Need advice concerning audio cabinet shelves

 Millercarbon

I appreciate your opinion and advice but I decided to go with maple shelves. I agree with all that the glass shelves need to go. I was reading that glass also has reflective properties that might add unwanted sounds. I can always experiment with tweaks later.

I received a great deal from shop in Ohio. All 3 shelves will be cut to my specifications and all sides routed and sanded. I will apply my own finishing. 
Thanks again

My maple platforms are from Timbernation and are heavy. Maple doesn't impart any colouration to the music. The theory of draining vibration in your setup (and mine) is to use a hard substance (DH Cones) on top of the platform
with a soft compliable substance under the platform. This isolates the component and platform from the audio rack.

The negative reaction to glass shelving is overstated.  I speculate that it comes from hearing cheap racks with thin glass sheets.  Thick glass, at least 1/2 inch, makes for a fine rack material if used with rubber, cork or sorbothane isolation.  Is it as good as carbon fiber?  No, but it's as good as MDF or comparable thick maple.

@lowrider57 

I plan to use the DH cones once again with the maple shelves. I’ve tried various footers from Herbies , Synergistic, etc but found the DH cones to more detailed and a tighter bass. 
@onhwy61 

I purchased this rack years ago from Best Buy and it wasn’t expensive. It was initially used to support a TV and a surround amp. The glass is only 1/4” thick so I guess it’s not the best rack material. I only became aware of isolation over the past 10 years or so from reading these forums. Now that I’m retired, I’m trying different tweaks to get the best sound I can from my system. 
I look forward to hearing any differences with the maple shelves. If not, it’s just another audio adventure that started back in 74. 

@onhwy61 , I'll go one step further. The only problem with glass is that it is very hard and will make a loud rattle against any hardware if not seated perfectly and felt or rubber pads are not used at the points of contact. The only piece of equipment that is certainly vibration sensitive is the poorly suspended turntable. You could make an argument for disc transports but that is it. Electrons could not care less about vibration at audio frequencies. If they did F22 Raptors would be crashing all over the place and Apollo would have never made it to the moon. For those of you not familiar with the F22 it is entirely dependent on computers for flight control. No computers means time to hit the ejector switch as 20 billion dollars of your money heads careening to earth.

Having said all that I am not a fan of glass shelves or knock down racks of any type. In comparison to a solid built in cabinet they are all flimsy. What happens if you bump against your rack with the turntable playing?
You could run into a proper cabinet and even an LP 12 wouldn't skip.
Heavy is certainly better but it will not protect you like solid location in space. I have seen many turntables skip on granite.  Carbon fiber? In airplanes, bicycles and bows certainly but for shelves? Who needs a shelf to be light? If you like the look you can get faux carbon fiber and save a lot of money. Wood is pretty and well damped. Plywood is stiffer, lighter and stronger than MDF. It is much easier to work in wood and do custom things than other materials. Unfortunately, most commercially available wood racks and cabinets are Knockdown designs which can not be made as sturdily as a permanently glued together job. Support your local cabinet maker. 

This isolation business has gotten way out of hand. Mechanical isolation applies to mechanical devices. Electrons could care less.
  
Now I'll duck and let the mythology fanboys have at it. Get out your Schumann Resonators and dance to the Be Bop Tango.