New audio component coming in!

Alright, I did listening last night. Stayed in the room for 3 hours, for some reason I was still up at 6am.

I didn’t really expect anything other than maybe some breathing room for my components.

I don’t know why but what I noticed was a very significant improvement in imaging (and sound stage details and clarity).

But really imaging. Vertical imaging and density. Normally I have tried to mitigate any unusually tall imaging with ceiling traps, and improved wire (wel) and equipment (arc pre, etc).

But even at its best I still noted a slight diffuseness to the vertical height of let’s say, a vocalist/singer.

But with the rack, I can’t wrap my brain around the fact that track after track, the imaging is tighter and the vertical image errors that I have heard is no longer present.

I have no idea how it is doing this and I have no idea that this was going to be the result of the scuttle.

I advise people who are looking at isolation components, to make sure pursue it. It reminds me of the cable debate. Once you hear it, you know.

It really is that significant.

And I had a VTI rack which utilized some isolation pads between the steel shelf and mdf shelves and used spikes between all shelf levels.

Very odd.

Clipdat wrote: »

Going from a VTI to this is like going from a Honda Civic to a Ferrari 458, so yeah I would hope there would be a noticeable difference!

Thanks for the mini review and do keep us updated as to how it sounds in the coming days/weeks. Since it's a natural wood product I assume it will take some time for it to settle/adjust to the humidity, etc.

I’ll take some better pics and I’m going to do some experiments with vibration control.

The way it is constructed is very interesting.

spongebobsquarepants wrote: »

I was just looking at the SRA website because of this thread, and they make some cool stuff!

Their isolation bases under the speakers seem interesting.

What've you got under your speakers now?

I didn’t know they made speaker bases.

I have SRA Ohio class XL amp stands for my old Cary monoblocks. Sold the Cary and kept the amp stands cuz they were awesome.
I would love to have a stand made for the Boulder...

... but take one look at the price and it makes me have palpitations.

@gyosa
I wanna know too. I had zero expectations and it just jumped out at me. Either I’ve gone crazy or...

Just got home from work

Took some photos showing the detail.

You can see how the edges don’t actually touch. There is also this odd jelly like spacer between the shelves and a blue absorbent unit between the vertical and horizontal supports.

In the rear there is this granite like horizontally oriented support across.

The shelf is not wood, it’s a composite.

The ply supports are rounded off in each of the peekaboo views from the side. It feels smooth to the touch, I believe there’s a poly finish on it.

It moves side to side, up and down, back and forward if you push on the individual racks.

It’s impressive. Almost makes it worth the asking.

Doing some crude tests. Water bottle on Scuttle, water bottle on 250lb Boulder, water bottle on SRA Ohio class XL amp stand.

You can see vibration based on clarity of the water surface.

In comparison:

Vti rack had absolutely minimal isolation. Each step vibrated.

Then tried carpet floor only.

Appeared better than VTI rack.

I wonder if the vibrations are attenuated by the height of the rack.

Would need to do measurements with time to decay and maybe a laser vibrometer to be more accurate.

Needless to say: conclusion, vti rack did nothing.