My current rack is a Monolith by Monoprice Heavy Duty 4 Tier Audio Stand XL. I added the matching single shelf component stand to make it a 5 shelf rack. I filled all the tubes with sandblasting sand and mounted it on Herbie's Audio threaded stud gliders. All components are setting on either Herbie's Tenderfeet or Baby Booties depending on their weight. I have a maple butcher block on top for my turntable. It is a very solid quiet rack with no wiggle at all for under $500!
I like it! Another option... I recently made a wall mount rack getting my equipment off my hardwood floating floor. That floor vibrates so much. I got heavy duty steel brackets from Amazon and 18x24in thick cutting boards from Walmart, I got something spectacular for about 250 bucks.
Appreciate your insights. I've also found the Stack Audio isolation products to be outstanding value for money, delivering surprisingly substantial positive results under my speakers and gear. 👍
Agree to disagree! Of course, every material colors the sound in its own way, just as every speaker manufacturer chooses different materials for the cabinet (wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, etc.). We noticed that more than 20 years ago, so we eliminated the problem: a shelfless rack! Our goal was to be as neutral as possible, and I think we achieved it. I also want to say that we received feedback from some people that the results of our racks were "too neutral." As you say, everyone has their own taste, so chase what you like. That's why we currently have many options, and, against our initial idea, we also manufacture shelves made in different materials for different tastes. It's true that a high-end rack is expensive, but it's the same as every other component. So, I agree with you: choose your preferences wisely, focus on your speakers and electronics, but don't forget about vibration and resonance control. There are many fantastic manufacturers making great products for that (footers, dampers, racks, and so on). Perfection doesn't exist, but if you want to get closer to it, unfortunately, you need to spend a lot of money on every component... and the rack is a very influential one. Please don't misunderstand me. I love your work, but, obviously, this is my field, so I wanted to make a couple of observations. Cheers! 🤘
I agree with you. And you guys make FANTASTIC products. Based on my my experience your racks are outstanding and easily among the best. But there are also very expensive racks I've heard that are merely "OK". Thanks for watching!
@GreekAudioGeek Thank you for your kind words! Our philosophy is to maintain excellent performance, even if we have to sacrifice aesthetics. I understand that an Exoteric rack may not be suitable for everyone's living room. However, that is the price we are willing to pay to achieve the best possible results. Thanks again, and see you around! Eric
Stillpoints are my favorite choice for equipment and speakers (Ultra SSV2). Soundeck for TT player mat and cartridge dampening. Stillpoint V2 record weight on TT.
No mention for RevOpod ? You were so enthusiastic about the product. What you suggest is very true but I assure you that a purposely made audio rack like Critical Mass or alike products will elevate the performance of all your gears by a lot and then you can still fine tune with vibration control footers like the ones you suggested. You don’t know what you miss till you try….😊
My current "best" set up is the Well-float platform with the Graphite Audio footers. It's a slightly different sound that with my current set up I'm really liking.
I don't think my hearing is good enough to tell any difference using vibration control or not. I have a pair of cutting boards and rubber pads under my turntable, though. Forgive my naivety, but how can something that doesn't have any mechanical parts (all electronic) make any noticeable vibration that can be heard by the listener through speakers...just trying to learn something. I had to take the feet off of my amp for it to fit in my $75 Big Lots TV/stereo rack.
Hi Gary - to be sure in a majority of set-ups it's not really noticeable. When you get into higher end gear that is set up to last degree, it is a noticeable difference. The manufacturers do a much better talking about how vibrations affect their gear than I am able to explain. Remember - EVER manufacturer takes some steps to reduce vibration on every piece of hif gear. Some are more successful than other.
Very good video, very down to earth advices... Have you tried to (or will you) put the RevOpods under the Aries Cerat gears? If you plan to try can you make a video to show how you do it / your process? Thanks
Visible cable in my opinion is not beautiful. I made my own with 5cm thickness walnut wood , dubbel box in back side . Like uprightl piano . No cable visible 😊😊😊
My current rack is a Monolith by Monoprice Heavy Duty 4 Tier Audio Stand XL. I added the matching single shelf component stand to make it a 5 shelf rack. I filled all the tubes with sandblasting sand and mounted it on Herbie's Audio threaded stud gliders. All components are setting on either Herbie's Tenderfeet or Baby Booties depending on their weight. I have a maple butcher block on top for my turntable. It is a very solid quiet rack with no wiggle at all for under $500!
Nice!!
