Anybody use HRS EXR racks -any feedback (or maybe lack thereof lol)?


I have a techdas air force turntable- and its not on a specialized rack. It’s on a small butcher block isolation platform, which is sitting on a console table. I’ve noticed the turntable is very sensitive to vibration and it’s been recommended that I bite the bullet and finally get a high-quality audio rack. The HRS EXR Was recommended. Comes with a huge price tag, but I’ve read people saying there is an improvement in sound When using higher tier equipment racks. I was curious if anybody here had experience using these racks or anything similar and if they have noticed improve improvements - which have made it worthwhile. Thanks. 

inthesticks

@mulveling I should add, in addition to the ERX rack, an S3 isolation shelf add-on is proposed specifically for the techdas turntable.

If it’s like my experience with Critical Mass Black Platinum / Diamond / Maxxum shelves (i.e. rigid, or semi-rigid constrained layer damping in multiple layers) - an S3 would help mainly in the midrange frequencies and up (yes the CMS shelves were effective here). I suspect it will not be very effective at isolating LF / bass energy (rocking modes), if that’s in fact your problem here. But the HRS’s rack structure itself should help you a lot - just make sure it’s located on very sturdy ground. Ideal if you’re on concrete slab - and I think that’s where a topper shelf like the S3 could really shine. 

IMO whomever is advising and suggesting HRS should also be taking your floor structure and rack positioning into account. This is already way WAY too much investment for feedback problems to be acceptable! I got burned bad on the CMS Sotto Voce, what a horrible product - rocks like a bastard, makes the expensive platforms resonate like a drum skin; I could go on. I also have their CMS Maxxum (different system), which is completely different to SV and works very very well, but costs a LOT (was it really worth it)?

If your floor is bouncy and your problem is woofer flapping (subsonic), a cheap hack you can do is to brace the rack against (or anchor it to) a wall. You can even just push it up against the wall with some foam between. At some point if your floor is really bad, you'll need to do this - no matter how rigid and massive your rack is. This made my SV usable, though in the end it's still better to do this with a properly rigid rack. 

HRS isolation bases do broadband or low frequency isolation, depending on the feet that are configured when ordering. My M3X2 was factory configured with the correct feet specifically for my turntable. HRS states the LF feet isolate components from below 10 Hz to above 40 kHz.

@mulveling Is absolutely correct in his proposal to look into having a Support Structure that is rigidly locked in place, and a local wall with a Isolation between wall and rack is an ideal place to start with. It will most likely be all that is required in certain environments with a certain type of TT in use.

I have a Rack seated on a purpose produce Base that is built from 4 Tiers of Materials. The Rack is rigidly locked in place. The TT is mounted on a Purpose Built Sub Plinth Assembly that is also a multi tier design.

Aesthetically the tiered platforms at both base and under TT could be tidied up a little bit, but I like the honesty of it, and to let others see how easy it is to put in place a design that has a real impact. My tiered supports are photographed to record their structural configuration as much as my system is by visitors.

As said I believe there is enough in place to create a very positive impression, and not having spent any where near the monies these commercial offering command.

Also interesting to see how large monetary outlays to acquire a rack, has not been delivering a satisfying experience when put to use in a certain type of environment with a certain type of TT.

With a TT, it is not typical that a design used as a supporting structure is ubiquitous in its values/failures when used in a variance of locations.           

I've only heard good things about them. Cable Company is a dealer. I would call them and see if they can send you a demo. It looks like if you take it apart, it will probably fit into a box that's fairly manageable. It takes away all the risk if you can try the rack first. 

@mulveling 

To clarify - I’m not experiencing feedback issues with my setup. In fact the sound is very good.

The main issue is external vibrations that cause skipping based on the sensitivity of my cart (DS Audio W3) - its a very light cart, amazing sound but it requires proper stability.

Since I dont use any purpose-built audio racks, this would be my first. Based on the level of equipment I have, the HRS is the primary recommendation. The fallback would be something from Solid Steel.