AV Racks. What difference does it make?

Edartford, regarding TWL's posting, I believe it was you who used the word 'rediculous' for those believing anything other than what you believe in this regard.

Although I may have chosen different wording, I think TWL made some excellent points in every respect.

Prlscs also makes an excellent all-encompassing observation about the sum being greater than it's parts and is right on the money IMO. Even though I disagree with his chosen methodology for the handling of vibrations and resonance.

-IMO

I used to think that one would want the heaviest, most rigid rack possible and then i bought one just like that. Each shelf weighed almost 25 lbs by itself and the entire rack fully assembled was 150+ lbs. I sold it a few months later as my system sounded like absolute crap.

Quite honestly, I could not believe how much something as simple as a "rack" could change the sonics of a system. This was not my imagination either as my Brother came by and thought my system sounded terrible too. I went back to using the 28 pound homebrew all wood rack that i had previously built and the sound was back to normal i.e. MUCH better. I have since changed racks again using a different design approach and it seems to be the best that i've had so far.

My current rack uses a metal structure with wooden shelves. I would like to use an all wood rack, but i can't do that and achieve the versatility that i like. As such, it is kind of a trade-off that i'm willing to live with.

To sum it up, I would not have believed that a rack could have made a sonic difference, let alone a DRASTIC sonic difference, the way that my first expensive "Audiophile approved" rack did. Those results were NOT "good", so don't think that more expensive is better. I would take a lightweight all wood rack over a heavy metal based rack ANY day of the week. Sean
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With my experience I believe using any kind of audio rack from reasonable to expensive one does not help improving the sound at all (except you put the rack far away from the two speakers). Since I have a small room (18x12x8) I am using the maplewood platforms (commercial) and separately put each audio component away (not stacking them on the rack). I found that way my system sounds a lot better, there is more clarity, musical, opened soundstage and dynamic than before(I used rack). Friend of mine he got the best audiorack in the market but his system sounds not much better than my system (he has all reference equipments). Once again, it depends on your ears. Good luck.

Stehno...My use of the word "ridiculous" really applied to the pricing policy of firms that sell racks, not to the people who buy them. Sorry if I offended. As sean pointed out, a low cost home-brew rack can be good. Figure out what characteristics to want heavy or light, rigid or compliant (shock mounts), enclosed or open (to acoustic input) etc. and then build it. It's not rocket science.

Of course, I forgot microphonic problems of tube gear (because it's a few years since I fought that battle)... it too could benefit, although my experience was that good mechanical design of the equipment, tube selection, and tube dampers or metalic tube covers were most important.

My source equipment mounts in a custom-build alcove that I constructed for extreme solidarity. Power amps live in the cellar. I have never experienced any problems with vibration...the background rumble level recorded on most LP's is greater than what I get from my turntable/pickup despite an elaborate subwoofer system that is good for 20 Hz.

Finally, cosmetics is a very valid consideration, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Hey TWL, you dont need to get so butt-hurt about it, i was wondering why people have these racks that is why i asked.

And research is exactly what im doing now. Why else would i ask? Is this some kind of hobby where you have to go out and learn everything yourself to be a true audiophile or something? If so, hold in, i will go get an engineering degree real quick. Am i not supposed to ask questions and get tips and advice? isnt that thge point of forums?

Sheesh! lighten up!

So,
What i see is that vibration affect turntbles and tubegear more than anything else. If i stay away from tube gear and turntables (which i plan on, im going to stay SS for the time being, might go for tubre and turntables later down the road) then i should not have much to worry about eh? But it would probably be wise to build a rack out of maple? (i love bulding furniture, some day im going to have my own furniture line)

Im buying a new house soon, my existing gear is probably going to be a living-room HT type setup, in the basement i plan on building a dedicated theater once i get it finished, and i plan on eventually getting a 2channel setup in the loft/art-studio.
i get my best inspiration when i am listening to music and in an open space.

I dont think i will ever really worry about getting a really high quality rack untill maybe i have a dedicated listening room, but that will probably be another house later.

i really dont think i can ever get as far into this hobby as some of you. I like the great gear because i like the way the music sounds, but i really dont need "Perfection"
I guess im more of a Tech-file or a Gear-head than a true "Audiophile". I love hardware, i love technology, and i love seeing and hearing what cutting edge technology and craftmanship can create.

thanks for all the great responses! Lotta educated 'files on this board.