators (used...20 cents on the dollar). If you own a Zanden DAC, they are definitely worth using on the Power Supply Unit (which gets very hot, so was concerned about using HRS damping plate). In comparing the Resonator to the HRS damping plate on the main DAC unit, i would say i prefer the HRS damping plate. it is just that much better, when i tap the component w/ and w/out...the resonance/metallic vibration is even more of a solid 'thud' rather than a ring with the hRS...though frankly both are excellent. you could be fooled into thinking thin sheet metal is quarter-inch thick aluminum...if you tap anywhere, it is a solid thud, rather than a 'ting'...no idea how they do that with one resonator that manages to do that across the entire casing...home-made devices definitely do not do this. And of course, soundwise, both are excellent...HRS wins by a nose. with HRS, There is even that much cleaner a signal.
But since the Zanden Power Tube Supply gets superhot, i prefer the Resonator since it is metal (as compared with the HRS softer rubberized material...which is probably meant to withstand heat...but you never know.)
I took the second resonator and used it on my CJ preamp, the Nordost Qx4...i moved it around to various spots on each. Yes, there is a difference but oh so slight...i'd be upset if i'd paid full retail, when i could have bought Ceraballs, or HRS damping feet, kept it for CDs, towards an IC upgrade, etc.
The main reason that it works so extremely well on Zanden but not on the rest, is that Zanden casings are very thin metal...i feel like they ring at extreme high treble (choral soprano, flute, etc), or at least that the treble seems to "bleed"/shimmer. That shimmer is dramatically reduced now, pretty much gone, so as opposed to a shimmering note, i can focus on a word being sung, or a high note being played. Nice...particularly at the price.
But since the Zanden Power Tube Supply gets superhot, i prefer the Resonator since it is metal (as compared with the HRS softer rubberized material...which is probably meant to withstand heat...but you never know.)
I took the second resonator and used it on my CJ preamp, the Nordost Qx4...i moved it around to various spots on each. Yes, there is a difference but oh so slight...i'd be upset if i'd paid full retail, when i could have bought Ceraballs, or HRS damping feet, kept it for CDs, towards an IC upgrade, etc.
The main reason that it works so extremely well on Zanden but not on the rest, is that Zanden casings are very thin metal...i feel like they ring at extreme high treble (choral soprano, flute, etc), or at least that the treble seems to "bleed"/shimmer. That shimmer is dramatically reduced now, pretty much gone, so as opposed to a shimmering note, i can focus on a word being sung, or a high note being played. Nice...particularly at the price.
Lloyd,
Glad to hear that the weak worked
Anyway, my concern is that a product which is pricy and respected as the Zanden should come with an efficient chassis.
IMHO, products that are conceived in a way price shouldn't matter should be manufactured in a way costs shouldn't matter: so, they should come perfectly assembled, without the need of any kind of tweak.
Hi Valerio,
Yes, i agree...and to a degree not quite. The Zanden truly is a remarkable product, and i have found no other digital i prefer, despite having had opportunities to consider DCS Elgar Plus and DCS SCarlatti, Wadia 7, Esoteric X-01SE, Emm Labs, Krell 505 and all the various ARC CDs up to the current 8. Not saying its better...i just prefer it. As for its casing, i suppose it could have been solid aluminum on the sides and top...like the botttom...so that is where i agree.
At the same time, where i partly disagre is that i admit that sometimes, i get the itch to take the system a notch further. Hence i now have 2 sets of HRS feet, HRS damping plate, and the 2 Finite Elemente Resonators. Many would have been fine with the Zanden as is...including me who has owned it for several years now...but i saw the opportunity at 20 cents on the dollar to get a little tweak i'd always thought about...and i went for it.
Yes, i agree...and to a degree not quite. The Zanden truly is a remarkable product, and i have found no other digital i prefer, despite having had opportunities to consider DCS Elgar Plus and DCS SCarlatti, Wadia 7, Esoteric X-01SE, Emm Labs, Krell 505 and all the various ARC CDs up to the current 8. Not saying its better...i just prefer it. As for its casing, i suppose it could have been solid aluminum on the sides and top...like the botttom...so that is where i agree.
At the same time, where i partly disagre is that i admit that sometimes, i get the itch to take the system a notch further. Hence i now have 2 sets of HRS feet, HRS damping plate, and the 2 Finite Elemente Resonators. Many would have been fine with the Zanden as is...including me who has owned it for several years now...but i saw the opportunity at 20 cents on the dollar to get a little tweak i'd always thought about...and i went for it.
