Hello Geoff,
Agreed that damping a chassis will have an effect on the sonic outcome however it will also change the sonic of the component and in most cases change the original musical character of the product from what the designer or name brand is presenting.
Speaking as a racking manufacturer and not a component designer, our products cannot fine tune, harmonically change or voice each component individually as we are dealing with an industry of various products, each one being unique in their sonic offering.
Our goal was to represent all the name brands of equipment performance exactly as the innovator wanted them heard. The original presentation of the loudspeaker or component without altering their sound character was the ultimate challenge. By establishing and/or improving upon the operational efficiency of the component definitely delivers more sound quality of the product without altering the original harmonics. That specific engineering goal took over fifteen years to develop with concerns to the cello and upright bass endpins. Obviously if we altered the sound of the instrument the musician would become extremely angry and zero sales along with a poor reputation would exist among the all important music makers.
We chose to use materials where the damping factors within the specific steels and brasses delivered the right dynamic as not to alter the original voice of the component or loudspeaker. This is where geometry becomes the all important factor in any design, as you are aware, too much material of any kind even that of a quality brass or steel with sink the live dynamic in a heartbeat. Once the life of the music is over-damped, it never comes back.
I am sure you are aware the majority of electronic and loudspeaker manufacturers spend little if no time on understanding the mechanical sciences or vibration management technologies where the both of us are heavy participants. The one key item we do have in common is not one of science and that is until people physically experience what we do, no matter how many positive reviews that state racking and vibration management are important as any loudspeaker or amplifier choice, rapid expansion and discovery in our sector of the industry will be a tough go.
No comment on Mike Green.
Robert
Star Sound