Hi End rack really deliver?

Semi forgot to mention the experiment we conducted at his house several years ago. He told me that he had tried at least 10 - 15 different amp stands under his BAT tube amp. He ended up with a piece of 300 lb slab of stone that he was using under smoe electromicroscope in his lab at work. He had been using that slab ever since I met him.

One day when bunch of us were over, he told us he just spent $$$$ on these new racks (Grand Prix) sitting in the back of the room. We helped him move the slab back and put the GP amp stand in front of the slab. I thought he was going crazy spending that kind of money for stands. Then I left the amp stand up (without the acrylic board) with 1 finger, and thought he was for sure a nut as I was a believer of more mass the better.

We then move the amp forward onto the Grand Prix stand for another round of listening. None of us had heard of this company before. But we definitely heard a big improvement in various areas. We then moved the amp back and forth several times just to confirm.

And it make sense. Several of the guys at that listening work for semiconductor companies, and we've all seen various types of vibration control devices used in labs for vibration sensitive equipment. So it make sense that any mechanical system (LP or CD playback) and tube equipment would benefit from vibration control devices such as a rack.

FrankC

From the point of view of any wife I ever met, even a Billy Bags rack ("ugly") is relatively expensive ($1200+) and a Finite Element is astronomically so ($4500). Once she hears the cost, the discussion may be academic...

Undoubtedly.I like Finite elemente a lot ,and used the Pagode ref for my main system,and the spider for the other 2..can't imagine living without them.The systems just sound so much better,the electronics seems so much more at peace sitting in racks..Certainly it helps that the Finite copme with resonance controll technology.

In short,a must for every system,IMHO

It's unfortunate that the Grand Prix racks are so expensive but they do sound great. I'd never want to be without mine. If you have a very nice system it will be richly rewarded by a top notch rack like the Grand Prix.

yes, Racks do make a diff.... but one doesn't have to pay a ransom for great sounding racks either.

A friend told me once… Mass. Density. Non resonant. Well damped.

Good luck getting all the above in one item without paying lots.

I’ve had several racks. Mostly non descript MDF or laminated particle board . Even constructed one or two myself.

The best move I made in the ‘rack’ department was acquiring a Sound Anchor upright rack preowned. Lots of folks gave me plenty of advice, and shared numerous experiences with me in how a rack will help a system reach another level.

Solidsteel, Finite elementee, Systrum, Bags, Isis, Adonna etc. What to go for, esthetics, isolation, or both? Naturally both is the ticket. That ticket is a substantial sum usually.

I went with the Sound Anchors products for a few reasons… I got it reasonably priced, less than half it’s orig value. It is exceptionally well constructed, and damped. It looks pretty good, in a mechanical, contemporary, manly sort of way as it’s massive uprights and cross members speak strength. It’s flat black color allow it to hide out some by not drawing attention to itself.

Mine is hidden entirely. It’s in another room altogether. Though I’d not be opposed to having it in my listening room if that room were larger.

What it did for the sound was add another level of coherency and cohesiveness. Balance…. And bass. In fact I liked what it did so much so, I bought more Sound Anchor products. Two amp stands, and a pair of speaker stands.

Mine is tall though… were I able to be picky, and have it in my living room, I’d go with several two tier racks, or have them all combined into a low boy approach, and if monos are in use, add a pair of amp sands for them, thereby limiting the vertical expanse of the equipment rack and keeping things low key…. Less noticeable.

Low profile doesn’t catch the eye quite so easily and allows it to become less obtrusive. Bob at Sound Anchors is indeed a good person to deal with, and naturally, customizing their inventory is what they do.

Heavy, well damped, value, and with shelving options and an item that will blend in are points I would seek out.

Do yourself a favor and try to avoid MDF and particle board racks they do nothing to aid the sound. Also, hollow metal, racks were trouble for me…. Even after filling them.

Flick it with your finger nail, or rap it with your knuckles. Whatever sound you hear will be added to your system…. The less sound the better. IMHO