Need a new Hi-Fi rack?

Here is a very old photo of my system from 2004. http://theanalogdept.com/c_miller.htm
Not to say "do this" but to give some idea just what it takes to make a rack that’s better than the floor. It ain’t easy! The floor has all the advantages. But with just 700 lbs of concrete, sand, granite, and carbon fiber it can be done!

All humor aside it shows cheap material like concrete can be cast into graceful curves that when painted don’t look at all like concrete. The ABS columns are polished and in person you’d never think ABS. Concrete doesn’t have to mean cinder blocks. Doing it again today I would probably use real wood veneer. Still might. Could be added any time.

Whatever you get, if its low and squat, stiff, solid and massive, especially with most of the mass up high and as near the turntable as possible, with as little on it as possible (ideally table and phono stage is all) then you should be fine. Whatever you do plan on an extra 6" or so. Because no matter how good the rack it will be even better with something on top. Sand box, big thick butcher block, BDR Shelf for the Source, whatever it is, be thinking about it, because of all the things you do this will probably be the most important and cost-effective.

I use a Core Audio Designs custom rack with my TT setup:

http://coreaudiodesigns.com

Results are perfect IMHO. Not only does this rack look beautiful, performance is spectacular. You can actually jump up and down in front of the rack with absolutely no effect on TT playback. I even tried kicking the rack once during TT playback (not recommended!), again, no effect on playback. Outstanding isolation. Details of my system can be found here:

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/7324

BTW, no affiliation with Core Audio Design, just a very satisfied customer.

@arsh,

I highly recommend Core Audio plyKraft rack or isoPlat platforms. They have been in my system for over 5 years and still looks good as new, built and performance is outstanding.

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8046

Arnold is a master craftsman, he can also do custom projects to meet your needs. The packaging is also outstanding and very reasonable.

Millercarbon, I noted that your description of the DIY turntable stand included a note that the "well" was filled with a mixture of sand and mineral oil. The mineral oil component is something I've not seen used before. Out of curiosity, did you arrive at that combination through experimentation and do A/b comparisons with and without the mineral oil? Also curious how you sealed the well to contain migration of the oil?Kudos on the project. 

I got the oil idea from Chris Brady of Teres Audio. He tested different materials for his turntable. In my situation the oil is just barely enough to coat the sand when thoroughly mixed. Just enough to eliminate dust and scatter. 

The "well" is an indentation for the sand that was cast into the concrete. Most people would use a box or tray to hold the sand. With concrete and granite the damping from sand is essential as concrete and granite really are not good by themselves. Massive and stiff but poorly damped, they ring real bad. That's why nothing sits directly on concrete or granite, and not even directly on the sand.

That rack was built around 2003. The sand at the top has a 150 lb granite plate sitting on it. The sand at the bottom has four MDF footers supporting a phono stage. Neither has shifted at all in what is now nearly 20 years.