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Wood v. Metal for stands. Is there a clear winner?


I'm pretty sure there is no clear cut answer. however I thought to inquire as to what most sound junkies dig best. Metal stands and racks, OR wooden products? Or a combination of the two?

My own needs revolve about a floor which is not on a solid foundation, a thin wallet, and the desire to not compromise things entirely by being cheap. so spending some in the right areas seems the right thing for me.

But items like the Isis, Pagote, Particular, and those of that 4 digit ilk are likely past me.

I'm torn between a couple wooden amp stands, in addition to the Solidsteel 5.2 or 6.2 (in pairs) to hold rotating junk on one, and preamp and DAC on the other... or is that idea overkill?

All experiences and thoughts are most welcome... and needed.

There simply must be a solidly senseible solution which doesn't bust the bank but sure holds it's own against heftier competition.

Thanks in advance.
blindjim
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Found some cheap ($120) steel stands and filled them with sand. IMO worth the same as $1,000 stands when sand filled. Got three. one for the Plasma etc. one for the stereo stuff and one for the TT's (added patio bricks to add mass to the TT stand) fine for me at a cheap price, and good enough on a sonic level.
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
If you're handy and have the time and inclination you could build something like these (sand filled "seismic sink" isolation shelves). I don't have any schematics or details, but you should be able to figure it out from the pictures - I did.

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/i/f/1155818474.jpg

Enjoy,
Bob
blindjim OP
2,837 posts
 

Elizabeth - David12 - Ptmconsulting

Check and many thanks. Not a lot of $$$ does it take to address resonances appropriately. it does however take a lot of investigation as to which gizmo serves which scenario. Some want us to believe it to be otherwise however.

Certainly, were I better off ducketwise, I'd lay some long green out for esthetics and technology. It's the American way to aid the economy. Though I feel another principle is more germaine here, "ingenuity". Simple usually serves best.

I'm getting the notion "mass" often is a good thing in a rack/stand. Damping as well is important. Isolation is I guess, dependant upon the components integration onto the rack/stand.

That seems the part of the puzzle that is far more vague.

One other thought here is this: "What sound does Maple have?"
blindjim OP
2,837 posts
 
For closure' sake... I decided upon doing both. metal rack... wood platforms... and compositie iso footers.
dpac996's avatar
dpac996
433 posts
 
DAvid12
"Glass for racks sound good on first audition, but it is all colouration."

ROFLMAO

I have a rack where the amp sits on heavy composite wood, but the preamp, cdp, etc sit on frosted safety glass. I guess the glass adds second order distortion, and the frosting adds maybe a touch more creaminess to the sound... go figure.

I guess the glass on the tubes explains why they sound so good, at first, second, and extended listening sessions...
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