How important is a good rack?

Matters most for mechanical devices like turntables and speakers and disc players to a lesser extent. Much less so for amplification equipment

You knew the Kate Upton comments were coming. Obviously hers is quite important to her and advertisers. It makes her a superhero in video games and such as well it seems. 🌝

Once you reach the threshold of isolation sufficient to keep your TT (or CDP) from skipping with light room vibrations, I wonder.

I'd expect to see a very gentle slope for increasing returns on expenditure for racks.

My own rack is brass rod and butcher block homebrew, which I like very well, and suggest you consider (tho I am digital only)

Of course A/Bing racks would be a huge PITA, and I suspect it is not done very often.

So my suggestion is very tentative. :)

John

That's just like Michael Green, isn't it? I would get rid of that rack altogether, and get something built correctly. Then put a set of Symposium Acoustics Roller Blocks under your table, or better yet, a SA Segue ISO board and then the Roller Blocks between it and the table.

My wife says it's over-rated! Me, I prefer quality over quantity.

A good rack is very important, just ask Kate Upton. ;^)

Good is always better than bad.

A good installation means components including speakers sit on a solid foundation that is resistant to vibrations and movement. So whatever the stuff is resting on should provide that. Can be a bench, shelf, rack, whatever one prefers. Does not have to be pretty or fancy. Those are aesthetics which is important but has nothing to do with performance.

Also teh floor that things rest on is part of the foundation and often the only foundation in place in the case of floor standing speakers. One has little control over this but should be aware that the floor is a big determining factor nonetheless. With most modern consruction houses, lower floors will tend to provide a more solid foundation. First floor directly on houses foundation concrete slab is the best. So take that all for what its worth in each case.

ALso keep in mind that the higher off the floor components are located, the more susceptable to movement and vibrations they are so that ups the ante for teh build quality of the "furniture" needed.

I put my best gear on a low standing solid wood bench on teh lowest level of the house. The concrete foundation and low profile of teh solidly constructed wood bench provides a most solid foundation for everything and the sound quality reflects that accordingly.

So the general rule is to keep everything as close to the ground as possible in order to provide the best foundation. Ther further away from taht you are, the harder it may be to achieve similar results.