How important is the rack you use for your components


I’ve been browsing thru people’s systems on audiogon and have seen all different kinds of racks, shelves, bookcases , stands etc. For people’s equipment. My question is how important is the rack to the sound of the system. Has anyone gone from a basic rack to a premium and/or home constructed rack and noticed a marked improvement? And when I say marked, I mean marked. Looking for input
polkalover

Most racks these days are claimed by their makers to provide isolation to the components placed in them. But do they? The spiked feet often found on their legs, and the spikes or cones intended to isolate the shelves from the rack's structure, are actually couplers, not isolators. Vibration is free to travel up into the rack from the floor it sits upon, and into the shelves upon which components rest. Not good.

Townshend Audio has a true isolation product named the Seismic Pod, a spring-inside-a-"bellows" design. The Pod is available in sets of four, attached to outrigger bars for speakers, and also bolted onto dual-Pod 90 degree assemblies for placement under the four corners of a rack. If you use the Pods with any already owned rack, the nature of that rack is of insignificant consequence. Townshend also makes it's own rack with the Pods built in. For details look on the Townshend Audio website.

If the Seismic Pod products are out-of-budget (they're not cheap), there is always the modestly priced roller bearing, which isolates in all planes but the vertical. Add a vertical isolator (a spring, either mechanical or air), and you have excellent isolation at a fraction of the price charged for nice looking, but non-isolating, racks. By the way, the currently-in-vogue maple shelves may sound "pleasing", but they provide no more isolation than does any other wood, just a more pleasing coloration. 

For me, very important simply because I use a TT (Michell Engineering GyroDec/SME IV/Clear Audio Maestro Ebony V2). See my previous post on this system. I purchased a Core Audio PlyCraft 3L rack to hold the TT and other system components and could not be happier with the equipment rack. Incredibly well built, beautiful to look at and and incredible acoustic isolation between the TT and loudspeakers. The sound is crystal clear and vibration isolation is so good you can actually jump up and down in front of the TT without any affect on the cartridge tracking. I am there!
I agree that a good rack is important and will influence the sound of your music. I'll also add that physical appearance is also important to me. I'm not going to buy a rack that has an excellent sonic ability with what is placed upon it unless it is physically appealing to me.
There are many very good racks available that look and sound good, luckily I own three that are made by different manufacturers.
I agree with mgattmch and his comment regarding the Core Audio PlyCraft 3L rack. I received mine about 10 days ago and as already mentioned it is incredibly well built, beautiful to look at and incredible acoustic isolation between my amp, transport, and Dac.