Component racks

If you mean affecting as in 'an object in the room', then there may be some merit as everything in a room will reflect sound to a degree. But if you're meaning that vibrations in the rack are traveling through your solid state preamp/reciever and effecting your response, well then we'd part ways there.

Can you explain 'hardwood sounds better than MDF' when in the context of a rack please?

Go to Mapleshaderecords.com and get the same info I've made my decisions/purchases from. Did you read the thread Vibration theory: Isolate or Drain?

If you're looking to save cash VTI is about as inexpensive as it gets. They're kind of a design spin on the Lovan stands, which allow one to pyramid in various tier sizes. They're regularly advertised here by a seller.

Lovan stands are great, heavy duty, sand fillable, and not overly expensive. I'd not spend more.

I just ordered the "Rock" equipment platform from this German company:
http://www.akustik-manufaktur.de/13.html (use google chrome to translate). Depending on your budget the products look like they might be a nice addition for almost any system. Do you have a budget range? If you want to spend some money then check out these racks: http://www.copulare.de/english/ausstellung.html I have the Copulare system rack and amp stands and have never thought about racks ever since. I had the Spectral racks beforehand: http://www.spectral.eu/en/tv-stands/high-end/680-mm/. They were nice and my wife loved them but they did not fit the dimensions of my new equipment.

Ciao,
Audioquest4life