Hi End rack really deliver?


OK I want to know if you feel using a high end rack really delivers legible sound improvement? I am trying to get the wife to buy into an "ugly" high end rack...vs "furnture". She is very skeptical but has agreed that if it really adds to the sound and can be heard she will maybe loosen up. I have never run my stuff on a good rack so I honestly dont know. I would be interested also if anyone is aware of any good racks that also look nice for the WAF....I am in Hawaii so I have to order it from the continental US proably anyway so I need to get it right from day 1.
joekapahulu
When I switched to the Copulare racks, http://www.copulare.de/english/home.html I found that the music was more intimate, more detailed and the bass more solid, all of this was missing on my ad-hoc home made wood platforms. I was balancing the edge between the Finite Element and the Copulare, until Mr. Copulare came to my house personally and let me test several products, and lelft them with me for about 2 weeks to experiment, well I was sold after that.

V/r
Audioquest4life

The fact is, any type of rack system with good decoupling, good damping and offering a somewhat solid build will be a benefit then a standard piece of granite on cinder blocks or pieces of Ikea cutting boards on cinder blocks, not exactly what I had before, but close, haha. I still like the looks of the Finite Element stuff and might experiment with the amp stands to compare to the Coppulare.

There is no doubt in my mind that a good rack will upgrade the quality of what the listener is hearing in better details, accuracy and lower backgroud noise. Then of course, you can further experiment with spikes, anti-coupling absorbers and the like until you go crazy.
One of the best looking stands, at least to me, are the new SolidSteel HS stands.

I have all my components on SolidSteel Series 5 stand and I have heard a clear sound improvement going from VTI to SolidSteel. BTW I have the spikes on Target Spike Shoes which also help with vibration. I would not hesitate to recommend SolidSteel. Reasonably priced and effective.
Joe, I also live in Honolulu. You don't necessarily need to order your audio racks from the mainland. Since you live in Honolulu, I recommend you visit Audio Lab, on Ala Moana Blvd. Tom, the owner, is a great guy and very knowledgeable. He should be able to show you a number of good racks, as well as other hi-end equipment. Good luck on your search.