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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
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Yeah, take it from Viggen! He used to use high school yearbooks and apple crates as speaker stands. Now, look at his cool system. :•)
viggen
838 posts
 
Dean, you are like the audiogon mom I never had. Do you have to go around showing my naked baby pictures to strangers? = P
sean
6,231 posts
 
Viggen: That "naked baby pictures" was a great analogy i.e. it made me chuckle out loud : )

Gunbei: Shame on you : )

I would LOVE to have enough time to sit down and actually measure / chart / document "vibrations" using various types of racks / footers / treatments, etc... using an accelerometer. I bet it would be a VERY interesting and enlightening experience. Sean
>
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Sean, I'll have to show you those darling baby pictures some time over a nice cup of warm milk. When Viggen was a little tyke he loved to mash his hands in his own poop. Needless to say he wasn't allowed near a remote control or allowed to adjust the volume knob when his mitts were in that state. Hahhhh!!

How does an accelerometer represent the measured vibration? Is it a graphic display like a sine wave? Would the device be placed directly on the platform or rack being tested? Would it be able to show both the amount and frequency of the measured vibrations? Is there a way to correlate the measurements with the possible effects on the audio system, such as if a noted bunching of measurements around a certain frequency possibly causing a tonal change in that area during playback? Yeah, that would be an interesting test.
slappy OP
903 posts
 
I think im going to try making an AV rack using Maple and seismic Bolts. A nice 200LB job.

I dunno if anyone has used sseismic bolts, but they can be bought at any telco harware store like Greybar. they are supposed to supress vibrations against earthquakes, im curious how much they do to prevent vibrations from the floor.

Has anybody ever messed around with various types of suspension to see if they can eliminate vibrations? I dont mean little rubber feet and stuff, but used car shocks, or tension springs, or maybe even some type of neumatical or gell based suspension system?

What about Dynamat? they used that to eliminate vibrations in cars. Ill bet that stuff would make a pretty wicked isolation pad.
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