optimising your current audio system

By Vanessa Gil, AG Lifter

​Following our attendance at many audio demonstrations and shows, I noticed often the presenter will go into great detail explaining each audio component, through to what cartridge and tone arm is being demonstrated and power electronic brands, server/streamer failing to mention the Audio Rack it is placed on.  Why is that? You only need to look at the very high-end set-ups to see they are using some sort of Audio Resonance Rack – is it just for looks or could there be a reason like sonically it makes a difference?
If you knock/tap on different surfaces such as wood, glass, steel, or acrylic, they all sound different, wouldn’t you agree? This is only the half of it, layers of different materials are needed to address the resonance issue to provide a perfect result for that particular design. Imagine if you could enhance, upgrade and really hear your audio components at their best.   I can understand its maybe easier to get more excited about some sexy speakers, but does one component really make a system?  Or is it accumulative of a combination of components that have synergy and work together?
Whether streaming, cd, or vinyl is your preference, I am sure you will agree that our end goals are all the same.  We all want to create the best musical performance we can in our listening environment. 
Could I ask you to consider this, if a rack is made from timber – how consistent can it be, when every tree is different, and made up of different knots and grains?  Timber is hydroscopic – so what happens when the seasons change and your listening environment is damper or more humid, and further to that what happens when it dries out? 
So, if you want to really hear your audio components, or you’re chasing some of the classic audio problems in your system such as dullness/harshness, lacking scale, soundstage or trying to solve the mystery of your system changing sonically overtime, perhaps the solution is under your audio components – your rack!