equipment interface to rack tweaks


I just purchased a new Polycrystal Rack and am finding it a bit too detailed as compared to my old rack which is a Roomtunes Deluxe Justarack. It is lacking in warmth but not in overall bass extension. The reason for the change was that I ran out of room and decided to replace a Standesign three shelf unit and I figured on moving the Roomtunes rack over and use the new Polycrystal rack as my main system. The equipment I use with this is a VAC Renaissance preamp, VAC PA100 amp, Linn Karek and Numeric cd transport and dac. Most of the cabling is Audio Magic and the speakers are Nautilus 802's.
I remember a previous thread mentioning the John Boos butcher boards and and tried these under the various components. First under the cd transport, better, but not as good as a small cheese cutting board that has four little rubber feet, under the dac I felt the sound stage lost focus. It was better directly on the shelf. With the board under the preamp I felt is a step in the right direction and under the amp a step back much in the same way I felt as under the dac. I also tried some different rubber footers I have on hand and this was definitly the wrong way to go as it decreased image focus, bass extension, and top end extension.
So basically, I'm looking for other suggestions than what I tried so far. I'm thinking of maybe a Symposium shelf under the transport or a Bright Star box. I don't know how brass cones would interface with the Polycrystal shelf. I know it would be a problem under the Linn gear because they don't weigh much and require a hefty push on the power switch. I'd like a little advice from experienced tweakers or someone with some Polycrystal experience.
Maybe I'll get used to the change after awhile but I really liked the way it sounded before, or the last option would be to move the Roomtunes rack back and use it.
rhljazz

Showing 2 responses by rhljazz

Last night I swapped everything back to the Justarack and that is the sound that works for me and I can now see that no amount of tweaking on the Polycrystal rack will result in the sound that I crave. This system just sounds so good I can't wait to get off work to sit back and listen. If it isn't broke don't muck it up applies here.
I'll swap the position of the racks back and set up my secondary system (basically my old system) which is Classe DR5 preamp, a pair of DR8 amps, and Sony X7ESD driving Green Mountain Diamantes and see how that works out, hopefully it will be an improvement in that system, if not back to the drawing board.
I realize that many of you that have responded to the various questions on racks favor the Sistrum racks but I would be reluctant to place my gear on those sharp spikes. I also question how a piece of gear, say a preamp is designed and voiced must sit on something, (workbench, granite slab, butcher block, whatever) that this voicing would change sitting atop spikes unless it was originally designed that way. I have not questioned Kevin Hayes as to what he uses for a platform and the only website I've run across that even addresses this issue is Joule Electra which states and depicts the equipment on maple slabs.
I don't know that there is one "correct" way to accomodate equipment other than what sounds best to the individual. As Sean noted, he found the bass ill defined and muddy with the Justarack and my experience is exactly opposite.
Thanks for the responses.
My rack has the optional brass spikes but I have never seen the threaded rods or hardware in brass.