Totally agree with the way you approached the subject of vibration control, after countless tests I reached similar conclusions. 👏
I like it! Another option... I recently made a wall mount rack getting my equipment off my hardwood floating floor. That floor vibrates so much. I got heavy duty steel brackets from Amazon and 18x24in thick cutting boards from Walmart, I got something spectacular for about 250 bucks.
DIY can be very rewarding! Thanks for sharing!
Appreciate your insights. I've also found the Stack Audio isolation products to be outstanding value for money, delivering surprisingly substantial positive results under my speakers and gear. 👍
Thanks for sharing!
Fully agree with this advice.
watch out for the albino boa constrictor behind you're audio-rack
Very nice, thanks.
It would have been nice to put in the description the links to the 3 products you show. ;)
Agree to disagree! Of course, every material colors the sound in its own way, just as every speaker manufacturer chooses different materials for the cabinet (wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, etc.).
We noticed that more than 20 years ago, so we eliminated the problem: a shelfless rack! Our goal was to be as neutral as possible, and I think we achieved it.
I also want to say that we received feedback from some people that the results of our racks were "too neutral." As you say, everyone has their own taste, so chase what you like. That's why we currently have many options, and, against our initial idea, we also manufacture shelves made in different materials for different tastes.
It's true that a high-end rack is expensive, but it's the same as every other component. So, I agree with you: choose your preferences wisely, focus on your speakers and electronics, but don't forget about vibration and resonance control. There are many fantastic manufacturers making great products for that (footers, dampers, racks, and so on).
Perfection doesn't exist, but if you want to get closer to it, unfortunately, you need to spend a lot of money on every component... and the rack is a very influential one.
Please don't misunderstand me. I love your work, but, obviously, this is my field, so I wanted to make a couple of observations. Cheers! 🤘
I agree with you. And you guys make FANTASTIC products.
Based on my my experience your racks are outstanding and easily among the best.
But there are also very expensive racks I've heard that are merely "OK".
Thanks for watching!
@GreekAudioGeek Thank you for your kind words! Our philosophy is to maintain excellent performance, even if we have to sacrifice aesthetics. I understand that an Exoteric rack may not be suitable for everyone's living room. However, that is the price we are willing to pay to achieve the best possible results.
Thanks again, and see you around!
Eric
Stillpoints are my favorite choice for equipment and speakers (Ultra SSV2). Soundeck for TT player mat and cartridge dampening. Stillpoint V2 record weight on TT.
I've heard good things about them but haven't yet tried them.
No mention for RevOpod ?
You were so enthusiastic about the product.
What you suggest is very true but I assure you that a purposely made audio rack like Critical Mass or alike products will elevate the performance of all your gears by a lot and then you can still fine tune with vibration control footers like the ones you suggested.
You don’t know what you miss till you try….😊
My current "best" set up is the Well-float platform with the Graphite Audio footers. It's a slightly different sound that with my current set up I'm really liking.
Could you write me the name of the brand of "sound chaos" islolators you are speaking about, please ?
[EDIT] : found : its SOUND KAOS VIBRA 68.
I don't think my hearing is good enough to tell any difference using vibration control or not. I have a pair of cutting boards and rubber pads under my turntable, though. Forgive my naivety, but how can something that doesn't have any mechanical parts (all electronic) make any noticeable vibration that can be heard by the listener through speakers...just trying to learn something. I had to take the feet off of my amp for it to fit in my $75 Big Lots TV/stereo rack.
Hi Gary - to be sure in a majority of set-ups it's not really noticeable.
When you get into higher end gear that is set up to last degree, it is a noticeable difference.
The manufacturers do a much better talking about how vibrations affect their gear than I am able to explain. Remember - EVER manufacturer takes some steps to reduce vibration on every piece of hif gear. Some are more successful than other.
Very good video, very down to earth advices... Have you tried to (or will you) put the RevOpods under the Aries Cerat gears? If you plan to try can you make a video to show how you do it / your process? Thanks
RevoPods are 👌🏻
Hi - I did try the Revopods under all my gear. I have found one that seems to be a better match for my current gear - the IC-35's from Graphite Audio.
There are indeed far less expensive ways to isolate gear.
Nordost sort cones
Visible cable in my opinion is not beautiful. I made my own with 5cm thickness walnut wood , dubbel box in back side . Like uprightl piano . No cable visible 😊😊😊
When you have gear and cables coming in as much as I do, playing pretty-cable is not realistic. Thanks for watching.