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Which Rack Is Better?

I am in the market for an audio rack, and I've narrowed my options down to three: in order of increasing cost, the Atlantis Reference, the Polycrystal, and the Zoethecus Reference. As I see it, the advantages of each are as follows:

1) The Atlantis Reference is very heavy and sturdy, it has a larger space at the bottom for a power amp, all shelves are 3/4-inch MDF and are spike-decoupled, and the price is only around $500.

2) The Polycrystal has anti-resonant shelves, and has adjustable spacing between shelves. It has been very well reviewed, and costs a lot more money.

3) The Zoethecus has the anti-resonant z-slab shelves, is superior aesthetically to the Polycrystal, and is even more expensive. I would need to special-order it, unless I could find one with a larger space at the bottom on Audiogon.

I believe that my system (Denon 1650AR/Bryston BP-20/Aragon 8008BB/Thiel 3.6/Pro-SilwayII/Oval9) is good enough that I would hear any significant sonic differences between the racks.

Which of these racks would be the better choice, i.e., would there be enough of an improvement over the Atlantis Reference to justify the higher cost?

Thanks for your input.

Alan
a_hayman

Showing 3 responses by paulwp

paulwp
585 posts
 
Dan, if you could be convinced the Salamander Synergy is not a sonic compromise? I had a devil of a time with my second system, sybillance, brightness, smear. When my Salamander Synergy stand finally arrived, all the problems disappeared. I had already committed to selling my little mini-monitors and replacing them with a slightly tubby larger speaker bythe same maker. After the Synergy, the little minimonitors were smooth and sweet. With the new (used) speakers, there is so much warmth, I want to walk up to them and touch them to see if Im hallucinating.

So if smooth and warm constiute sonic compromise, stay away fromt the Synergys.
paulwp
585 posts
 
Dan. What kind of floor will be under the rack? I'm really happy with my little Synergy rack on carpet over a slab. In my main system on a carpeted but suspended floor, I have a bigger and more massive Target rack that seems to be fine.

You might just try one of the smaller Synergys without accessories (and without the back panel). If you like it you can add side panels if you want. If you think it degrades the sound, get drawers and use it to house you cd collection.

Call Reference Audio Video. They'll give you a deal along with advice.
paulwp
585 posts
 
For a turntable or cdp, I think the ideal stand is a 1000 pound concrete post sunk into the ground. When you try to place either on a suspended floor, I dont know what's the right thing to do. I think as heavy and massive as possible to try to keep the floor from reverberating through the stand, but I don't know. I'm ok with what I have. Anyway (pay attention Kelly and whoever that was you were arguing with), I am ignorant of the sound of the Synergy stand on a hardwood floor. So, don't flame me if it doesn't work.
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