Hifi Rack

[magma]

@kalyanvizag
thank you

 

[madbullram]

Magma: Looks really sexy, after long time I am using this word to describe an AV Rack. Good to read that its aint just sexy but intelligent with isolation built into it.

Does having a glass based rack affect SQ if placed in between speakers?

 

[santhosh]

My new amp. stands as designed, executed and delivered by Magma. As always superb workmanship and rather good looking. I provided the MDF shelves soon to be upgraded to rosewood.

Sure Magma - Actually I am having the same problem - finding larger sizes. A friend of mine who has a coffee estate and has rosewood trees offered to get the shelves made for me - but felling a rosewood tree even if it is on your own land apparently takes a bit of paperwork - so I am waiting to hear back from him.

Rosewood is getting rarer by the day. Even I suspect you may not get a single piece of 24 inches depth/breadth.....length should not be a problem. If you are alright with Burma Teak, it is still available in these sizes.

OT: I love rosewood too and was lucky to chance upon an antique Rosewood swing (60 inches x 14 inches) for 9k a few months ago.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/santhoshl/Backyard Project/IMG00009-20101120-2037.jpg

 

[sidvee]

Rosewood is getting rarer by the day. Even I suspect you may not get a single piece of 24 inches depth/breadth.....length should not be a problem. If you are alright with Burma Teak, it is still available in these sizes.

OT: I love rosewood too and was lucky to chance upon an antique Rosewood swing (60 inches x 14 inches) for 9k a few months ago.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/santhoshl/Backyard Project/IMG00009-20101120-2037.jpg

Beautiful looking swing Santhosh. Just love the grain and color of rosewood. You are right - getting the 24" dimension is quite hard. Regardless my buddy is having his carpenter evaluate some trees in his estate in Coorg and he was hopeful of finding something so I am waiting - he had all his furniture made from rosewood and just like your swing they are beautiful. I guess in the end I will have to settle for teak.
Cheers
Sid

 

[magma]

to get even a one pc 18inch plank here in india is very difficult
Basically there are no tress that would offer such a dimension
A joint in Inevietable

In America though they have a professional way of jointing ,
its done under a lot of stress on pro machines
The result is that you end up with a piece that looks and also functions as a joint free piece due to this pro way of binding
you cannot tell if there is a joint or not

i have some maple and some other wood samples(other than cheery and rosewood) 19mm thick that i procured
i stood on 4 foot by 6 foot plank that was professionaly bonded and supported only at two extremities and did a mini jig atop to test it
i was satisfied
there was no flex
these are the planks that commerical rack builders use in the US


@mbr
thank you very much for the encouragement
Your rack can be done anytime you are ready

AS for the use of glass in racks
"is there or is there not a change in SQ" is open to debate
As far as im concerned i cant hear a differnce in my personal setup
maybe there is - and i cant hear it for upteen number of reasons

ofcourse i do offer Plexi shelving or Hard wood laminates as alternatives for fellow audiophiles who can hear a differnce

 

[anandkrishnantc]

Why go for rosewood which is rare and very expensive? You can go for Jack wood (from coastal area) which is as strong as rosewood, much beautiful color (better than rosewood and teak) with dark brown . The cost will be something less than rose wood. But not cheap as teak..
In my experience, jack will last for life... and I personally like jack color than rosewood which is very dark...

 

[suri]

Why go for rosewood which is rare and very expensive? You can go for Jack wood (from coastal area) which is as strong as rosewood, much beautiful color (better than rosewood and teak) with dark brown . The cost will be something less than rose wood. But not cheap as teak..
In my experience, jack will last for life... and I personally like jack color than rosewood which is very dark...

you are a man who knows his mind!

 

[santhosh]

Why go for rosewood which is rare and very expensive? You can go for Jack wood (from coastal area) which is as strong as rosewood, much beautiful color (better than rosewood and teak) with dark brown . The cost will be something less than rose wood. But not cheap as teak..
In my experience, jack will last for life... and I personally like jack color than rosewood which is very dark...

Yes anand you are right. Jackfruit wood is inexpensive, strong and also looks good. I have just recently returned from a trip to South Canara region of Karnataka and am amazed at the usage of Jack in old homes built circa 1920. Here is a pic of a 100+ year old home that I visited last week...still standing strong on jackwood pillars, roof etc:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/santhoshl/Backyard Project/IMG00131-20101228-1646.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/santhoshl/Backyard Project/IMG00117-20101228-1621.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/santhoshl/Backyard Project/IMG00128-20101228-1628.jpg

The one thing that Jack wood lacks over rosewood is the grains. The grains on rosewood are to die for. Here is a pic with both Jack and Rosewood pillars at an antique shop. Checkout the grains on the rosewood pillar (round), the other two pillars are jack. Pictures don't do justice to the beauty.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/santhoshl/Backyard Project/IMG00080-20101215-0751.jpg

ps: Magma, sorry to go OT again. I hope this info is useful to members deciding on a wooden shelf. I am deliberately providing direct links instead of clickable images so as to not clutter the thread with OT.

