Best equip stands

TWL makes a very good point regarding the cautionary break-in period. Something I don't believe is much of an issue with other racking systems that adhere to the isolation/dampening aka de-coupling methodology.

However, in my experience with 'resonance energy transfer' styled racking systems, the initial sonic improvements are typically marginal at best. It is only after the initial 7 to 10 day mechanical break-in period that the sonic improvements become quite substantial. And sonic improvements can continue well beyond the first 7 - 10 days.

This mechanincal break-in period should imply that performance comparisons between racking systems/platforms really needs to be a rather long and painstaking effort.

Even moving a fully broken-in coupling-styled racking system to a different location (even 2 inches) can take 4 days or more for break-in to occur again.

In other words, if one were to compare the performance of say a Sistrum rack to that of a Grand Prix Monaco rack and if each rack is in place for only a day or so, then the comparison testing is really rather meaningless and certainly inconclusive.

-IMO

Labtec, you may be reading too much into the phrase 'mechanical break-in'.

To the best of my knowledge, it's really just a settling in process that occurs.

I suppose it's kinda' like a new automobile where the engine needs to be pampered for the first 500 miles or so during an initial break-in period. Once that occurs, the engine then runs more efficiently.

The settling in for the racks occurs when the Audio Points and perhaps the misc. connections of the racking system or platform are mass loaded with the components or speakers and over a short period of time.

I did not believe it either when I first heard about it. In fact, I thought it a bit funny and paid it no attention to it whatsoever. That is until I experienced it. It's there, and it's rather drastic.

As for a break-in period every time a coupling rack is relocated? Since you must first empty the rack, move it, then fill the rack, it would seem quite similar to a first install. This is assuming that one is using mechanical diodes such as Audio Points under each component, therefore, nothing is going to be in the exact same place twice and hence the settling process occurs all over again. The only reason I can think why the settling process for a relocated rack is a quicker process than an initial installation is perhaps the sharp ends of the Audio Points are already conformed to the material they rest on.

Perhaps another can provide a more detailed or scientific explanation on this mechanical break-in process.

-IMO

Labtec, does it really matter who told me about this mechanical break-in? There's no snake oil to sell here.

Mechanical break-in for certain products following certain methodologies either exists or does not. You don't make it false and I don't make it true.

Besides, it was not me who brought up this subject (although I have in other threads). I was simply confirming what TWL said above with what I previously heard as well as describing my own experiences from several years ago and even more recently.

It would seem to me that mechanical break-in (or settling) is actually easier to comprehend than cable burn-in. Surely you don't believe in cable burn-in do you?

And since you obviously cannot attribute any experiences to mechanical break-in, I would hardly think that qualifies you as an expert on the subject.

Shoot, I can't even prove that you exist. But that doesn't mean that you don't.

The only reason I confirmed the mechanical break-in is because people like you might try a coupling-designed rack like the Sistrum and after one day of evaluation might come to the conclusion that the rack is sonically inferior to a box of sand, kitty litter, a bicycle inner-tube, or perhaps a tennis ball simply because they did not provide enough time for things to settle in.

-IMO

Labtec, you made the statement, "I'm pretty darn certain no one can, since it doesn't exist or would be close to impossible to prove."

Do you really think that is a credible statement? And of course, I'd love to know how you know that one.

As for proving that mechanical break-in or settling does or does not exist, simply purchase a Sistrum platform following all of their guidelines and wait 7 to 10 days.

Far from impossible to prove or dis-prove I'd say.

-IMO