I'm going to purchase a simple Box Furniture rack- seems very different in theory than others on this thread though.
as Rich mentioned; i'm currently using Adona racks, specifically the 'Zero GX' series, which is one step below their top of the line 'Zero GT' series. they look great and are beautifully built, particularly at their price point compared to other top level racks.
for 5 years i used the Grand Prix Audio Monaco SE racks and still consider them one of the best for use 'nude'; without other tweaks. i think their de-coupling and use of carbon fibre shelves and the Apex footers are highlights, as well as the ability to individually tune each shelf for the specific piece of gear to be very effective.
however; with my use of the Wave Kinetics A10 U8 footers in the last year i've found another level of reasonance control and performance. and the A10 U8's seem to prefer a solid 'grounded' rack to work the best so the decoupling of the GPA racks was not needed. the Adona racks give me a solid, high mass, shelf that makes it easy to use.
my focus then becomes what configuration of the A10 U8 footers works best. i use from 3 to 6 footers per piece of gear depending on the weight, sometimes three in the back and one in the front. i average 4 footers per piece of gear.
the combination of the A10 U8's and the Adona is the best reasonance control i've heard. i get increased leading edge snap, lower noise floor, improved bass slam, increased soundstage size and bloom, increased naturalness, and increase in fine detail. just an overall clear increase in musical involvement.
believe it or not; the most profound performance improvement i've had with the A10 U8's was under my 35 pound network pods on my Transparent Opus MM2 speaker cables. i removed the milled and black anodized spikes and placed the network pod onto -4- A10 U8's then directly on my hardwood over concrete floor. i added this for the skeptical one's to have something to chew on.
understand that speaker cables 'sing' (mechanically)along with the music (they have their own voice).....you hear it as smearing and fuzzyness once it's removed. that's the trouble with distortion, it's only revealed when it's removed.
i have 8 sets of A10 U8's in my system.
for 5 years i used the Grand Prix Audio Monaco SE racks and still consider them one of the best for use 'nude'; without other tweaks. i think their de-coupling and use of carbon fibre shelves and the Apex footers are highlights, as well as the ability to individually tune each shelf for the specific piece of gear to be very effective.
however; with my use of the Wave Kinetics A10 U8 footers in the last year i've found another level of reasonance control and performance. and the A10 U8's seem to prefer a solid 'grounded' rack to work the best so the decoupling of the GPA racks was not needed. the Adona racks give me a solid, high mass, shelf that makes it easy to use.
my focus then becomes what configuration of the A10 U8 footers works best. i use from 3 to 6 footers per piece of gear depending on the weight, sometimes three in the back and one in the front. i average 4 footers per piece of gear.
the combination of the A10 U8's and the Adona is the best reasonance control i've heard. i get increased leading edge snap, lower noise floor, improved bass slam, increased soundstage size and bloom, increased naturalness, and increase in fine detail. just an overall clear increase in musical involvement.
believe it or not; the most profound performance improvement i've had with the A10 U8's was under my 35 pound network pods on my Transparent Opus MM2 speaker cables. i removed the milled and black anodized spikes and placed the network pod onto -4- A10 U8's then directly on my hardwood over concrete floor. i added this for the skeptical one's to have something to chew on.
understand that speaker cables 'sing' (mechanically)along with the music (they have their own voice).....you hear it as smearing and fuzzyness once it's removed. that's the trouble with distortion, it's only revealed when it's removed.
i have 8 sets of A10 U8's in my system.
Box is all about using materials and construction to bring tonal correctness to the system.
It's not a "dead" rack --- or taking all the "resonance" away as in other designs.
And it looks phenomenal....unlike most of the racks out there. Same cabinet maker as John Devore uses in fact, so pure furniture + audiophile stuff combined.
Keith
I've been considering an HRS SXR rack vs. Silent Running Audio Scuttle 3. I'm leaning toward the SRA. Any of you have any experience with both?
Still using the "Michael Green Clamp Rack".
Major 1-1/2" MDF boards with the individual components sitting on three cones (bottom) and one on top. Rods are threaded so you can adjust the amount of "compression" between the shelves and the component. Use three large Mapleshade cones below and a small single cone above.
Rack, without gear, is about 150 pounds or so and is also spiked to the floor.
Major 1-1/2" MDF boards with the individual components sitting on three cones (bottom) and one on top. Rods are threaded so you can adjust the amount of "compression" between the shelves and the component. Use three large Mapleshade cones below and a small single cone above.
Rack, without gear, is about 150 pounds or so and is also spiked to the floor.
As I understand, the Scuttle borrows from the design of the Teo Audio rack ($7500, double width), which employs aluminum foam shelves with some carefully placed materials for damping and tuning. The shelves are very light yet strong enough to pretty much support a large truck across the span, the science of which can be proven as by far the most effective approach, especially compared with designs using high mass.
Similar threads
