Flexy rack threaded rod material

I have used both steel rods and brass rods in one of my isolation stand products, both with good results. At least One high end amp, the Berning EA2-150, has a brass chassis.

I have compared steel all thread rods with brass all thread rods with the same components and the same shelving. One left and one stayed. Oh before that I compared brass lock nuts with the steel lock nuts on steel rods.. again one left and one stayed. That was about fifteen years ago. Tom

Which one stayed, Tom?

I asked myself the OPs question when I built mine. I went with brass, but I'd be seriously surprised if I could tell a difference, sonically, in the event I A/Bed, which I didn't. People who build footers and the like, including people I think well of, like Steve at Herbie's Audio Lab, would likely say otherwise. The factors driving my decision were the visuals: brass develops a nice patina over time, which looks right in my older home. Also, the footers I decided to use came in brass, and I wanted a match. I believe the difference in cost was 200-300 bucks then (the materials make it a pretty expensive rack), and I felt like that wasn't too much to pay for the visuals. With a different decor, of course, the steel might go better (say, if you're a chrome and leather person).

Below is a link to a thread where I got lots of help building mine. For me, the upshot was that although I'm very happy with my rack, with patience I could have gotten better value in a used rack.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1158841915

John

If the dollars are there then brass all the way...especially at the ground plane..the floor and shelf. The termination is not all about the material but also the mass and geometry..trilogy as it were. Tom

Cryoing the rods, whether brass or steel, will improve their physical characteristics and performance. Just thought I'd throw that out there.