Are racks important for your system?

[beerdraft]

Okay, I had a all Mcintosh system before C500T, Mc2301's, well not all Mcintosh cdp was Classe then Esoteric, and speakers B&W802D then Wilson Sasha. All the while I had some fabulous racks custom made that were great. That said they were just racks. I got something today in that is more than just a rack. I got the Critical Mass Systems Platinum racks. It warns you that upon first putting them together that they will sound listenable and ok but they will change undeniably over the next 300 hours or so and at times may not be listenable during this time. Well at first listen it was astounding the difference. The stage was definitely more transparent. The biggest thing I got right away was the bottom end got even better which I had no problem with the bottom before, thought it was as good as I had heard, then the "ch", the "T" and the "S" of everything had a chhht or a tee' or a sssts to it so to speak that I'm not sure I heard anywhere else ever before so nice except in Glenn Poors Audio when I heard the Sasha for the first time and the equipment was on Critical Mass System Racks. This is one of the things that made me sell my entire system was the explanation point on everything. The BAT stuff over the Mcintosh and Wilson Sasha over the B&W got me somewhat there but this rack is the final piece to the puzzle of sound. I'm just at the beginning the break in which they say is a good chance to listen now but be prepared for it to change for the better or the worse over the next 300 hours till it settles in. In the bass guitar I hear more of the upper frequency rattle of strumming of the string of a bass guitar. Its very hard to explain but everything just got naturally beautiful even more so. My pre is tube and my amps are solid state but these racks just made it as good and airy but more natural than any tube sound I've ever heard and the emphasis of the above is more so than I think I've ever heard in any sound system ever but if you hear it live you do hear that stuff. If this stays as it is or gets even better then this will be the best $17k I've spent for sure. As I try to explain this to and you will have to forgive me as I know you don't know me that well but my audio buddies know I'm not so brite and I don't know the audio terms a lot of people know but I do know what and how to listen and I'm telling you that these racks made an immediate improvement over my previous racks and to explain it is hard for me but to hear it is easy.

[vintage_tube]

Since they make more than one ......what model, # of shelves, height......details.

[beerdraft]

It is the Platinum series which is for critical listening then there other ones I believe are for more home theater. The spacing is I think 10 or 12 inches between shelves to give the REX plenty of vent room since it runs very hot. 3 Tier and then the 2 amp stands. I will try to post a pic right here in a minute if I can find me camera. These have bearings and machined holes for them to sit in and a machined cup to go over them which floats so to speak over the bearing then the filtering shelf sits over the cup. Its to late to get a pic of that now but I can once broken in I can remove the top shelf to get a pic and put it back.

[vintage_tube]

Posted these pictures of Neals' (beerdraft) racks on his behalf. Pretty.

[vintage_tube]

More from Neal

[beerdraft]

Thats awesome Bob, thanks for posting those for me. I just couldn't figure it out.

[Fanaticalism]

I just have one question. How does a rack change the sound? How do you know the sound has changed if they state 300 hours?

I love a nice rack as much as the next guy (which these undoubtedly are), but it seems to me that companies that know a thing or two about pshycoacoustics always fall upon the "you have to wait a couple 100 hours to notice the difference".

The subjectivity of this hobby is what we all enjoy, but objectivity is also important.

[f1 fan]

Neal,

Great looking system you have. The new racks are awesome looking. Keep us posted with your findings.




Dave

[thughes]

Neal,

Is this system in the same place your old system was? It looks like you have made considerable changes to the room.

Terry

[beerdraft]

Originally Posted by Fanaticalism

I just have one question. How does a rack change the sound? How do you know the sound has changed if they state 300 hours?

I love a nice rack as much as the next guy (which these undoubtedly are), but it seems to me that companies that know a thing or two about pshycoacoustics always fall upon the "you have to wait a couple 100 hours to notice the difference".

The subjectivity of this hobby is what we all enjoy, but objectivity is also important.

I would agree with this before this purchase 100%. When I first heard about these racks, I said "no way I would spend that kind of $$$ on racks". Well the curiosity got to me so what the heck... Isolation and vibration tweaks are expensive in there own right and I was looking to buy some to put through out my entire system that was like $700 for a set of three but these racks eliminates the need for that so that was a deciding factor for me. Immediate improvement was great as stated above. I will keep a listen as this process developes and post the facts for sure. I'm skeptical as well but hearing will be believing either way.