Old post, but I came across this company, Mapleshade, this week in 2023. Their Samson equipment rack systems cost (in 2023) $1.1k-$6.1k+ with various options & shelving size/quantity, they also sell individual pieces. This is deeper than most audiophiles choose to go in the physics of sound. There does exist perfect platforms to set various playback equipment upon to reproduce the original sound waves as recorded from the source--or just to optimize the sound to your own ears as the end-user. Sound is made from the vibrations of molecules in the air, liquid or solid in which sound waves propagate through. In outer space--no sound, because there are no molecules close enough for sound waves to propagate through. The most complex wave patterns are produced in solids, and the less-homogeneous the solid the more complex those sound waves become with internal refractions, reflections, and/or attenuations.
Mapleshade's testing has lead them to believe the Ambrosian Maple they use, naturally-grown, close-grain, air-dried 3-6 years (not kiln-dried), and solid-only (no glues like butcherblocks use), is that ideal material. But the Maple wood is just 1 part of their system--they also use the threaded Steel posts with Brass connectors & footers to stabilize the entire system directly to the floor. Their primary selling point (besides the beauty of their systems) is the system doesn't sway at all, side-to-side or front-to-back.
They also say:
1.) The 3/4" shelving of most racks aren't thick enough,
2.) That you can hear a difference between the 3/4", 2" & 4" thick shelves.
3.) That 4" shelving is better than 2", but 2" shelving with a 4" platform is better than 4" shelving alone.
4.) Don't use IsoBlocks under speakers (that would allow movement of the speaker, especially muddying bass.)
Their sales pitch sounds legit. I don't have the time to test all the woods, mounts, footings, so I'll just take their research as correct, until I find data proving otherwise. I also don't have the funds to buy their top-end SAMSON system, mainly because my own stereo probably cost less then that shelving system to sit upon. But I do like their ideas (& how the finished product looks), so I was going to attempt to build my own shelving using their ideas. However, in 2023, even using maple wood might be too expensive for my own build, so I might have to use Douglas Fir (4"x12") or Southern Yellow Pine (2"x12"), but even those 12"depths are too short with some 17"-deep pieces like amps, or 16"-deep CD changer. but I'll use their solid-threaded 1-1/4" steel rod post design, & buy my own connectors/footers in brass if it fits my budget, or another metal. I'm in the research stage to determine what materials I can afford/should use.
So far my project design based on Mapleshade's original Samson design:
1.) Solid wood shelves (either Maple, Cherry, Douglas Fir, SYP, Oak, or Mahogany).
1a.) 12-18" deep (I need 10.5" at least in depth for the distance between the front & back feet of the amp.)
1b.) If I can't find solid shelves of desired depth, I can join two to three individual narrower shelves into a single one, using a non-glued method, perhaps bolts/key-holes (which will of course affect the sound vs a single solid piece of wood, but hopefully not as much as glue would dampen sound).
2.) Threaded steel solid posts
3.) Metal connectors (perhaps Brass) to attach shelves to post.
4.) Metal footers (perhaps Brass)
5.) The key seems to be passing the vibrations from the equipment to the ground as solidly & directly as possible. Obviously it's better to totally isolate pieces with continually moving electric or physical components, such as PCs(fans), CD/LP-players, or high-power amps.
5a.) Primary shelving unit: DACs, streamers, pre-amp, EQ, USB-cleaners (few if any actively moving internal parts).
5b.) Secondary(+) shelves: CDs, LPs, Tapes, these units can sit together on the same shelving units since typically not used at the same time (although ideally players vs recorders should likely be on separate shelving units.)
5c.) Amps: separate platform set directly on floor (as long as flooding, pets, children aren't issue.)
5d.) PCs: any computer-type device with moving fans shouldn't sit on any of the above shelving units, PCs should be treated like AMPs, on a separate platform, far enough from the primary shelving unit to not cause interference, far enough from listener to not cause audible noise interference(fans), but close enough to the primary shelving unit to allow use of the optimal 2m(6.5') USB cable when required (longer will degrade signal.)
I also like their "ROOTED BUTTRESS" speaker stand design, so I'll try to make those for myself as well.
Our Amish-crafted, solid maple platforms are an integral part of the Mapleshade Vibration Control System that has transformed the sound of thousands of audiophile systems over the years. Here's a link to a detailed description of Mapleshade's Vibration Control System.
