WHF equipment rack reviews

[steve_1979]

So... Er... WHF's new review of the Hi-Fi Racks Grand Stand equipment rack eh?

When they compared it to an Atacama rack they found that the "soundscape is clearly more open and, as we listen on, the music tends to knit better rhythmically and in terms of organisation."

Riiiight.

 

[Jota180]

How quickly can you switch a system from one rack to another to accurately remember what each sounds like?

 

[Blacksabbath25]

I want a Hifi rack myself but not sure which one to go for as i only have 2 separates but can not believe the prices of this racks I mean £500 for a Hifi rack is it worth it ?

 

[Andrewjvt]

3 - 4 seconds to change racks who else thinks this is bs

 

[Jota180]

3 - 4 seconds to change racks who else thinks this is bs

It would take longer just to connect a CD player to an amp.

 

[DIB]

I want a Hifi rack myself but not sure which one to go for as i only have 2 separates but can not believe the prices of this racks I mean £500 for a Hifi rack is it worth it ?

Get on Gumtree, hundreds on there going for a song.

.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

Although I bought a atacama eris in the summer and lovely in dark bamboo as it is...I still couldn't say that there is any improvement in music playback over my old £90 argos special.lol.but it is solid and better for my turntable than the cheaper unit,also there is a certain feeling of pride of ownership.But I definitely think it's another case of snake oil when reviews start to tell us how different they sound.Although I'm certain over on the naim forum I'd be told different and that fraim is needed for higher end kit..OK if you like to spend the price of a good amp on equipment support i suppose.

 

[macdiddy]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NKZET68?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

for £41 you can't go wrong, solid and sturdy, looks good to me and just what I needed to display my ever expanding list of ebay purchases, indeed my naim cd5 looks great sitting pride of place on the top shelf.

*music2*

 

[drummerman]

I want a Hifi rack myself but not sure which one to go for as i only have 2 separates but can not believe the prices of this racks I mean £500 for a Hifi rack is it worth it ?

Dunno and personally I have not tried to compare any hifi racks but my Cyrus Hark Mk1 rack is (to me) a work of art and looks gorgeous with the little boxes. It did I think cost around 500 quid new but as anything, you can pick up second hand racks much cheaper.

Bearing in mind you probably have to look at the thing every time you listen to music (and even when you're not) I think its a good idea to go for something aesthetically pleasing whatever the claims are.

 

[philpot1001]

Just bear in mind you can only use the Hark rack with the Cyrus gear (or mini form factor separates)....i think?

Personally i think wood is the best material for racks as it damps a lot of the vibrations. Ive heard that metal and glass racks "can" negatviely affect the sound quality, which makes sense as it will pass the vibrations through it efficiently. FWIW i dont have a dedicated rack, ive got mine on a the rack bit of meaty wooden TV unit and im happy with it (hides the cables well too). "IF" i do ever get a rack it will probably be a "HiFiRacks.co.uk" jobber.

 

[spiny norman]

3 - 4 seconds to change racks who else thinks this is bs

It would take longer just to connect a CD player to an amp.

They probably used two identical set-ups, one on each rack, to ensure instant and meaningful comparisons could be made.

Yeah. Sure.

 

[drummerman]

Just bear in mind you can only use the Hark rack with the Cyrus gear (or mini form factor separates)....i think?

Personally i think wood is the best material for racks as it damps a lot of the vibrations. Ive heard that metal and glass racks "can" negatviely affect the sound quality, which makes sense as it will pass the vibrations through it efficiently. FWIW i dont have a dedicated rack, ive got mine on a the rack bit of meaty wooden TV unit and im happy with it (hides the cables well too). "IF" i do ever get a rack it will probably be a "HiFiRacks.co.uk" jobber.

Correct.

 

[Vladimir]

They used a SS integrated amp and CDP. At least if it was valves and TT we could ascribe some of the review findings to microphonics.

Hmmm.... Haymarket. What sort of 'hay' are they smoking?

 

[Blacksabbath25]

but how do you test a wooden hifi rack plug it in *scratch_one-s_head*

 

[TrevC]

but how do you test a wooden hifi rack plug it in *scratch_one-s_head*

You check it's made well. What you don't do is waste time listening to it!

 

[spiny norman]

What you don't do is waste time listening to it!

Or if you do, first listen to both the wooden rack and the one to which you're comparing it without any equipment on it, just to get a baseline for your auditioning.

Set them up one by one in the listening room (don't have both in the room together, as they can affect each other), leave them for a day or two to let the spikes run in on your floor or through your carpet, and then after this period re-check the tightness of the spikes and any fittings holding the stands together. Then just listen to them, as they are, with no equipment on them.

That's the only way to know the effect of the racks alone, without the confusion created by the characteristics of specific items of equipment on them. ;-)

 

[spiny norman]

What you don't do is waste time listening to it!

Or if you do, first listen to both the wooden rack and the one to which you're comparing it without any equipment on it, just to get a baseline for your auditioning.

Set them up one by one in the listening room (don't have both in the room together, as they can affect each other), leave them for a day or two to let the spikes run in on your floor or through your carpet, and then after this period re-check the tightness of the spikes and any fittings holding the stands together. Then just listen to them, as they are, with no equipment on them.

That's the only way to know the effect of the racks alone, without the confusion created by the characteristics of specific items of equipment on them. ;-)

 

[MeanandGreen]

The magazine really is a waste of paper, haven't bought it since the 90's. The reviews I've read here on the website are nothing more than made up noncence. It's been highlighted before that the exact same reviews word for word have been published for different products.

How about checking the reviews when we next need a new HDMI cable, some of these cables produce much blacker blacks and more vivid colours apparently! *scratch_one-s_head*

 

[steve_1979]

They used a SS integrated amp and CDP. At least if it was valves and TT we could ascribe some of the review findings to microphonics.

My thoughts exactly. If they tested racks with record players that would make sense.

As far as CD players and solid state amps (and probably even tube amps too in real world listening tests) all that matters is the price, asthetics and build quality because the rack is obviously going to make no difference to the sound.

 

[Andrewjvt]

3 - 4 seconds to change racks who else thinks this is bs

It would take longer just to connect a CD player to an amp.

They probably used two identical set-ups, one on each rack, to ensure instant and meaningful comparisons could be made.

Yeah. Sure.

For sure lol

 

[Andrewjvt]

How does a rack score only 3 stars?

If its badly built and woobles or over priced but please d9nt describe how it sounds or makes the equipment sound as a new thread will start about a possible upgrade and it will get bit chy and end in seahorses

 

[spiny norman]

it will get bit chy and end in seahorses

Makes more sense to me than tha original review! ;-)

 

[steve_1979]

How does a rack score only 3 stars?

It lost out on 2 stars because the rack doesnt "knit better rhythmically in terms of organisation."

Whatever that means in some bizzare alternative WHF universe.

 

[spiny norman]

It lost out on 2 stars because the rack doesnt "knit better rhythmically in terms of organisation."

Whatever that means in some bizzare alternative WHF universe.

Ah, so it's a knit-rack, not a kit-rack. ;-) Does Amnesty International know the language is being tortured so cruelly?

 

[Al ears]

It lost out on 2 stars because the rack doesnt "knit better rhythmically in terms of organisation."

Whatever that means in some bizzare alternative WHF universe.

Ah, so it's a knit-rack, not a kit-rack. ;-) Does Amnesty International know the language is being tortured so cruelly?

I think they should be told. 🙂

I have a HiFi Racks rack but this one is considerably more expensive.