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How an audio rack can enhance your amp/pre



Just thought I would share my recent experience with upgrading my sound star technologies rack to the new rhythm rack.

Every now and then, I have a visiting audiophile who really appreciates my system…and traditionally asks – “wow, what makes it sound so good?” My typical answer is it all makes a difference, even down the equipment rack, which can and certainly should be considered a component…but in many cases is overlooked…

Star Sound introduction

About 10 years ago, I was introduced to Star Sound Technologies Sistrum platforms and Audio Points. Audiopoints has always been known for its manufacture of well-designed and beautifully manufactured brass cones used under equipment and as an integral part of an audio stand. This ultimately led to the design of stands designed to transfer vibrations out of components and down to ground. What I didn’t know at the time was how good the Sistrum platforms ‘sounded’. So, I bit the bullet and tried several Sistrum Platforms - what intrigued me about the stands was the design of the Sistrum Platform which allowed a pre-determined pattern of energy, known as Coulomb Friction to develop and dissipate via a high-speed calculated conductive pathway to earth's ground. Which made sense…how do you deal with airborne energy dissipation? I know you could put cones to reduce vibrations from the ‘ground up’ so to speak, but how could you eliminate airborne vibration? We’ve all held our hand on our equipment when music is playing only to feel the equipment vibrate, so how do you deal with it? Draining it quickly to ground made sense, but at the end of the day, all I really wanted to know was…does it improve the sound?

To say I was shocked is an understatement - the Original Sistrum Platforms offered – smoother sound, better transients, dynamics and a lower noise floor. And, the cool part is that you could turn up the sound and the music would flow with greater ease…well worth the investment. Robert at Star Sound was extremely helpful in guiding me through which racks made the most sense for my system.

Rhythm Platforms

Which brings me to 2015…it had been a while since I last spoke with Robert curious as to what his engineering team was up to…which led me to check out the ‘new’ model of Sistrum Stands – the Sistrum Rhythm Platforms.

These new platforms / shelves were substantially heavier, with a nicer overall finish than the original stands, with more grooves allowing for substantially more options to place points in various places under your equipment to refine the sound even further. In addition, the shelves were engineered to deal with resonances in a more efficient manner…The brass cones at the bottom of the rack were substantially bigger in size - 3 inches and quite heavy. The brass cones under the equipment were attached with nicely crafted screws that could be hand tightened and no longer required a screw driver… a nice feature making it both easier to put together but also the amount of tightening could influence the sound. The brass and platform rods are modular, making it easier to put together and painted in a beautiful black finish – in combination with the brass I would say the improvement in the WAF factor is significant – the stands are really impressive to look at. As for structure, these things were a solid as could be – and heavy! Not going anywhere, even in an earthquake!

My system includes VAC equipment, preamp, amps, DAC and a transport. As well as power supplies. Most of which now rested on the new Rhythm Platform.

Listening Impressions:

My first impressions were clearly a lower noise floor with enhanced dynamics, while also being able to hear deeper into the soundstage, which now extended well outside of the speakers. Tempo was faster, due to better-defined, leading edges. The high end was ‘cleaner’, with more sheen and decay on symbols and hi hats. Brass had that right bite to it, without over doing it…Bass lines were tighter which led to better ‘rhythm’ … and best of all, I could crank up the volume and the dynamic range seemed to extend effortlessly, which was a nice surprise.

One thing I noticed, that was true of my initial experience with Sistrum Platforms, is that the newer Rhythm Platforms sounded progressively better after 3 days of ‘settling’ and reached full potential after about 1 week. So some form of break in is required.
Over the years, I’ve tried different racks and various cones under equipment, whether if be soft, hard, ceramic, rubber (or some variation of ‘absorbing material’ etc.) you name it. All of which ‘altered’ the sound, but nothing came close to the Sistrum Stands holistically; while the new Rhythm stands, just take it all to a higher level…
While I cannot expound eloquently on science of Coulomb’s Friction, I can tell you that whatever they are doing at Star Sound visa vie their racks, it works…and it’s not subtle. This is a very audible improvement in your listening experience. If you want your system to perform at its highest level, I would suggest that you maximize your investment in your equipment by letting it do what it does best and put it on a Sistrum rack that will allow it to perform at its best. And if you want the best, I would strongly recommend the Rhythm Platforms.
wisper
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I'm pretty sure long hair on a man these days means he knows Karate.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,979 posts
 
I didn't know MAC used ringers.

