How important is an audio rack?

"I bottom load all components using large Tupperware-styled containers filled to the brim with dry beach sand. "

Very creative, and I would guess also most effective!

I'm assuming you use audiphile grade Tupperware containers which of course are way more difficult to construct properly for best sound and sell for a premium as a result. :-)

Yes, very effective. I use high quality Tupperware look-alike containers. They are robust enough to support my 32 kg. Marantz amplifier without any problem. As long as they are high quality and the sand is dry you should be fine. Make sure you shake the container as you fill it so that you will be able to load the maximum amount of sand in each container.

No more important than the foundation of a building!!!!!!

I built a rack out of 5/8" threaded bar and MDF that definitely improved the sound of my system, but it has taken a while to get everything working together the way I like it. For example, the turntable is on the top shelf at a height of about 4 feet from the floor. Reading another post someone stated that a turntable high off the ground is bad, but I have tried it at other heights, including the bottom shelf, and the top shelf is by far the best place for it. I do have some massive brass cones underneath a 2 inch thick slab of maple, which really made things come together.
I think the best thing to do is experiment with things until you find the best sound. I do not believe you need to spend a lot on a rack, but someday I would like to buy a really nice rack for my system. I just don't have the space for one right now. When I do buy one I will place aesthetics pretty high on my list, with performance being the most important aspect. Right now my listening room is far from pretty. My dream is to have a listening room that sounds great but is also the ultimate man cave.

We have found that racking designs and materials are extremely important to the audible outcome for any electronic component or loudspeaker system.

The majority of my experience involves applications in recording environments where you are closest to the genuine live dynamic along with the added capabilities to alter sound.

Over time we have used standard steel framed 19” EIA racking systems, surrounded electronics with various hardwoods and eventually were introduced to the use of metals versus woods, Plexiglas and all the rubber sorts.

We have worked with a recognized audio rack manufacturer on our high-end playback system where the results attained were extremely audible and much more musical. In fact we are now employing more of their methodology and mechanical grounding techniques in both the mixing and instrument rooms.

The choice of equipment racking is now considered as important as selecting which electronic component, microphone or any other form of recording and playback equipment we purchase.

In my opinion there is more study, modeling, product availability and technical achievement in the high-end consumer audio market, relative to racking technologies, than exists in the recording industry. We have also discovered that not all racks and techniques attain positive results.

Perhaps there is a common problem here on the Forum with understanding how effective racking can be and that is; if you have never experienced a rack that truly and measurably increases performance then you may never know or understand what differences exist.

Below is a link to the review that notably opened our minds to experimenting with equipment racking.

http://www.stereomojo.com/SistrumComponentRackReview/SistrumComponentRack.htm

Racking is the defining difference between sound and awe-inspiring sound.

Disclaimer: My father works with a commercial company that employs various forms of vibration management so I am biased, have had greater access to knowledge from experience and have applied various techniques and multiple grounding principles in recording studio settings.