Audio Racks & Equipment Support

I just went through a similiar process at a lower price range. I ended up with a Cambre Timber 4-shelf rack for $310 shipped. I missed out on used Samson racks($400+ and a beautiful one at $800). Actually, I purposely skipped the lower priced one due to finances. I did see a couple of Cambre Core racks(solid versus hollow aluminum rods)for sale around $400, but pickup only. I reviewed the Timber rack on Audiogon. For that kind of money, I would want something that claimed some effect on sound quality. Mapleshade's Samson is interesting, or you could build up something from Audiav or Adona(or others). Edensound has a 4-shelf myrtle rack(with solid rods, I believe)for around $380(plus shipping, I would think). You can find their phone number on Audiogon, as they sell their brass footers on Accessories. I have since bought 4-inch Mapleshade amp stands and big brass footers from Edensound. Both of these items added a solidity to the sound. For a cheap tweak, try Eaglesound myrtle feet(which I assume, and they imply, are sized in the Golden ratio) with isonodes underneath(I used the small[32 pounds]ones).

I forgot to mention Steve Blinn Designs racks, which have had a favorable review, and are sold here on Audiogon. I use various tweeks-Adona small brass cones(bottom of rack, and upside down with inserts[for stability]on my Lehmann Black Cube), Isorock Reference 3 prototype(Apl Denon 3910 cd player), Mapleshade rubber/cork/rubber footers, 2-inch maple, and Edensound's big brass footers(under Oritek pre/dac), Mapleshade's 4-inch amp stands with brass feet, and many others. The 4-inch maple and big brass feet give a solidity that may be hard to come by any other way. I am so satisfied with the Eaglesound mytle($3 each)and isonodes(around $15 for 4) that I won't be looking at the approved brass cones for my amps for awhile, and will turn my attention to speaker supports. I think Drubin has it right. If you concentrate on the rack, you can add accessories later. You can look at cheap accessories(or be talked into Edensound's big brass footers)until you understand them better. What would happen if you got the cheap rack, and with good accessories, it still sounded bad?

Hello fellow agoners.I just received an email from someone that read this post regarding a rack he had for sale so I figured I better get over here & update my post.Finally decided to go with the base Adona rack which shot the whole budget but I think it will be worth it.I'll post a review after I get the rack & get it set up.Thanks again everybody.

Great! The Adona people seem pretty knowledgeable, and they were very easy to talk to. I think you did the right thing. The odds of getting a rack to hold your equipment(with no claims of audible improvement)and tweaking it out weren't very good. Now you have a nice place to start. BTW, the Eaglesound myrtle that I mentioned above was actually myrtle from Maprik(on Audiogon). He sells them 3 for $10(shipping is $5).