2. misc-audio
  3. 1054374909

Damned if I Do and Damed if I Don't

Let me start off by saying that I have a truly wonderful wife! That being said, she couldn't deal with my choice of the Sistrum 6 rack I purchased and which I thought was absoultly terrific. We live in New England and have a cape, which is furnished with many antiques and paintings of the 19th century. She takes great pride in her house but she couldn't deal with the modern look of this rack sitting amongst the antiques.

Now I need suggestions on which racks would have wood, could hold my turntable, 3 tube components, and 3 other components, be aesthetically somewhat compatable with the decor as well as have contribute positively to my sound needs?
128x128jcbach
twl
3,251 posts
 
I have a possible solution that would let you keep the sonic benefits of the Sistrum rack, and have the furniture style that your wife prefers. If you're interested, you can email me privately.
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
While you're at it, trade her car in for some 19th century transportation.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,685 posts
 
The best solution I've seen was a period armoire which had been gutted but looked complete from the outside. Inside, the user had placed a high-quality modern rack which worked for him when he opened the doors but was otherwise not visible.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
I took an early 19th century primitive cupboard, that was a little beat (do NOT do this to a good quality antique) and bored holes in the back to run cables. You won't get the sonic benefits of a quality rack, but you can use isolation platforms under each piece and put the TT and CDP or pre on top. Mine is about 4' tall and 3' wide. Email me privately if you want to discuss this further. I am in CT and did this when we owned an 18th cent. cape (No longer). You may have a cooling issue with a tube power amp that would require some additional thinking.
flex
292 posts
 
Wood racks from Zoethecus do pretty well at blending in with more traditional furniture, since they are available in 6 colors. They can be improved sonically by using Neuance replacement shelves, or with other cones/footers. If money isn't a consideration, you might check the performance of Grand Prix couplers underneath the electronics on Zoethecus shelves, for example. The turntable might do best both sonically and visually with a separate shelf mount on the wall. The shelf can be kept to a low visual profile, and can have a plant moved in front of it when not in use.
More to discover