Audio rack

04-16-07: Audiotomb
salamander are nice, look good and are flexible to upgrade but not true audiophile for isolation

Tom's right.

Replace the Salamander stock shelves with two (or three, or four) custom sized Neuance shelves ($220/ea) under your source and preamp or integrated amp, put sorbothane between the shelf supports and shelves and under the remaining components ($40), and for an additional $490 you have excellent isolation and unbeatable flexibility.

Of course, it's substantially over the $200-$500 budget.

IMO, if you have to choose what to isolate, then concentrate on your sources, followed by any tubed components. You're better off spending the entire budget providing excellent isolation on your primary source component than you are spending the money on a mediocre rack that will not provide sufficient isolation for any of the components.

3/4-10 threaded brass rods and jam nuts.Sheves of wood between 2-4" and a good set of feet.Many retailers carry 1.5-2" tubing to match decor.Then fill with lead (the tubes hiding the 3/4 rods).Allow enough room for components and upgrade room.

A friend and I made mine, cost less then $100 for material and can be viewed on my system pics.