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Audio Racks, Just How beneficial? looking for guidance in upgrading

Greetings all. Looking for guidance and your experience in racks & shelves for the ’sweet spot’ and upgrading. Do you find that applying a percentage of your total system’s value of perhaps 5% or even 10% is a good metric? Do you folks find that some of the leading Audio Rack companies, like HRS, CMS for ex., which seem great but is it beneficial to warrant spending well over $15k , $10k + or $5K on vibration isolation for a mid level system. Racks are really hard to demo; I’m reaching out to Audiogon community.

I’m trying to get my arms around some of the price points and the cost/benefits.
Anyone find wood is sonically better?
Doesn’t seem to be that much between A/V furniture manufactures and the better companies. Prefer a Modular approach like Bassoconuinuo- (anyone have it? I haven’t priced it yet.) or adjustable shelves. (not that keen on Solid Steel).
I need 6 shelves including top for turntable.
Currently have a BDI with glass shelves; using still points, or BDR cones, maple butcher blocks. Yes, I know the glass shelves...have to go.
Thanks!

blue_strat

Showing 5 responses by mitch2

mitch2
3,692 posts
 

After deciding on the esthetics (with your SO, if applicable), I agree with @ghdprentice in the approach of finding a rack that provides a very stable platform for each component as well as the ability to treat the support of each component individually. 

Depending on the component, I use SRA Ohio+ platforms, a BDR shelf, Zoethecus Z-slabs, DIY constrained layer platforms, thick wood platforms, Herbies products, springs, and Hudson HiFi platinum silicone hemisphere footers.  In some cases, I decouple a stable shelf like a Z-slab from the rack and then further decouple the component from the shelf using the hemisphere footers, Herbies footers, or springs.  My three "racks" consist of either sturdy constructed quartersawn oak furniture (that I have heavily reinforced) or a Sound Anchor stand.  If you simply want sturdy, it is hard to beat Sound Anchor.  However, having a fully digital system, I know nothing about specific best practices for supporting a turntable.

mitch2
3,692 posts
 

You might consider looking through the virtual systems to see what others are using under their turntables that would meet your esthetic needs.

mitch2
3,692 posts
 

Here is a solid rack.

 

 

 

 

mitch2
3,692 posts
 

Hey Roxy

It is probably made of money - for what they charge!

Cast iron and wood, with the shelves stood off from the iron by recessed elastomers. The Fleetwood Rack by Fleetwood Sound Co. that makes the Deville speaker, and a division of Oswald’s Mill Audio.

I am in too far and deep to go for one but if I were starting out again…I really like the look. The cast iron is just cool looking IMO.  Their website is fun to visit as they have some cool stuff.  I respect the craftsmanship.

 

mitch2
3,692 posts
 

@tomic601 - On my gear, the SMc Gravity Base is simply a (nicely cut and powder-coated) slab of brass, attached to the bottom.   I believe one of the attributes apparently contributing to the improvement in performance is that the Gravity Base is not simply attached to the bottom of the equipment chassis but is also directly attached to key internal components such as transformers, etc.

SMc does make a Panzerholz Isolation Base (and pt. 2) and they will also build their VRE-1C Preamplifier out of Panzerholz.

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