Tweakers' Asylum

RE: (Relatively) affordable but good sounding rack?

124.168.193.85

asterland@gmail.com

In Reply to: RE: (Relatively) affordable but good sounding rack? posted by asterland@gmail.com on February 09, 2009 at 16:41:08

Thanks for your responses guys.

Silly question though - I'm really not concerned with aesthetics/looks; first consideration is a good sounding isolation rack. (I'd buy one of the kilobuck racks but I just can't afford them!)

Are these DIY options actually decent sounding racks as far as isolation devices go?

Thanks!

Andrew

Follow Ups:

Depends on you� - David Aiken 15:54:24 02/10/09 (1)
"Are these DIY options actually decent sounding racks as far as isolation devices go?"

If you take a look at the expensive racks, they fall into 2 groups. Those like the Grand Prix Audio Monaco which work by using isolation techniques and those like the Finite Elemente Pagode which work by tuning resonances. Even in the high price area, there can be differences in sound with different racks and one of the reasons is that some racks try to eliminate any contribution from the rack and others try to make the contribution as sound enhancing as possible.

It's the same with DIY racks. Some work by isolation, some by tuning resonance. In general they don't tend to work as well as the expensive products, at least in my experience, but they all go some of the way and some go further than others.

I haven't tested them all so I can't offer comments on different approaches though years ago I did design and have an aluminium fabricator build me a shelfless rack, actually a frame which directly supported the components, and posted about it here. That approach served me well for several years until I bought myself a Monaco.

The big problem is the word "isolation" which most certainly does not mean the same thing to every audiophile. It's also become a buzz word which gets applied to any vibration control device, whether or not that device works via isolation or not. Some people like the result you get with true isolation strategies and some don't, much preferring the result with controlled resonance. I don't know which group you fall into and, if you haven't heard examples of both, you may not know either. You may be saying you're looking for "isolation" but you may be happier with controlled resonance.

You can get good results, quite good results in fact, with DIY approaches but finding the right approach is the key to being happy.

David Aiken
- A mixture of approaches works nicely for me. [nt] - Wellfed 21:00:44 02/10/09 (0)
  nt
The one I posted should* be good� - Wellfed 23:42:17 02/09/09 (2)
Fill the legs with sand and foam (at intersections) and it should* approximate the Sound Anchors Rack that I myself use. Bear in mind the rack isn't everything, there's also the interface between the rack and the component to consider. I like Herbies and Golden Sound products. Black Ravioli's* are said to be good also.
*no personal experience

Edits: 02/10/09
- So..... - pburant 20:36:14 02/10/09 (1)
  It's now OK to opine on tweaks you've never heard?
  
  Perhaps as long as you're saying positive things it's OK?
  
  I'm confused.
  
  -Pete
  - Yes your Babyness, it is*� - Wellfed 20:56:24 02/10/09 (0)
    And yes your Babyness, you are*.
    
    *I'm not going to bother explaining why

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Schiit Audio