How much difference does an anti-vibration audio rack make

I built a magnetic levitation stand twenty five years ago. It’s the same idea used in the Verdier turntable to “float” the heavy platter. And similar to the air bearing platters and air bearing tonearms. The general issue with mag lev is that the sideways forces of the opposing magnets are very strong, such that the top plate always ends up pushed against the part of the structure, e.g., the column, that stops the top plate from flying off the stand.
This also prevents the top plate from moving freely in the horizontal plane, I.e., no isolation in the horizontal plane. Also, not good for isolation in the twist rotational direction.

So the top plate is not totally able to float and a transmission path is formed between the bottom part of the stand and the top plate allowing vibration to travel up to the top plate. The magnets themselves do not make contact if you do it right. A better solution to the problem overall is a combination of springs and roller bearing assemblies, as has been discussed many times, which can provide isolation in most or all of the six directions of interest, if you do it right.

They make a big difference with turntables. Otherwise, not so much.

Incorrect. Well designed racks and isolation devices provide a significant improvement with all audio components - in addition to TT’s.

They make a big difference with turntables. Otherwise, not so much.

I highly recommend you try them with other devices. Not just turntables. 

Hello OP,

to answer your question vibration isolation racks make a very noticable improvement in a good system and can take a good system into a great system.

We have never tested this rack but it does seem very well engineered.

Per the gentleman that said these racks improve only turntables completely false all components both solid state and tubes improve sometimes radically so with the use of the right kinds of products.

To site an example, at Innovative Audio in NYC I devised a demo of a $1,000 Rega CD player on top of a solid steel rack and compared that $1,000 player vs a $3,000 Classe CD player and of course the better CD player did sound better. The hot isolation product at the time was Black Diamond Racing who made isolation footers and a carbon fiber composite shelf. 

The demo would begin with adding footers to the Rega and comparing to the Classe, which was sitting on top of the other Solid Steel rack, and with the set of footers the Rega sounded sharper and more dynamic, then put a carbon fiber shelf on top of the footers and boom improvement then anothe set of cones under the player, once the Rega was fully isolated it blew the doors off the much more expensive Classe player and at the end of the demo took the Rega player off of the vibration platform and put the Classe on top and again boom the now isolated Classe player sounded far better.

Draining away vibration induced distortions improves audio gear it is really that simple.

We have over the years tested many of these types of devices, from Stillpoints, Finite Elemente, Black Diamond Racing, Symposium, and now Critical Mass systems. They all work and in a good system the end results are very large improvements in dynamics, image focus, overall clarity and a sense of image floating with improved solidity of the image.

How much is this Basso rack?

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