AFFORDABLE HIGH VFM RACKS - Opinions Please...

Are the VTI racks any good?

I have Zoethecus stands for both my equipment and my amp. Core stands are similar to the old Zoethecus. Before that I a had Solidsteel 6.4 equipment stand. And before that I had a Target AER4.

My turntable is on a VPI turntable stand filled with sand and a thick maple top. I wanted a separate stand for my turntable away from any possible equipment vibration. The VPI filled with sand is VERY heavy and very solid. The maple top sits on cones.

I have noticed a huge improvement in the sound when I went from metal stands to a wood ones. All my gear is tube so that may make a difference. I think my system just sounds a little more natural on a good solid wood rack. If I were going to buy a new stand today it would probably be something like a Walker or Mapleshade stand. But I really like the old Zoethecus stands with their special Z shelves. I would not trade mine for anything.

Wolf-Garcias is right, use iso-blocks and save your money.
Quad racks use a series of curves that seem to work, cork and rubber is cheaper.
Personally, I wouldn't take a Mapleshade if it was free, whatever good that may be done is by the points and iso-blocks they tell you to use with them.

I relish agreement, even with an unnecessarily plural moniker. I appreciate groovy design, but extremely expensive racks are things I really doubt would pass a blind test if the components on the racks were individually isolated with the aforementioned bits of vibration soaking goo pads. And hey...where else can I say "vibration soaking goo pads?"

Zoethecus are great racks if you can find one used.

I have my non suspended Clearaudio Master Solution on a 4 shelf Zoethecus rack. You can rap on the wood posts and perimeter frames while playing records and nothing get's thru to the table. The shelves sit on isolation pods on metal corners brackets attached to the perimeter frames which are attached to the legs. I also have my Wadia CD player tube amp, preamp and phono stage on the other shelves. I paid $1250 for it years ago as a dealer demo.

These occasionally come up under $1000 depending on condition and number of shelves.
There is a three shelf for sale now for around $350 where the seller actually made granite selves for it. They look great but not sure they sound any better due to Granite ringing. I believe he also has the original mdf shelves so this is a good deal if someone only needs a three shelf stand.