Audio Rack Opinions


After a fair amount of research, I have landed on 3 candidates for upgrading my audio rack:

  1. Symposium Acoustics Foundation Ultra 
  2. Core Audio Plykraft 4L
  3. Butcher Block Audio Rigid Rack with 4 shelves 

This will be used with the following system:

Palmer 2.5i Turntable

  • LFD NCSE Mk3 amplifier
  • Sutherland Little Loco phono stage
  • Oppo UDP 203 CD player
  • Palmer turntable power supply
  • This sits on hardwood floors to the left of my Harbeth speakers which are Tontrager stands

I am not in the market for a $10k plus rack, but would love to hear opinions on the above racks or any other suggestions  

 

Thanks in advance  

 

128x128thr1961

What about quadraspire?  Good match with the LFD.  

You are right -- I forgot to put that one on the list.  Although its appearance will require some additional spousal management....LOL

Not sure I love the idea of a wood frame rack for turntables. But if very well implemented, it could be fine. And the ones you've picked do look quite solid.

What worked for me was a rack architecture that’s as rigid as possible, with isolation delegated to the shelves. My case was an extreme though, as I went from a flimsy Lovan Sovereign stackable 3-post rack (AWFUL) to an over-the-top CMS Maxxum (wonderful!). Boy did that solve my turntable feedback issues, though. You definitely want a 4-post rack, not 3, and avoid non-fixed stackable levels! I cringe whenever I see a nice table atop one of those VTI modular racks, because I know what that was like :(

Eyeballing those options, I like the Symposium for its solid aluminum posts.

I needed a heavy duty rack to moderate vibration.  I went with a four shelf tiger maple with 3" shelves from Timber Nation.

+1 @dodgealum .

I use Butcher Block platforms for my monoblocks and power conditioner, which otherwise would be on the floor. Nicely made and won't break the bank. If the vacuum cleaner hits something, it will be the Butcher Block, not the electronics.

That's a beauty of a TT, the 22lb platter must give tremendous stability. I miss my Thoren's TD124 platter which was impressive, heavy in it's day, and only 1/3 the weight.

@elliottbnewcombjr -- thanks for the kind words.  It is pretty amazing and yes, the overall weight makes it a pretty solid.  I have had it for about 6 months and just love it