Here are some pics of the rack I'm having built for my main system. The basic construction is powder-coated aluminum u-channels bolted to Maple shelves. It'll be ready next weekend. The design is based on a Finite Elemente rack. Each shelf insert sits on 4 Symposium Rollerblock Jr isolators.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mxblack/AudioRackview1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mxblack/AudioRackview2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mxblack/AudioRackview3.jpg

Sweeet..

Damn... that looks hot!

NIce looking rack and nice engineering are your maple shelves bolted straight to the aluminum or did you use isolators?

Solid maple?

Difficult to put together something that outstanding at home, without the tools! Hope you are 101% satisfied with it.

Looks smashing and no I am not the slightest bit jealous!
Seriously congrats!

That looks awesome!!

Gohan

NIce looking rack and nice engineering are your maple shelves bolted straight to the aluminum or did you use isolators?
The shelf frames are bolted directly to the aluminum u-channels. The shelf inserts sit on isolators (Symposium Rollerblock Jr's).

Solid maple?
Shelf inserts are 1" x 6" pieces of solid maple laminated together.

Very nice.I would like to see it with the gear on it also.Good job.

Very nice.I would like to see it with the gear on it also.Good job.
I can't take credit for building it - my brother-in-law is doing that.

Wow....really nice Mark......looks like the real thing

C'est magnafique!!!!!!!!

Nice rack!


Ooops! I think that's supposed to be saved out for the fairer sex... oh well... she's a beauty!

OK here's the deal you get that all set up and get your gear all adjusted and used to sitting on it. And I'll drop by for a good listening session.

For my part I'll bring the Beer and Pizza.


Been to long since we hung out dude and I think your new rack is just the event to get me up there.

That's an awesome rack Mark!

Been thinking of wanting to put together something similar myself, but no time and no tools. You're lucky to know someone who has the skills and the tools!

Will be curious to hear your findings :)

Very professional-looking rack there,Mark.

That's the biggest 'minus' I've got:Siting.

That is gorgeous! I never really though U-channel could look that good, but it sure does. Did you ever consider going with 3 isolators per shelf instead of 4?

Wowowowow.

Truly impressive. Love it.

Tell your B.I.L. nice job for me

Wow! That is a nice rack! :) :thmbsp:

Scott

Wow! I'm impressed with your skills and jealous of your shop/tools.

That's nice work.

Very nice. :thmbsp:

Tres professional!
Where did he find the powder coated aluminum? Did he have it cut and coated special order?

Absolutely beautiful!

very impressive Mark

OK here's the deal you get that all set up and get your gear all adjusted and used to sitting on it. And I'll drop by for a good listening session.

For my part I'll bring the Beer and Pizza.


Been to long since we hung out dude and I think your new rack is just the event to get me up there.
You're on Mark.

That is gorgeous! I never really though U-channel could look that good, but it sure does. Did you ever consider going with 3 isolators per shelf instead of 4?

Tres professional!
Where did he find the powder coated aluminum? Did he have it cut and coated special order?

I found a place online that sold aluminum u-channel in small quantities. I ordered their minimum of 24'. It was shipped in 6 4' foot pieces. The powder coating was done locally.

I did consider 3 isolators per shelf. It's obviously easier to level with 3, but I liked the additional weight distribution capabilities of 4.

Thanks for all the compliments on the rack! It's nice to have a brother-in-law who's a great guy with a complete wood-working shop.

This is the rack it will be replacing, and the gear it's intended for. Unlike this Paradigm rack the new rack has room for the MX-10000 amp on the bottom shelf.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mxblack/IMG_2074.jpg

Very Nice, that is going to awesome.

Hi Mark......great looking rack!

Verrrry nice.

Say, where did you get those isolation feet? I'm building a rack that will not be quite that nice but I'd like to isolate at least one shelf for the TT.

Your bro-in-law has some real talent! Good Schtuff!

What are your plans for the old rack?

