An audio rack that really does make a difference.

I've had Timbernation audio racks and speaker stands and they look and work great. The Butcher Block look just as good. Now, I use a local carpenter I sourced who made a great looking media stand out of thick maple with African Padauk wood inlays and thick metal hairpin legs for less than a third of what audio racks go for.

Even with that, you'll still need some good footers to isolate your gear so keep that in mind.

All the best,
Nonoise

Audio racks: the last great place to waste money on basic functionality by spending 10x what you should. 

“It is the single biggest killer of sound staging and depth perspective, it makes a hiend sound into midfi, because there's no artist to place and see with your eyes.
If you can't go to the side, maybe the behind you, or as I did in one place that allowed it, the next room.”


This is an interesting take for me. I recently created a thread about getting better detail and resolution from my speakers. Some of the feedback I got was the length of my wire run because my equipment is off to the side on an armoire. I’m trying to rework my furniture to move my speakers over to each side of my armoire but maybe I should rethink that? 

Consider a furniture armoire for an audio rack. Mine is a solid piece of furniture that fits the decor of the room and my gear blends into the furniture. Has drawers for storage that come in handy. I add isolation devices as needed and any vibrations that may occur are not audible to me. 

Not everyone has the luxury having a space big enough to position gear off to the side. However, everyone can ameliorate the effects of a rack between the speakers by positioning the speakers baffle a ways ahead of the rack.

An even bigger gain can be had by mounting the TV on the wall placing it well behind the speakers. That move gave me the greatest improvement in sound stage presentation. 

All the best,
Nonoise

Always wanted to try Artesania Audio.

I have the Stillpoints rack and I would never be without it.

You'd have to find one used for your price range.