Racks - what’s awesome without impacting my kids college plans?

dishman442,

If you can find a used Star Sound Sistrum SP-101 rack, let alone with 5 platforms on the used market, you could have a sensational sound improvement to each component placed on it. I happened to luck out and have all my equipment on 2 Sistrum 101 racks--a 2 shelf and a 3 shelf, one of which is their larger TT shelf. I use it to put both a phono preamp and the power supply for a Modwright 5400 CD/SACD player on it, plus enough room behind to put the most common used items for my TT setup.

The sound is immediately more involving, dynamic, more live sounding like real instruments. Putting my speakers on SP-101 platforms did the same thing allowing me to take out my 4 bass traps in the corners because they no longer made any difference.

All the 101’s were purchased used with the one demo TT from Star Sound out of the 5 component shelves. I doubt there is a better sound improvement from putting your stuff on a rack than a Sistrum, other than their own more expensive racks. These were the top of the line. I really doubt I will ever get rid of them from upgraditis.

If you did this, and got lucky enough to be able to find RTS couplers to anchor them to each shelf, as I did getting most of them used, the sound improvement basically doubles in quantity.

Good luck in your quest,
Bob

What salectric says is probably true for most steel racks.  Just not the Sistrum from Star Sound.  Just had to add that.  I custom built a 2" thick wood shelf unit with threaded steel rods like Mapleshade sells, and the jump in performance getting a used Sistrum 4 shelf rack was quite amazing with zero drawbacks.  Adding the RTS couplers, also bought used, really quantified the improvement to a larger level.  It also made each component sit rock solid on the shelf where it sat on 3 points prior and you had to push buttons with a light tough so nothing slide on the points.  If you're interested in getting the best sound, you should read the testimonials on the Star Sound website.  Used, you may get the stuff for about 40% or even less of the list price.