Equipment supports

[chris@panteg]

Ok folks , looking for ideas or suggestions ,even diverse opinions on what to invest in ?

I need at least one good new rack , (maybe a second one later if desired) I currently have an old Soundfactory tripod with four shelves which is ok but could be better I guess ? this supports my 1210 ,Yammy multi spinner and tuner + Vantage psu .

The other support is an Argos glass (piece of junk) rack which is hampering the performance of my Marrantz pearl lite and Diablo phono ,unfortunately they both have to sit between my speakers , yes I know this is far from ideal but no options here .

Should I avoid glass ? I like the look of the Hifi racks podium range and the Atacama Eris Eco but neither are cheap , but it needs to be good , been looking at some old used Target racks on eBay but will they be good enough ?

A wall shelf is not an option either , old Victorian stud wall behind my kit .

Just looking for ideas ,thanks for any advice .

[rubber duck]

I would avoid glass or at least combine this with something else, e.g. two pieces of glass with some form of damping in between. I have a Target three tier rack with adjustable spikes at the bottom and for the top shelf. Don't see anything wrong with this. Again, I think the easiest way is to experiment with different materials on your existing supports.

[YNWaN]

There is nothing wrong with your Sound Factory stand and it is at least as well made as most of the stuff available now.

[doodoos]

Two approaches here:
1) Buy a fancy rack with inbuilt vibration isolation.
2) Get a cheap rack and install some kind of isolation under each component, either feet or a shelf.

[chris@panteg]

There is nothing wrong with your Sound Factory stand and it is at least as well made as most of the stuff available now.

Thanks, that's good to know, I do quite like it and it feels very solid.

Just the other rack then , might try a target rack off eBay.

[chris@panteg]

Two approaches here:
1) Buy a fancy rack with inbuilt vibration isolation.
2) Get a cheap rack and install some kind of isolation under each component, either feet or a shelf.

Good ideas, target racks have generous sized shelves.

[Theo]

I'm obviously not aware of any aesthetic sensitivities you might have, but does it need to be a rack? Can it be an item of furniture, e.g. a table or sideboard? I moved away from racks and positioned all my equipment on top of record storage units to absolutely no sonic detriment (slight lie: t/t and CDP on wall shelves). Just floating this as an idea:

http://www.furnitureinfashion.net/energy-buffet-sideboard-walnut-with-black-glass-p-4080.html

Any 'isolation' can then be done on an individual basis if required.

[chris@panteg]

Thanks for the suggestion theo, but the problem is space! I thought maybe an ikea lack table but I'd have to stack the phono stage on top of the pearl lite?

[Floyddroid]

With regards to equipment supports i think the jury is out! Is it roses i can smell, is it carnations, is it daffs? No, it's b......t. I am using fairly expensive racks at the moment and regret laying out all the money i did on them. There was nowt the matter with the Ikea products i was using before. The rack you have is a good one. Don't be in too much of a hurry to change it.

[Tarzan]

What about some wall shelves? Saves on space and should sound better to boot:)

[stupinder]

With regards to equipment supports i think the jury is out! Is it roses i can smell, is it carnations, is it daffs? No, it's b......t. I am using fairly expensive racks at the moment and regret laying out all the money i did on them. There was nowt the matter with the Ikea products i was using before. The rack you have is a good one. Don't be in too much of a hurry to change it.
I was previously in this camp and have used IKEA boxes to support kit in the past. Currently I've got a carbon fibre rack with each shelf having its own isolation and it's changed my mind completely with regards well thought out racks.

[chris@panteg]

With regards to equipment supports i think the jury is out! Is it roses i can smell, is it carnations, is it daffs? No, it's b......t. I am using fairly expensive racks at the moment and regret laying out all the money i did on them. There was nowt the matter with the Ikea products i was using before. The rack you have is a good one. Don't be in too much of a hurry to change it.

I'm in no hurry to spend megabucks, and the tripod is staying, but I do think the argos rack isn't quite good enough? Though improved with a set of spikes.

I'm hoping to get a cheap target rack?

[chris@panteg]

With regards to equipment supports i think the jury is out! Is it roses i can smell, is it carnations, is it daffs? No, it's b......t. I am using fairly expensive racks at the moment and regret laying out all the money i did on them. There was nowt the matter with the Ikea products i was using before. The rack you have is a good one. Don't be in too much of a hurry to change it.

Steve, what racks do you use? And have you got a suspended floor or solid?

[wee tee cee]

I was previously in this camp and have used IKEA boxes to support kit in the past. Currently I've got a carbon fibre rack with each shelf having its own isolation and it's changed my mind completely with regards well thought out racks.
Can you expand Stuart?
My kit is on cheapo av stands- having used lack tables in the past, would interesting to hear your findings. If its on hi fi pig a wee link would be helpful.

[chris@panteg]

I would avoid glass or at least combine this with something else, e.g. two pieces of glass with some form of damping in between. I have a Target three tier rack with adjustable spikes at the bottom and for the top shelf. Don't see anything wrong with this. Again, I think the easiest way is to experiment with different materials on your existing supports.

Hi Jeff.

I tried a little experiment with 4 granite coasters which I have kicking around, these have small flat rubber feet so seemed ideal to try under the footers of the Pearl lite amp.

So I put these in place between the Pearl and the glass shelf of the Argos rack, it changed the sound and musical presentation rather dramatically !

But for the better ? Well it was much leaner and very detailed, granite is a very hard and cold material to the touch and this is what it seems to impart on the music and frankly it was very tiring to listen to, interesting but no cigar here but worth a try.

[wee tee cee]

Just read the HI FI Pig review of the carbon fibre rack.....sounds like a fine bit of man furniture!!!! After all..... What man doesn't want to get his hands on a nice rack?
No mention of price but with the exotic materials involved may involve some hiding and smuggling in with the other half ( No, that's not new!!!!.......I just painted the corners to brighten things up!!!!)

[chris@panteg]

My wife thinks £30 is too much to spend on a target rack I was looking at on ebay :eyebrows: