Equipment Rack Between Speakers...Good or Bad

The search for answers to this thread is dependent on and should include the rack design, material used to build the platform, the audible sound characteristics of the rack and most importantly - rack functionality.

Materials used in rack design absorb, reflect, damp and/or conduct resonance formed by vibrations through chemistry makeup; some combinations of materials convert resonance to heat, some transfer resonance to ground where others trap resonance within the components - and the list of vibration control methodologies goes on and on.

Certain types of rack designs have multiple issues when placed between speakers but there are also products that deliver a favorable performance when used in that context.

Lower profile racking systems are currently trending in popularity as the closer equipment is located to earth’s ground or the greater mass of the flooring, detrimental resonance will dissipate more efficiently and away from your components. This information is based on physics working in concert with the laws of gravity, motion and Coulomb friction.

Applying various vibration management accessories that isolate, absorb or transfer resonance from a lesser functioning rack framework is placing a Band-Aid over the wound in hopes it will heal itself.

Very few people make an effort to audition racks. Listening to rack sonic, rack noise and most importantly hearing what a highly functioning rack provides is a rarity. After reading multiple audio forums it appears to me that everyone already owns the best rack design - correct?

If more listener’s compared and auditioned racks the same way amps, speakers, sources, cables, et all are purchased, you would absolutely “hear” the vast differences in performance. There would be more information available for researching this topic instead of relying on personal favoritisms, and advertising claims along with a hodgepodge of video testing methodologies that are more marketing tools in comparison to reality.

Proof in performance requires a listening test along with an initial capital investment. Pick any price point - say $400 to $700 each or more depending on your budget. Pick out any two or three single shelf products from different companies making sure they have a very positive track record providing full financial return guarantees.

Choose one of wood or simple butcher block, one of steel, acrylic or aluminum construction or any combination thereof. Set them up and rotate an amp, loudspeaker, or power distribution product across all three stands and you will hear what is missing from your purchasing formula and system sonics. If you do not have the initial investment capital required to audition three stands at once, try one per week as you will soon realize the absolute importance of a highly functional equipment foundation.

Listeners who know the differences make more informed decisions, save money and increase their listening enjoyment from every additional purchase of electronic equipment, loudspeakers, cables, power distribution and accessories because they hear more information and musical content that most equipment has built into them. The equipment rack can disguise, remove or limit the capabilities of advancing the sound of your equipment and speaker quality to a higher level. It is the difference between good listening and absolute - wow!

The racking system is in absolute command of your sonic results and easily proven to those who are interested.

Robert

A qualified soundman representing a manufacturer who sells vibration management accessories, speaker stands and equipment racking.

If the amplifiers and sources are on the floor between speakers with higher midrange and tweeter elements this should not interfere with the acoustics.

The rack is fine, move you speakers forward and away from that side wall.

Hi Roxy, I would recommend seismically isolating both your speakers and each individual piece of equipment and rack. There are a wide range of isolators on the market that definitely do NOT work. I would suggest one of the following:

Ingress Engineering cup and rollers directly under your equipment, supported by a thick slate platform supported by either Machina Dynamica springs, Townshend Pods or a 12 inch dia. inner tube at very low pressures.

For speakers the easiest solution is Townshend Podiums but you could also use MD springs and/or Ingress speaker footers.

For rack isolation you can use either Townshend Bars or Pods, alternatives would be MB springs and/or Ingress footers.

For more detailed advice you are welcome to PM me.

For anyone considering Machina Dynamica Springs for speakers and subwoofers I recommend using two 2x4s two to three feet long depending on size of speaker under each speaker with a Super Stiff Spring located at each end of the 2x4s. That allows a wide arrangement for the springs, necessary for stability with heavy high centervof gravity objects. For lightweight speakers use Baby Promethean Springs and two 2x4s.