Mana or a.n.other ?

[MikeMusic]

Now my system/s are more or less settled with upgraded kit I find my existing Mana racks stands are mostly not big enough, either in height or for width

I can ferret around for a local metal basher and I'll go for Marco's recommendation of non magnetic stainless steel.

However has anyone got strong feelings on other supports before I do ?

Does anyone have a fettler that will do a good job on copying Mana ?

If there are a few of us ordering at once I assume we can get a much better deal !s

[cyclopse]

I have found that metal stands and glass shelves do give a sonic signature.

Try something in wood. You may be pleasantly surprised.

I have marine plywood shelves suspended on nylon cords but this is considered by some to be a bit extreme.

[YNWaN]

Anyone with a modicum of welding skill should find it pretty easy to make Mana copies as its a very simple structure.

[Tarzan]

I have found that metal stands and glass shelves do give a sonic signature.

Try something in wood. You may be pleasantly surprised.

I have marine plywood shelves suspended on nylon cords but this is considered by some to be a bit extreme.



Interesting Stephan, got any piccies mate?

[MikeMusic]

Found a distinct improvement leaving Ladderax behind, wood vertical (ladders) with metal bars across supporting wooden shelves

Would be worried with some of my kit hanging on almost anything as is weighs so much

[MikeMusic]

Anyone with a modicum of welding skill should find it pretty easy to make Mana copies as its a very simple structure.

Quite. However what people say and then do can be very different.

[chris@panteg]

Interesting Stephan, got any piccies mate?

Something solid use a similar type rack .

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t406/hifi_dave/002.jpg

[YNWaN]

Quite. However what people say and then do can be very different.

Yes, fair point - always best to do it yourself :).

[MikeMusic]

Something solid use a similar type rack .

Would worry me having Rega Isis, PS Audio P10 at least. Not so sure about the Chord either
Like the infinite adjustment though

This takes us into the different types of isolation question
Anyone tested Mana against hanging ?

[MikeMusic]

Yes, fair point - always best to do it yourself :).

If I was competent in welding or had the time to learn

Is there a welder in the house ?

[The Barbarian]

Found a distinct improvement leaving Ladderax behind, wood vertical (ladders) with metal bars across supporting wooden shelves

Would be worried with some of my kit hanging on almost anything as is weighs so much

Thats cos your using the later inferior ladderax imho.. Ladderax was design to hold a lot of weight.

[YNWaN]

I can weld and could theoretically make some and have MIG but not TIG and haven't really got the time - sorry. Any half decent fabricator should be able to do it though.

[MikeMusic]

I can weld and could theoretically make some and have MIG but not TIG and haven't really got the time - sorry. Any half decent fabricator should be able to do it though.

Thanks. If starting from scratch (IE not hifi interested) I prefer local where I can see them, their work and the whites of their eyes

[nat8808]

I wish I could weld... A couple of people who weld in the theatre industry just said they learned by getting a welder, reading how to do it and then some practice. Simple as that. Simple as just having a go.

As I said to Mike the other day (was nice to meet you by the way Mike!), a set builder had offered to make me some kind of rack for free but it would be from standard angle iron (and I doubt he realised the little intricacies of the design like captive bolts and such). My idea for it was to have a long surface, two shelves but also little stands for it to float in the future on a couple of some kind of isolation platform.

There was a reader's system in an old hifi news where a guy had had made something similar - the top shelf sitting on two vibraplanes on plinths and then a second shelf hanging below that passing through those plinths.

[YNWaN]

MIG is easy - a lot easier than stick IME.

[The Barbarian]

Atomic Hydrogen Welding is good but im not sure if anyone does this anymore, its a very old way of welding but would do Stainless..

[MikeMusic]

A couple of people who weld in the theatre industry just said they learned by getting a welder, reading how to do it and then some practice. Simple as that. Simple as just having a go.

As I said to Mike the other day (was nice to meet you by the way Mike!), a set builder had offered to make me some kind of rack for free but it would be from standard angle iron (and I doubt he realised the little intricacies of the design like captive bolts and such). My idea for it was to have a long surface, two shelves but also little stands for it to float in the future on a couple of some kind of isolation platform.

There was a reader's system in an old hifi news where a guy had had made something similar - the top shelf sitting on two vibraplanes on plinths and then a second shelf hanging below that passing through those plinths.

Course the rack must look good enough to go in a living area as well. I think I could weld with tuition and application, but when the rack is done I won't need it again.

Good to meet you too - I forgot to make you tea !
Some pics of the bolt supports might put your set builder friend off. I believe Mana used standard angle iron.