 

[sidvee]

Why go for rosewood which is rare and very expensive? You can go for Jack wood (from coastal area) which is as strong as rosewood, much beautiful color (better than rosewood and teak) with dark brown . The cost will be something less than rose wood. But not cheap as teak..
In my experience, jack will last for life... and I personally like jack color than rosewood which is very dark...

Thanks Anand, this is also a good alternative to Teak. Not too sure where I can find it in Hyd. though. Ultimately if I dont get rosewood - I have 2 options - Go for real hard wood options such as teak or jack fruit(teak is easily available in Hyd) - or else go for MDF with a real wood veneer. One third option exists which is to get a granite shelf.
I belong to the camp where-in I can perceive differences between the surfaces and I have had best luck with real hardwood so I probably will stick to trying to get wood. Real maple shelves can be easily sourced from US at reasonable pricing but shipping here will make it unreasonable.
Cheers
Sid

 

[arj]

sidvee, IMHO, MDF by itself is not great. if you can create a dual layer of MDF+ any hardwood glued together , you may be much better of.

 

[captrajesh]

I've read someone posting in the forum of the damping capabilities of various materials where I've noted that Acrylic sheet (glass lookalike) has one of the best ratings. MDF also fares well but glass was the worst.

 

[arj]

you are right capt..but when you join them together they become better than individual... MDF is very good as a sandwich !

 

[anandkrishnantc]

The one thing that Jack wood lacks over rosewood is the grains. The grains on rosewood are to die for.

In my wild imagination, it is something like this. Jack usually grows (lives) in crowded coastal areas. But rosewood tree is in deep jungles or some less inhabited places like Wayanad or Coorg.
The jack tree feels strong and secured all time of its life so no grains according to the years and season. But poor rosewood gets shocked when it starts raining or seeing a huge elephant or tiger... because its alone in the jungle.. so grains are formed in each season or event of shock....:lol:

 

[gobble]

In my wild imagination, it is something like this. Jack usually grows (lives) in crowded coastal areas. But rosewood tree is in deep jungles or some less inhabited places like Wayanad or Coorg.
The jack tree feels strong and secured all time of its life so no grains according to the years and season. But poor rosewood gets shocked when it starts raining or seeing a huge elephant or tiger... because its alone in the jungle.. so grains are formed in each season or event of shock....:lol:

The picture is a little grainy ... can you tilt the antennae. Wait maybe if we tilt the jackfruit tree it will become grainy!!

I hate the blackish color of rosewood. A living jackfruit tree is like a divine entity in one's presence, when one encounters it. Indeed I have felt like worshipping it, but I didnt want to strip down to loin cloth and run circles around it chanting mumbo jumbo, with a painted face. And the smell of jackfruit when the maid cuts it open in the house ... ummm beats all man made perfumes in the world!!


cheers

 

[madbullram]

@mbr
thank you very much for the encouragement
Your rack can be done anytime you are ready

AS for the use of glass in racks
"is there or is there not a change in SQ" is open to debate
As far as im concerned i cant hear a differnce in my personal setup
maybe there is - and i cant hear it for upteen number of reasons

ofcourse i do offer Plexi shelving or Hard wood laminates as alternatives for fellow audiophiles who can hear a differnce

Thanks Magma. Can you pls PM me your number so I can discuss it Perfect new year gift for me

 

[npalesha]

I wish to mount my receiver, tatasky plus and dvd above the tv. where in india is av mount stand available. I have attached a photo for reference. Link is Amazon.com: AVF ES250B-T Wall Mounted AV Component Shelving System with 2 Adjustable Tempered Glass Shelves (Black): Electronics

 

[magma]

I've read someone posting in the forum of the damping capabilities of various materials where I've noted that Acrylic sheet (glass lookalike) has one of the best ratings. MDF also fares well but glass was the worst.

you got it quite spot on
plexi IS the most inert in my opinion too

i have some clients who actually dont prefer HARD wood - they are of the opinnion that harder wood is not as inert as say MDF
there are at least two clients who swear by RUBBER wood sandwiches
(note : the rubber wood they use is ONE piece 24*16 plank not jointed)

hence every audiophile has his own tastes

 

[anm]

magma, can you pls PM me your number?

 

[Gijo George]

Hi magma
I've made an AV rack. Could you design & quote for a set of spikes for it? Details given below.

DIMENSIONS: 24"W X 20"D X 44"H
MAIN COLUMNS: 1.5" Dia 16SWG Brushed SS Pipes
RACK SUPPORTS: 1" X 0.5" 16SWG Rectangular SS Tubes welded onto pipes
RACKS: 3/4" Laminated Plywood (Venge Finish)
Total of 6 racks
Weight of rack: 22kgs
Weight of equipment: 50kgs.
Thanks

 

[magma]

heres the new iteration of the Type 1 Classic Alpha
its a 3 pillar version i had always been wanting to do
belongs to a gentlemen here

Solid Al with Black Plexi
Load cap -35kgs /shelf - (it has been tested at 48kgs)



beats the bottoms off alphason and stand&deliver(optimum and the likes) purely in my opinion