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Isolation Feet Recommendation for Equipment Rack

I just bought a 4-tier equipment rack to set up a 2nd system. It’s not audiophile standard and comes with standard spikes. The sound quality of the system is decent with this rack but I intend to replace the spikes on the rack with something else in the near future and was wondering about the available options.

The target support weight inclusive of the rack is up to 150 lbs (on a more accurate level it's around 130lbs). Apart from the Isoacoustics Gaia, are there any other worthy options around the same price range? What about the Finite Elemente stuff such as Cerabase and Cerapuc? I have the FE Cerapuc installed on the equipment rack in the main system but did not compare the Cerapuc with anything else for the past 15 years of ownership.

I would appreciate experiences from folks who have switched from spikes to any of the "audiophile standard" isolator options on the equipment rack, going from coupling to decoupling. These isolation feet will need to bring some noticeable if not significant change or improvement to the sound quality of the system after they replaced the spikes on the equipment rack. If the difference is subtle to the point of negligible, or the sound becomes worse instead of better, I’d say forget it.
ryder

Showing 3 responses by ryder

ryder OP
1,686 posts
 
Thanks for the recommendation. These look pretty unique with a pair consisting of 2 units supporting a point load. One feet looks better than a pair of feet but I guess that’s the way Townshend products work.

If I ever end up with these, they will likely go to the main system as I suspect they are better than the Finite Elemente Cerapuc which I currently own. The Townshend Support Corners are surely premium isolators as they cost multiple times more than my newly bought rack.
ryder OP
1,686 posts
 
There are so many other options other than Townshend. Have you looked at all the isolation and vibration control threads in the archives?


Yes, I have searched the archives but did not find many options on isolation for the rack. I read about Nobsound, Herbies and Stillpoints, that’s about it. Most threads are mainly discussing on the merits of isolation and not on specific product recommendation.
ryder OP
1,686 posts
 
Neither style was quite right for me so I just took em apart ditched the bracket and put the Pods two per corner. No pics of that yet.

I’m not sure how it will look like after you took them apart but you will still need 2 units supporting 1 pillar of the rack isn’t it? Similarly I thought the Support Corners look a little odd in the photos but they might look completely fine in real world installations.

Based on my experience I would say the biggest bang for the buck is directly under the component. Doing the whole rack is nice, but don’t think you do the rack instead of the components, not like that at all. Pods are way better than Nobsound but Nobsound under everything would probably be better than Pods under the rack. I would put Pods under as many components as possible, Nobsound under the rest, and not even worry about the rack. Unless you can do Pods under everything, that is awesome, for sure.

It’s useful to know that having isolation directly under components is more effective than isolation on the rack. However, I don’t think I have the budget to do both at the same time at this point of time, especially if going with the "audiophile standard" Townshend stuff which don’t come cheap. It is ideal to do both but cost is always a factor.

Also don’t forget about the rest. Podiums under speakers is more improvement than everything you can do to your rack and all the components combined. This is based on actually trying all these different things- except Gaia, I rely on reliable reports. Basically between Nobsound and Townshend is all kinds of stuff hardly any better than Nobsound just a lot more expensive, so the main thing is to avoid paying a lot more without getting a lot more.

I already have the Gaias under the speakers. Although they are not Townshend, they truly transformed the sound of the system. Previously on spikes before I switched to the Gaias on the speakers.

I am aware that the Townshend Podium is superior to the Isoacoustics Gaia but I did not have the budget for the Podiums. Having said that, I suppose the Podiums may be too good for my speakers if looking at the cost ratio between the two.

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