Mark, I of course echo everybody's remarks- very nicely done! Gear like you have SHOULD set on something as nice as that! If I didn't have 5 kids 7 years old and under, I would place more emphasis on a nice rack. Someday when they get older...
I have one question: have you effectively infected your brother in law with the Yamaha bug yet? I don't see how anyone could visit your place and not walk away with a new found awareness and downright amazed! :jawdrop:

Verrrry nice.

Say, where did you get those isolation feet? I'm building a rack that will not be quite that nice but I'd like to isolate at least one shelf for the TT.
I got the Symposium Rollerblock Jr's from Acoustic Sounds.

Your bro-in-law has some real talent! Good Schtuff!

What are your plans for the old rack?
He does indeed have talent. His day job is as a Jeweler. The Paradigm rack will be used in my second system.

Mark, I of course echo everybody's remarks- very nicely done! Gear like you have SHOULD set on something as nice as that! If I didn't have 5 kids 7 years old and under, I would place more emphasis on a nice rack. Someday when they get older...
I have one question: have you effectively infected your brother in law with the Yamaha bug yet? I don't see how anyone could visit your place and not walk away with a new found awareness and downright amazed! :jawdrop:
Thanks Elroy. I've been wanting something more appropriate for the Yamaha Centennial Edition gear. I really liked the look of the Finite Elemente rack, but the construction wasn't strong enough for my taste, although it is beautifully engineered. My brother in law seems quite immune to the Yamaha bug thus far.

That is fantastic looking rack! :drool:

Nice rack! Wish I had it!! :>)

Got the new rack today. :D

My brother in law and a buddy of his brought it over and helped set it up.
I think it looks great!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mxblack/NewRackview3.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mxblack/NewRackview2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mxblack/NewRackview1.jpg

Very Classy indeed.
How does the Centennial Series sound on it?

crap dude, that beast is a thing of beauty.

:drool:

He should sell those! I would buy at least two!

VERY nice looking dood!

Looks stunning Mark!

Now for that PX-2 to finish things off on top... :D

Looks stunning Mark!

Now for that PX-2 to finish things off on top... :D
:yes:

Very Classy indeed.
How does the Centennial Series sound on it?
Like Yamaha Centennial gear. :D

whoa Mark......very nice........:drool::drool:

That does look great, very nice!

That,s a very nice match for the Centennial gear! Great design and fabrication effort.

The color contrast between the shelves and the equipment bezels are perfect. Very rich looking. Nice job....great taste!

great looking stand and the system!

Soooo what special turntable will have the honor of residing on the top shelf :scratch2: ?

As good as the PX-2 is;for a system of the capability of Mark's,the GT 2000 is the Yamaha of choice.It comprehensively betters the PX-2 across all criteria.
Couple it with the HX-10000 and there wouldn't be anyone who wouldn't be impressed.

Very nice Mark. Any chance of getting the plans for that?

As good as the PX-2 is;for a system of the capability of Mark's,the GT 2000 is the Yamaha of choice.It comprehensively betters the PX-2 across all criteria.
Couple it with the HX-10000 and there wouldn't be anyone who wouldn't be impressed.

:yes:

Very nice Mark. Any chance of getting the plans for that?

I was wondering when that question would be asked.

Very nice Mark. Any chance of getting the plans for that?
The frames for the 3 upper shelves are 21" deep x 22" wide x 2" thick. The frame for the bottom shelf is 23" deep x 22" wide x 2 1/2" vertical thickness and 1.75" horizontal thickness. The shelves are 1" thick and sit inside the frames supported by bracing. I don't have the details for how the frames, shelves, or bracing were constructed. The shelves and bracing have areas routed out to accomodate the Symposium Rollerblock Jr isolators. Height not counting the leveling feet is 34.5"

32 titanium hex flange bolts, M10x1.25 x 70mm + 32 matching hex flange nuts. I ordered them from racebolts (http://www.racebolts.com/). Stainless steel would work fine and be much less expensive.

The 4 aluminum u-channels are 2.25" deep x 4" wide x 34" long. The side walls are .29" and the back is .19". I got a 24' length (the minimum order) from voyager aluminum (http://www.voyageraluminum.com/uchannel.cfm). Part #100089. The holes for the bolts in the u-channel are countersunk 1/16" for the bolt head flanges.

