Rack Advice


Yes it's me again fellow audiophiles and enthusiasts.

Rather than buying and rack stand for my growing audio collection my brother (a professional cabinet maker) has offered to build me one of my own design as my birthday gift. Obviously I know that minimal sides, back, etc are desirable to prevent resonances but I still have some questions concerning materials....

1. What type of wood? Maple, poplar, mahogany, paduc(sp) or some other?
2. Should the rack have spikes for feet?
3. Should the rack be standing on something other than my hard wood floor?
4. Any other advice you may have to offer.

Thanks!

Erik
ndmaitre
Erik, I've had a rack made for me (oak), if you're interested email me and I'll provide details including pics. Jeff
My main suggestion would be to figure out a way to "float" the actual shelves. That means that the shelves should not be a stressed member of the rack itself and not permanently attached. This way, you can isolate or couple the individual shelves as you see fit. I found this to make a very noticeable difference. Sean
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1) Maple ,beech and pearwood esp. in marine grade plys are quite good.
2) The support should have adjustable spike provisions at the feet and for decoupled support of the shelving
3) You can achieve greater isolation from vibrations transmitted thru the flooring by placing the rack on a spike isolated subplatform.
4) The major goals should be to make the rack framework as rigid and light as possible rather than the more inuitive heavy,massive and deadened approach.The maple/birch/pear shelving itself will provide the damping means for dissipating internal and airbourne energies and the spikes will minimise transfer of energy passed via the floor and house structure.
correction- 1) should read as maple,BIRCH and pearwood

an edit function would sure be a welcome addition to this board