Can only vaguely understand what is going on with Mana and similar approaches, absolutely want to keep the benefits to sound quality.

Wonder if the shape of the racks also makes a difference. Only ever seen Mana as roughly square so maybe long could affect the sound

[Stratmangler]

Course the rack must look good enough to go in a living area as well

Well that's the Mana style stuff out of the equation then :eyebrows:

[MikeMusic]

Well that's the Mana style stuff out of the equation then :eyebrows:

:lol:

[Stratmangler]

Only ever seen Mana as roughly square so maybe long could affect the sound

So that means you've never seen any Mana frames where the angles are actually square! :ner:

[Yomanze]

I think the unphased Mana stuff looks great. Minimal, solid and functional.

[YNWaN]

Well that's the Mana style stuff out of the equation then :eyebrows:

A bit harsh.







But fair :).

[MikeMusic]

So that means you've never seen any Mana frames where the angles are actually square! :ner:

You are a tinker !

Rectangularly square mate

[YNWaN]

I think the unphased Mana stuff looks great. Minimal, solid and functional.

I think it looks awful :) and even worse (not easy) when stacked.

[MikeMusic]

Does the job.
Black with black hifi and a dimly lit room - looks great !
:)

[Yomanze]

Does the job.
Black with black hifi and a dimly lit room - looks great !
:)

:)

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/16117633-lg.jpg

http://vukfoto.com/misc/mana-touchmenow3.jpg

[MikeMusic]

[QUOTE=Yomanze;544901]:)

/QUOTE]

Ahaha
Did you buy that small 2 shelf on the right with the lower shelf already there or did you adapt it yourself ?

[Yomanze]

[QUOTE=Yomanze;544901]:)

/QUOTE]

Ahaha
Did you buy that small 2 shelf on the right with the lower shelf already there or did you adapt it yourself ?

I'll take a proper photo of mine (those were just other peoples'), but the 2 shelf on the right is a Mana Sound Table with what looks like something custom to create a 2nd "shelf". It looks a bit like a reference top, maybe they took the MDF off the wall shelf, replaced it with glass & moved the reference top below the Sound Table... having said this its dimensions seem small & the angle iron looks lower on the shelf, so scrub that, probably custom... :P

I use a Sound Table for my turntable & a 4 Tier Rack for the rest...

[MikeMusic]

[QUOTE=MikeMusic;544903]

I'll take a proper photo of mine (those were just other peoples'), but the 2 shelf on the right is a Mana Sound Table with what looks like something custom to create a 2nd "shelf". It looks a bit like a reference top, maybe they took the MDF off the wall shelf, replaced it with glass & moved the reference top below the Sound Table... having said this its dimensions seem small & the angle iron looks lower on the shelf, so scrub that, probably custom... :P

I use a Sound Table for my turntable & a 4 Tier Rack for the rest...
There is a 'normal' table, then a much rarer, looks the same, but takes a 2nd lower shelf. Would be useful for me.
Hang on.
That's a table with a weeny Ref top, separate, inside the table - cunning plan !

[Yomanze]

By the way Mana does impart a more "live" sound, but think about what those amps and speakers are doing in a live environment? They are very much coupled with the music. The so-called Mana effect IMHO is the tight coupling of the speakers to the room and right into the HiFi, but also the ability for the equipment to sink energy back through the rack. It is very different thinking to decoupling but this can possibly add mushiness and loss of immediacy. Of course this is one of the most contentious subjects, but Mana was designed for suspended wooden floors with phases (and marketing) to counter concrete floors.

[MikeMusic]

By the way Mana does impart a more "live" sound, but think about what those amps and speakers are doing in a live environment? They are very much coupled with the music. The so-called Mana effect IMHO is the tight coupling of the speakers to the room and right into the HiFi, but also the ability for the equipment to sink energy back through the rack. It is very different thinking to decoupling but this can possibly add mushiness and loss of immediacy. Of course this is one of the most contentious subjects, but Mana was designed for suspended wooden floors with phases (and marketing) to counter concrete floors.
Been a long time since I heard my system without Mana

The closest I cam to a suspended floor was when we were in the extended garage while the house was being refurbed.
Trying to remember if we had concrete or wooden joists in there, but whatever it sound good.

[YNWaN]

Very unlikely to have been concrete joists.

[MikeMusic]

Very unlikely to have been concrete joists.

Can't remember clearly.
Think the garage had insulation in the floor and something like concrete spans across.
Odd because what was the internal garage had wooden joists across the floor with a big air gap, from memory.
Wish I#d been taking the photos, I would have it all on record