The 4 leveling feet are part #SSW-2A from SW Manufacturing (http://www.swmanufacturing.com/part_photo.asp?pid=SSW-2A&PROD_ID=101&TYP_ID=1). You'll need matching threaded inserts.

Soooo what special turntable will have the honor of residing on the top shelf :scratch2: ?

As good as the PX-2 is;for a system of the capability of Mark's,the GT 2000 is the Yamaha of choice.It comprehensively betters the PX-2 across all criteria.
Couple it with the HX-10000 and there wouldn't be anyone who wouldn't be impressed.
Not much chance of getting a GT-2000 here in the States. I've tried ordering from HiFiDo, but have never received a response. So it will have to be a PX-2. I'm waiting for one to arrive. :D I don't know if the isolation on the rack be sufficient to prevent the tonearm of the PX-2 from bouncing when someone walks around the room. Because the wood floor is springy I have to use a wall mounted shelf for the Dual CS5000. If you spot an HX-10000 for sale I'd appreciate a heads up.

Oh man that is one gorgeous set up. Im impressed !

My rickety ole IVAR stuff looks like kindling by comparison.

Hey Mark there is a decent PF-1000 on Audiogon but it has issues. Go here: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1229281047&/Yamaha-PF-1000-very-nice!-cons

Mark,
With HiFiDo,they apparently don't respond to e-mails from 'free' hosters like hotmail and yahoo.If you get an e-mail address bundled with your ISP account,open a dialogue with them via the ISP webmail.
I usually use a yahoo e-mail address,but I opened my ISP's webmail account in order to deal with HiFiDo.Hope this helps.The GT 2000 is worth-it.

Hey Mark there is a decent PF-1000 on Audiogon but it has issues. Go here: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1229281047&/Yamaha-PF-1000-very-nice!-cons

Thanks Elroy, the PF-1000 is a sweet turntable, but I think that the PX-2 is a bit better, and I've got one on the way.


Mark,
With HiFiDo,they apparently don't respond to e-mails from 'free' hosters like hotmail and yahoo.If you get an e-mail address bundled with your ISP account,open a dialogue with them via the ISP webmail.
I usually use a yahoo e-mail address,but I opened my ISP's webmail account in order to deal with HiFiDo.Hope this helps.The GT 2000 is worth-it.
I've left my ISP email address for them to contact me. Never got a response to my initial orders, or to follow-up emails asking what the status of my order was.

Here's a GT-2000 on HiFiDo (http://www.hifido.com/KWYamaha/G1/P0/A10/E/40-10/S0/C08-39743-31864-00/). Any suggestions on what I need to do in order to buy it?

Or how about a PX-1 (http://yamaden.shop-pro.jp/?pid=8949929)? That would be nice to have.

Mark,
I love the PX-1 link.
PM me your e-mail address(I can't reply to PMs on AK at the moment),and I'll run you through my thoughts.I'm prepared to contact HiFiDo on your behalf,and we'll see if I can get you a dialogue with them.

Mark, as said before, I never had troubles with Hifido. Maybe your email is blocked by their ISP ? (I for instance can not send to any Comcast customers in the US, for some reason my ISP is blocked).

That PX-1 is too much of an overcomplicated beast according to Axel from TVK. A bit like Sony's PS-B80, a showpiece of technology but not as good sounding in the end. Ofcourse you never know until you've tried it.

A GT-2000 certainly would make a great addition to an already wonderful collection of Yammies :)

Mark, as said before, I never had troubles with Hifido. Maybe your email is blocked by their ISP ? (I for instance can not send to any Comcast customers in the US, for some reason my ISP is blocked).

That PX-1 is too much of an overcomplicated beast according to Axel from TVK. A bit like Sony's PS-B80, a showpiece of technology but not as good sounding in the end. Ofcourse you never know until you've tried it.

A GT-2000 certainly would make a great addition to an already wonderful collection of Yammies :)
My email address is through Comcast, so maybe that's the problem. Thanks for the info on the PX-1. I'll go with a GT-2000 if I can get one.