How important is the rack you use for your components

roxy

Sure, that’s what I presumed. That’s not of course “science.” Which was simply my point.

I get that we all report our subjective experiences - I’ve been doing it like everyone else. But sometimes it’s good to keep some perspective on the reliability of those experiences for determining actual sonic differences.

Anyway, that’s all I want to say about the issue. I’ve been looking at audio racks myself with the idea of ensuring good isolation, though this is because I have bought a nice turntable. For any other component I can think of I wouldn’t be sweating the isolation factor: As long as it holds up the gear safely and looks good.

Prof sorry but wrong, We have been playing with isolation devices for both electronics, and digital components for years and the difference is very audible.

All electronics are sensitive to vibration and that includes solid state as well as tubes. Of course Turntables are a greatly improved by isolation.

I used to do a demo of a $900 Rega Planet on a solid steel shelf, then with Black diamond footers, and then a black diamond shelf.

The black diamond shelf is a thick slab of carbon fiber with other high density plastics. and a set of carbon fiber footers.

I would demonstrate this cd player vs a $3000 Cd player booth on top of the same racks, then put the isolation components under the Rega once the CD player was fully isolated it crushed the performance of the more expensive cd player and once you took the cheaper player off of the base and then put the better player on top viola the more expensive player then wildly outperformed the cheaper one.

Think of mechanical jitter, this way in the days before electronic image statbilzation and you were trying to take a long aperture exposure with a telephoto lens the small shakes and vibrations would cause your exposure to be blurry.

A $20k professional camera  hand held vs a $1k camera with the same lens setup but sitting  on a tripod would take a much sharper picture, then the much more expensive camera.

All devices including transistors are microphonic, tube are more so, but transistors still have crystaline structures which can vibrate.

When you remove vibration the system focuses much better, the images are much more defined, bass is tighter. Huge improvements.

If you told me 10 years ago I would have a $14k Stillpoints rack I would say your are crazy. The difference putting high end electronics just amps on this rack were huge.

We recommend Isoacoustics cheap and very effective.

We are looking at several next generation racks as Stillpoints have gotten crazy expensive but you have to hear the differences in doing proper vibration isolation it takes a good system into the next generation.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

Hi Dave,

I generally enjoy your contributions, especially regarding speakers.

However, your post seems to comprise just the type of anecdotes I’m talking about when I speak of the unreliable methods used in high end audio circles. The “if I thought I heard a difference there was a difference” approach.

I presume in evaluating the audible effect of equipment racks and shelves you used the same method that told you the tiny room tuning objects you sell made of “precious metals” have a “profound” audible effect.

Is that right?

The methodology is playing the same music for two to three mins adding or subtracting what you are testing and listening for differences.

The thought I heard a difference is repeatable with other listeners then you have consenus. We have always found that many others have varrified our findings.

If you get yourself away for the conspiracy effect, there are tons of reviewer who have heard the differences that power cords, high end cabling, vibration and isolation products and of course room tuning. 

Check out all the articles on Acoustic System Resonators way too many people have heard them work effectively.

We setup a system with them in the 2013 New York Audio Show, Waterfall Audio's designer was there, he heard the products effect and was amazed at the difference. 

For a lark pay $60 bucks and purchase three boxes of Isoacoustics footers and try them under a component and see what you hear.

I guarantee you will be doubting me no more Prof.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

@polkalover

I went from a simple cheap corner hifi unit thing that in all honesty was pretty wobbly and had glass shelves to a home made unit that consists of 4 pieces 24x18x2 maple block drilled through at each corner and suspended with all thread.
This had a truly large impact on sq, I almost seemed to gain 6db and noticed I am running with a fair bit less volume control for same listening volume. Cant say as soundstage and bass appeared to change any although female vocals do seem a little more defined.
Now it could be such a big impact because my starting point was so crappy!
But for cost of about $300 all in materials I am very happy, it is solid and heavy and very well damped now imho.
I would not hesitate to build another in the same fashion if I needed more rack space.