Best bang for buck stands/racks

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MalcolmW100

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Best bang for buck stands/racks
« on: 30 Jun 2016, 04:13 am »
Hi All,
I'm new to AudioCircle, so - hello. I'm putting together a tube based system (dac, pre, monos) and I'm wondering what people are using for effective stands/racks with good isolation, but which don't cost the earth... or even the moon.

Thanks
Malcolm

JerryM

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Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #1 on: 30 Jun 2016, 10:37 am »
Welcome to AudioCircle, Malcolm.  :beer:

JLM

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Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #2 on: 30 Jun 2016, 12:41 pm »
Is the floor of your listening room wooden/on wooden joists or poured concrete slab?  Are you thinking of speakers or everything else?
 
For concrete slabs you're best off spiking (not isolating unless you live next to a stamping plant or freeway).  I use a leftover piece of shelving spiked into my carpeted concrete slab for my simple system (sans speakers), located 3 feet from front wall.  Gear is removed from a room bass pressure point (intersection of wall/floor), eliminates bunched up wiring, makes connections easy, and doesn't block the soundstage.  You could find this idea used years ago and I thought it was too "long haired" for me, but with loss of my own hair plus a dedicated room and use of remotely controlled source and DAC/preamp it works.

For really soft wooden floors consider wall mounted shelves.  Isolating vibrations from loads placed directly on a wooden floor is a crap shoot.  It's gets highly mathematical to try analyzing comparative resonate frequencies of the floor, rack, possible added footers, and equipment.  Most footers are way, way, way too stiff to be effective (not compliant enough for the weight of pieces of audio gear).   Rules of thumb: heavier the support/gear the better; extremely soft supports work best; ignore supports that try to address horizontal movement (useless).  I prefer to float speakers on soft floors to keep from turning the floor structure and the space below into a huge resonator.  I know of no effective isolation for turntables on soft wooden floors.

Putting your equipment (except speakers of course) in another room, closet, or even on another floor can be very effective.

ArthurDent

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Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #3 on: 30 Jun 2016, 12:48 pm »
Greetings & Welcome to AC Malcolm  :thumb:

Guy 13

Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #4 on: 30 Jun 2016, 12:48 pm »
A warm welcome to AudioCircle Mr. Malcolm.

Guy 13



ssglx

Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #5 on: 30 Jun 2016, 01:01 pm »
I have a VTI BL-304 rack which I like quite a bit though I've never done comparisons. Legs are filled with dry playsand and shelves are MDF with an attractive veneer.

Looks great and is available at discount on-line.

Phil A

Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #6 on: 30 Jun 2016, 01:33 pm »
Welcome to AC!

brooklyn

Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #7 on: 30 Jun 2016, 02:28 pm »



zoom25

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Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #8 on: 30 Jun 2016, 06:37 pm »
Recently started using Isoacoustics speaker stands to isolate components (DAC, amp, digital player). I put a wood platform on top of the Isoacoustics stand and then the components on top of the platform. Works quite well, even with solid state gear.

For speaker stands, cement blocks are by far the best value for performance. You can wrap them up and have sorbothane between the speakers and the cement block. Each block is about 40 pounds. I have 4 blocks for each stand giving a height of about 32 inches and weight of 160 pounds.

Looking into adjustable Sound Anchors for the nearfield desk rig. Sound Anchors are worth checking out, very well regarded.

jarcher

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Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #9 on: 1 Jul 2016, 02:43 am »
For really cheap, the Salamander Archetype racks ($300-$500). If you have $1k - $3k, Mapleshade Samson racks are great (Amish made kiln dried rock maple). The value and sound quality from Mapleshade racks and isolation platforms is hard to beat. In the more premium price categories Box Furniture makes gorgeous understated racks, though I don't have direct experience with how good they are at isolation or improving the sound of your gear.

Ps the isoacoustics products do wonders for tabletop speakers / monitors.

milford3

Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #10 on: 1 Jul 2016, 08:36 am »
+1 with the isoacoustics.  My two subs sit on them.

LesterSleepsIn

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Re: Best bang for buck stands/racks
« Reply #11 on: 7 Jul 2016, 12:55 am »
You could find this idea used years ago and I thought it was too "long haired" for me, but with loss of my own hair plus a dedicated room and use of remotely controlled source and DAC/preamp it works.


Jlm, you might have misplaced your hair but, just like myself, have retained your movie star good looks and, quite obviously, more than just a few brain cells. I appreciate your comments and try to make a point of reading your posts.

Thanks from a brother of the hirsute challenged,
LSI