2. misc-audio
  3. 182713-91149

I Was Stunned

For years I have resisted a rack for the front end gear because of concerns of the effects of hard vertical surfaces at or near the same height as the tweeters and midrange drivers affecting the center image and the illusion of a soundstage.

My gear sat on the floor.

And then  I got an idea.

A few weeks ago I visited with a friend who is also a craftsman and artisan.

The rack I designed and he built is made from 1" square steel tubing.

All tubes are filled with sand before being welded together.

It has two shelves made from 1.5" butcher block. They are 18" deep and 48" wide.

The top shelf is 20" high.

The tweeters are 48" high, the midrange 40".

The shelves are isolated from the frame with silicone.

It is non-resonant, heavy, solid and gorgeous.

It sits on a wood floor, over a concrete slab.

I wasn't expecting what I heard. Amazing transformation. Greater clarity, cleaner highs, mids and lows. More natural timbres. Better dynamics. 

You get the picture. 

I was stunned.

tomcarr
dinov's avatar
dinov
845 posts
 

I use a rack made by Mapleshade, Amish craftmen. Sort of a blend of untilitairian and elegant. Thick maple slabs, large poles holding the slabs that can be adjusted, spiked to the floor. It’s made to help drain micro vibrations from your components. I love it and it’ll last a lifetime. I’m with you on this!

Ag insider logo xs@2x
condosound
130 posts
 

izjjzi:

I made a living room full of pipe furniture just like yours, 50 years ago when I was a poverty-stricken grad student with a good audio system and no money. Solid, heavy and ugly. DIY...you don't need Etsy or a craftsman

secretguy
1,715 posts
 

I can't imagine having that in my house. Maybe for a garage system....

bipod72
137 posts
 

As someone who has designed furniture and cabinets in the past, including A/V credenzas, there's a way to get good vibration control without fabricating  300+ pound pipe racks in your house. Aesthetics aside (not everyone likes the upscale dorm furniture look) I think if someone is willing to spend $10k+ on a hi-fi setup they could talk to a cabinet maker to make them something visually appealing as well. 

waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
1,126 posts
 

I have to admit that when the OP promised to post photos of a "nice rack", it really got my attention.

This probably the most adolecent post that you’ll see on this topic. But, to borrow a line from the movie Tequila Sunrise: "You can’t blame a compass for pointing north."

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