Experience with Sistrum or Grand Prix Monaco rack?

Thanks Warren, Tim and Flex. I have seen the Rix Rax and they are beautiful. I have also considered Zoethecus. I am using the Steelhead but NOT for the AA. I will probably be getting a switch box from Jennifer like Mike LaVigne uses. I got rid of my Lamm L2 Reference preamp (a very nice preamp) when I went direct from the AA into the amps and everything improved. Thus, I also sold my Aesthetix Io Signature w/dual power supplies and my Lamm LP2 because they did not have a volume control - and went to the Steelhead. BUT, I have been having a problem with compatibility between the Steelhead and the Lamms (the new Steelhead blows the fuses in the Lamms when turned on [it doesn't just engage the protection circuitry - it blows the fuses] - even without the table/arm connected, even with the volume all the way down and even with the "mute" engaged).

Manley is stumped, Lamm blames the Manley and I am frustrated. Andy Payor and I both think it may be a supersonic oscillation but I do not have an oscilliscope to test it. Then, my Colibri [which I bought a year ago but have only heard it for about 50 hours on my VPI TNT] blew a channel [coil went out] and is back in Germany getting repaired. Needless to say I was so frustrated I put the whole analog rig up for sale [I have been without analog since April - it HURTS to see that Rockport just sit there witout hearing what it can do!!]. But my good [and ever so patient] friends Jonathan Tinn and Mike LaVigne have been urging me to wait until I hear the Rockport to decide whether to sell it. Good advice as always.

So, if I keep the Rockport, and at CES I like the Kharma Midi-Grands [yes, I know they are in horrible show conditions] as much as a NUMBER of people I know [who have heard or owned some of the best speakers available] have, I will buy them next week. I will also be looking at the Wilson Watt Puppy 7s, the Antares, the Dynaudio Evidence Temptation, the Accapellas, the Komris and the Verity Lohengrin (sp), etc. but, based on what characteristics I value in a speaker and what, anecdotally, I think I will like, the Kharmas are the odds on favorite at this early point (Jonathan buddy, ya haven't been wrong yet!).

If I sell the Rockport (and go down to a much lesser degree of table), I may buy the Kharma Exquisites if I like the Midi-Grands and if I get the privilege of hearing Mike's system. But, at this point, I am fairly sure I will keep the Rockport.

If I get the Kharmas, I will then seriously consider the 75 watt Tenors or the new 300 watt Tenor hybrids that will be introduced at CES [and assume that the new amps will not be incompatible with the Manley as a number of Tenor owners use the Steelhead].

So, this is why I would like to get some new racks. My main concern in a rack or amp stand is the sonics but would love it if they looked nice too (like the Rix Rax). I must admit though, the materials used, the degree of isolation and the philosophy of the Monaco and Apex (and the Sistrum) seemed interesting to me. I am also very interested in Kevin Tellecamp's Silent Running isolation bases.

I need a doctor!

Thanks again and anything else you can think of is always appreciated.

Frank

Turn your head and cough.......now say aaaaaaaahhh.

......and don't forget to take ALL your meds.

:^)

Frank, i'll see you at CES.

Sistrum rack all the way for me. My previous rack was a high mass clamp rack marketed by Michael Green . The Sistrum has made everything better, most of all dynamically coherent. The clamp rack made everything quiet but all the much darker at the same time. I suppose it killed the micro-dynamics of the real thing. Sistrum seems to reduce the noise floor to the subterranean level while laying bare the hidden level of before unheard texture and soundstage detail. This rack allows quick and easy comparisons of equipment as well as changing out of cables. Strategic placement of the adjustable points under each component makes for further sonic enhancement while at the same time shows you the true meaning of the science of resonance transfer. I have this stand between my speakers. Sistrum rack does not inhibit my center stage. Could Sistrum by its physcial design of resonance transfer serve to be the foundation of a better and more focal center stage? I feel this may be so. Tom

Frank, I have Tenor amps and the monoblocks fit and sit perfectly on the Grand Prix amp stands. I also have the Monaco rack. You will not find a better built rack than this. If you look at the specs on the rack, the shelf is well supported and any component that you put on it will be stable. Read all the very positive reviews on it. Call Alvin at Grand Prix and talk to him. He is a pleasure to deal with. With this rack you do not need any other isolation product under your components. I have not tried the Apex in place of the spikes yet. I also looked into the Sistrum rack. After much research and talking to both Alvin and Robert about their products, I went with the Monaco. I am very pleased with it and will not replace it.

Frank,
FWIW I'll offer these comments, since you've asked for comparative experience. I own Zoethecus and have been looking at/trying Grand Prix. My system is entirely different from yours, fast SS and a little analytic. I also have raised hardwood flooring with area rugs (racks are on the hardwood flooring). The Zoethecus racks give a degree of bloom and color to the sound. You can read bloom as smear if you like, but that's a relative judgement, since the system has good prat though I have heard it bettered somewhat (on prat) with Neuance. Grand Prix gives a very tight, coherent sound with no added bloom, several degrees more coherent than Zoethecus. With a fast SS system that can track the coherency, the differences in the two racks are quite pronounced. Also, the Grand Prix is not made of maple so it lacks the maple warmth that comes with Zoeth. My main concern with Grand Prix is simply to make sure that the high degree of coherency does not create a sound which seems thinner and less musical to you; but I doubt that it will do that in a tubed system, and I don't have enough experience with it yet to determine that it does this with SS.
BTW, since you're going to CES, you might ask the Grand Prix reps about the issue of weight distribution on the triangular shelves. I seriously doubt that they haven't given it thought, and the shelves are matched in thickness to the component weight anyway.