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AV Racks. What difference does it make?

Im not sure i understand what difference your rack could possibly have.

I understand everybody here seems to feel that reducing all sorts of vibrations is important as well.

How is that? its not like 1's and 0's get rattled off the circuit board by vibrations

Whats the point in a better rack? What is a better rack? And how does a $1,500.00 rack make anything sound better? I mean, technically, in depth, can anybody explain this phenominon?

Sounds like a buncha horse pucky to me. Kinda like the kinds new clothing.

Does anybody have a theory of how one AV rack can sound different than another? And dont give me any of that room accoustics stuff, i dont see people talking about which sitting chair is best for sound!!!! :)

"I found that wearing wingtips and khaki shorts really opened the soundstage compared to my nikes and TH bluejeans."

I have a good understanding of electronics and accoustics, but i cannot imagine any way a rack could make a difference.
What is the theory of how a Maplewood rack might sound better than an oak for example?

Do you all use racks and isolation pods at the same time?
slappy
timo's avatar
timo
610 posts
 
If you purchase an AV rack no matter which brand, make sure it is heavy, solid and has minimal vibration qualities.
dobjim
28 posts
 
Slappy,

If you can't hear a difference, it doesn't make any sense at all to get anything other than a heavy rack. Furthermore, it sounds like you're listening to digital equipment, so you have nothing to worry about. The difference comes when you are using turntables and cartridges, but I would not put speakers on the same rack as the rest of your equipment, regardless
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
A good solid support for the turntable, and perhaps the CD player is obviously a good idea. The notion that it needs to be "designed" in some exotic way, and cost more than any good piece of furniture is ridiculous.
slappy OP
903 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses! Thats what i love about this place, if there is something i dont understand and ask about, i get some very educated and well put together responses.
vectorman67
42 posts
 
Also keep in mind that while 1's and 0's may not get rattled off the circuit board as you jested above, unwanted vibrations can increase the number of 1's and 0's that are missed, or inaccurately read, either by a transport's laser, or a DAC's processors. Now, of course, with today's technology, many of those missed 1's and 0's may be reinterpolated, and compensated with 'error correction' algorithms... but in the end, these are only substitutes. The more you can keep to the original information on the CD (or LP for that matter), the better. Ultimately, isn't that what we're all striving for?
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