Experience with Sistrum or Grand Prix Monaco rack?

Frank- First off- Nice system! I have a few friends that use the same gear- I use a cap. II myself. One quick question- are you using the Steelhead? I know that it is a great analog piece but you would be better off running the cap. II into the tenors(I know this because I have tried a few pre-amps with that exact cd player and amp combination) and I assume the lamms would be very similar. One friend recently sold his sistrum rack and is replacing it with a rix rax voodoo which he believes to be a better product, he considered the Grand Prix but everyone that we spoke to(besides the dealers) didn't care for the lack of rear support they offered- in particular with the tenors, they are heavier towards the back of the amp. He had NO complaints on the Sistrum and always liked the way equipment sounded but he wanted change and with the suspension his turntable had it didn't work well with the isolation/vibration control the sistrum had- if I remember correct you have a rockport so turntable stability is a non-issue for you. If you can afford it the rix rax is the rack from which all others are judged, not only are they very pretty but they seem to be very functional with out too many gimicks. As a matter of fact he still has the sistrum amp stands that he is using on his tenors, though he mentioned upgrading them as well. I know many audiophiles(myself included) just put our gear on the floors on individule shelves/isolation devices(cones, pucks, spheres, etc....) I realize you may have a WAF to deal with so it may not be an option though it may save you some $$ and give you better sonic results. Another friend has a Cap. II and tenors and they just rest on his hard wood floors no isolatoin devices being used with them at all- though he uses Zoethecus(sp?) racks with his aestetix IO signature, also mated with a rockport sirius II(obviously no rack being used with it). So to sum things up I would give the Rix Rax the nod if they are with in your budget if not I don't think you could go wrong with the sistrum- it just sort of has a love it or leave it look. Happy Listening ~Tim

P.S. what speakers are you running?

Sounds like one sweet system you've got there. I, too, would love to know what's on the speaker horizon? Anyway, I use the Sistrum Rack systems and their Mini Monitor support system as well. They're wonderful. The best way to couple all your electronics. Call Robert at Starsound Technologies. He's the man, over there. He'll set you free. I know beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but I think they're quite an esoteric design. They will do wonders for your system. Your electronics, then your ears, will go where you never thought possible. warren

Flex- a) I started a thread not long ago about Rix Rax vs. Grand prix, and the consensus was they just didn't like the idea of the support the shelf gets. I do like the isolation/absorbtion they offer but if you have an uneven load on the shelf it may not optimal- it just makes sense if you think about it.
b. I haven't seen or heard the rix yet, they take a LONG time to get because they are made to order, with in a month it should be ready- fingers crossed :o)

Warren- I must agree Robert is on the ball- a true class act, if more men were like him in the audio world we would have fewer headaches.

Thanks Warren, Tim and Flex. I have seen the Rix Rax and they are beautiful. I have also considered Zoethecus. I am using the Steelhead but NOT for the AA. I will probably be getting a switch box from Jennifer like Mike LaVigne uses. I got rid of my Lamm L2 Reference preamp (a very nice preamp) when I went direct from the AA into the amps and everything improved. Thus, I also sold my Aesthetix Io Signature w/dual power supplies and my Lamm LP2 because they did not have a volume control - and went to the Steelhead. BUT, I have been having a problem with compatibility between the Steelhead and the Lamms (the new Steelhead blows the fuses in the Lamms when turned on [it doesn't just engage the protection circuitry - it blows the fuses] - even without the table/arm connected, even with the volume all the way down and even with the "mute" engaged).

Manley is stumped, Lamm blames the Manley and I am frustrated. Andy Payor and I both think it may be a supersonic oscillation but I do not have an oscilliscope to test it. Then, my Colibri [which I bought a year ago but have only heard it for about 50 hours on my VPI TNT] blew a channel [coil went out] and is back in Germany getting repaired. Needless to say I was so frustrated I put the whole analog rig up for sale [I have been without analog since April - it HURTS to see that Rockport just sit there witout hearing what it can do!!]. But my good [and ever so patient] friends Jonathan Tinn and Mike LaVigne have been urging me to wait until I hear the Rockport to decide whether to sell it. Good advice as always.

So, if I keep the Rockport, and at CES I like the Kharma Midi-Grands [yes, I know they are in horrible show conditions] as much as a NUMBER of people I know [who have heard or owned some of the best speakers available] have, I will buy them next week. I will also be looking at the Wilson Watt Puppy 7s, the Antares, the Dynaudio Evidence Temptation, the Accapellas, the Komris and the Verity Lohengrin (sp), etc. but, based on what characteristics I value in a speaker and what, anecdotally, I think I will like, the Kharmas are the odds on favorite at this early point (Jonathan buddy, ya haven't been wrong yet!).

If I sell the Rockport (and go down to a much lesser degree of table), I may buy the Kharma Exquisites if I like the Midi-Grands and if I get the privilege of hearing Mike's system. But, at this point, I am fairly sure I will keep the Rockport.

If I get the Kharmas, I will then seriously consider the 75 watt Tenors or the new 300 watt Tenor hybrids that will be introduced at CES [and assume that the new amps will not be incompatible with the Manley as a number of Tenor owners use the Steelhead].

So, this is why I would like to get some new racks. My main concern in a rack or amp stand is the sonics but would love it if they looked nice too (like the Rix Rax). I must admit though, the materials used, the degree of isolation and the philosophy of the Monaco and Apex (and the Sistrum) seemed interesting to me. I am also very interested in Kevin Tellecamp's Silent Running isolation bases.

I need a doctor!

Thanks again and anything else you can think of is always appreciated.

Frank