At the time they only had one other person playing bass. So they came to my high school looking for recruits as we were close by and our orchestra was the best high school orchestra in the state. Times sure have changed!
wolf_garcia
6,737 posts
 
TBG…your response to my post noting it deserves no response is in fact a response, although maybe the word "responce" means something else, although more likely you can't spell the word. I will take this to mean it stands as the perfect post and all others are "post post perfection" from all but previous posters.
agear
1,362 posts
 
07-20-15: Bdp24
Long hair on a male is not a hippie aesthetic, it's a Native American one. I represent that remark ;-).

To what degree do you represent that remark? My wife and I are both essentially Norwegian/Scottish, but she is also an 1/8 Cherokee and something else. She has a beautiful mane of hair and tans beautifully while I look like I don't belong....:)

To me, long hair means you're a disciple of Robert Bly (or at least read his poetry) and run through the woods with no shoes or shirt on the way to that drum circle. For all we know, that's where Atmasphere amps were born....not in a lab with measurement devices in the throes of a sweaty, ecstatic frenzy....

audiopoint
208 posts
 
Hello Atmasphere,

In our opinion, you have taken our statements out of context. Please understand our comments here with regards to Live Vibe Technology™ and the information regarding Star Sound products is assumed that our technology is in place inside the equipment, below the equipment, adapted to musical instruments and/or building structural frameworks.

Therefore in response to your information listed on 07-20-15 we wish to assert the following:

Energy caused from vibration cannot be eliminated - physics 101.

“The technology of points and vibration absorption materials is not going to go away” - and we agree. Live-Vibe Technology uses Audio Points™ as the initial point of contact with equipment and flooring however we do not employ absorption materials in our innovations other than brass and steel. Brasses and steels too have damping (absorptive) factors.

“A proper stand and platform design can be proven effective” - and we totally concur however we do Not agree with your comment “proven effective for the past 6 decades”. If you are implying ‘sixty years’ of vibration management in audio;

To the best of our knowledge:

Audio Points was the second ever conical shaped product in the audio marketplace and began selling in 1988. Tip Toes was the first and began selling in late 1987. In the mid 1990’s audio racking was still largely referred to as furniture. We can trace the first absorption stands using sand, lead and rubber based systems from companies such as Zoethecus and Bright Star along with the first mechanical grounding racks from RoomTune and Sound Anchors to the early 90’s. The Sistrum Platforms™ release was in 2000 and was the first audio racking system marketed bearing the name recognition as a “platform”.

My father was an audiophile. As a teenager I spent a lot of time with him at Bell Laboratories whose engineers were also avid audiophiles. They took Fisher amplifiers to another level of performance , built their own electronics designs, modified the best Garrard had to offer, constructed their own speaker systems, tuned up Fisher reverb tanks for stereo systems but never did they mention or quantify anything on vibration control. This was the 60’s.

In the early 70’s Mr. Dick Boak of the C.F.Martin & Company (guitars) built a couple equipment racks out of exotic woods for a few friends. We knew our gear sounded a bit better on the more rigid build and different woods but never understood why and could not come up with any information or knew anything about vibration control as a topic for increasing equipment performance. I have owned McIntosh, Dynaco, Acoustic Research, and Sansui during the same time period and could not locate any mentions of vibration control in any of their owner’s manuals.

Employed as a sound engineer and spending over a dozen years in the music business - vibration was only ever discussed and/or addressed in recording studios as a minor topic when studying acoustic surroundings, microphone stands and record mastering but again it was never perceived as a principle science for improving sound quality.

During Star Sound’s inception period some sixteen years ago, our group of engineers spent hours researching vibration control in consumer audio and professional sound industries and found very little information. Agreed historically there were many uses and approaches to controlling vibration outside the audio sector but again very little written, little understood in what has become a highly subjective and sensitive subject here on AudioGon.

Our primary purpose participating in this forum is to learn, gather knowledge, provide information but more importantly listen to people who experiment in sound. We cannot afford the time for debates targeting “ours is better than theirs” arguments. Star Sound is presenting a newfound technical approach to vibration management and admits we do not have all the answers.

Our technology has gone full cycle in audio related fields. We have listener accepted products and prototypes in use - both inside and underneath electronics and loudspeakers, musical instruments and structural sound room environments. Live-Vibe Technology™ is currently undergoing third party testing by a licensed UL® approved laboratory in order to quantify this proprietary vibration management science. Additional acoustic testing will be provided by two privately owned recording studios adding more data to compare with the laboratory profiles.

In closing Atmasphere, we have never stated vibration does not make a difference in performance so please do not turn around and run in the other direction. We have products available that will greatly improve the sound of your string bass as well. You are always welcome to telephone us anytime.

Robert Maicks
Star Sound Technologies, LLC
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