Why are equipment racks so expensive?

Dwebe:

Here is a Lack Rack post by member Riotubes, which also contains a link to the original A'Gon thread (thank you A'Gon for storing/maintaining this info).

https://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/messages/11/119775.html

As I'm no longer confortable using power saws I would opt for a fine toothed box saw to cut the legs (think I may have used one on my second go round).

I made a few Lack shelves back then, but used upturned brass cones instead of spikes (still they were really good).

I then opted for a couple of Ken's Greater Ranges shelves as he was kind enough to make a few custom shaped units for my Studio Tech rack (requires cut off/snipped corners).

No answer to your main question (even though I do have one:-).

Anyway, if you want a good reasonably priced rack make a Lack Rack adhering to the basic/general guidelines as they are sound.

DeKay

"You certainly must do your research, but high quality audio racks can be considered a component. Not if you have $500 components, but if you have $10K or higher.... and particularly on turntables and tube equipment."

Ridiculous Dollar cap statement on gear, IMO.

I have a Pilot 232 EL84 tube amp that I prefer to any ARC tube power amp that I’ve ever listened to (think I paid $200 for it) and other than reforming the lytics and replacing the ceramic cap that feeds the 5ar4 rectifier it’s stock.

My Thorens TD125 MKII/SME combo was $225/shipped and I decided to keep it after placing it on a properly implemeted Greater Ranges shelf.

My CAL Icon MkII was perhaps $400 and after placing it on a Greater Ranges shelf I sold the Bel Canto DAC I was using @ the time as the stock deck sounded better to me (on the shelf).

This said, my electronic gear is located outside the listening room (see system details) and yes a decent rack/shelves has still greatly improved the SQ of my source components.

As far as my tube power amps and preamps I simply use the stock shelves (having tried the Greater Ranges) as there was little difference in SQ (again taking into consideration that the gear is NOT located in the listening room and that even the stock shelves are supported by upturned adjustable brass spikes).

DeKay

Dwebe:

If you are interested in spiked designs (spikes for each shelf level) that are inexpensive research Atacama and VTI.

I lucked out with a Studio Tech rack that's long been out of production.

It has upturned/adjustable brass spikes for each shelf (great for leveling the TT/CD deck).

It's original form was a bolt together frame that I mig welded into a one piece frame.

DeKay

Ozzy:

I have no first hand experience with the 2 spiked racks I suggested that the OP research.

They were the only two inexpensive "spiked" designs that I came up with on a quick Google search.

The big hitters, when I was researching racks 20 years ago, were Symposium, Systrum (sp?) and Solid Steel.

There's another one as well, but I'm blanking on the name.

My main goal (@ the time) involved adjustable upturned spikes for each shelf and lighter weight (though rigid) construction.

Looking back I really only required the adjustable spikes for leveling the moving parts source gear.

I prefer to use the original footers (or something very close to that) on my TT/CD deck and the Neuance shelves.

I gave up on specialty footers long ago as the various designs SO GREATLY altered the sound/sonic balance of my source gear to the point that my Thorens and CAL were barely recognizable as being Thorens/CAL sound wise.

They were designed with stock footers (Thorens and CAL knew what they were doing, IMO) and the Neuance shelves maintained their "house sound" while @ the same time improving upon it.

My main problem with both units was the bass/midbass, and this was remedied, to my satisfaction, with the addition of properly implemented specialty shelves.

By the way, I used real speakers back then (you know with woofers/tweeters/crossover;-).

DeKay