Who needs racks?

Posted by: Arye_Gur on 14 November 2001

We are talking a lot about the question – what a rack does and how.
I was told that electronic components (not include tubes)
Don’t suffer of a “microphonic” problem. Shaking a board full with transistors – will not effect the output of it.

So what does it matter what a rack does if it is not needed because of the nature of the transistors ?

Do you know something about this claim?

Arye

Posted on: 14 November 2001 by Mike Hanson

Electronic components can change their properties when vibrated. Therefore, good isolation and damping helps.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 14 November 2001 by Chris L

quote:

I was told that electronic components (not include tubes)
Don’t suffer of a “microphonic” problem. Shaking a board full with transistors – will not effect the output of it.

Well, I'd suggest that components like capacitors and resisters which can have their parts held in some kind of suspension would be susceptible to vibration.

But even excluding that, most Naim amps use some kind of plug-in board, which required mechanical connections, which would certainly suffer from vibration effects, as would the mechanical contacts of the sockets in the amps. Plus, CD players have a fair number of mechanical components in them, which could cause and be subject to vibration. Lastly, is the volume/balance pots and selector switches, which, on older pre-amps at least, are based on mechanical wiper arms, which could suffer from the effects of vibration.

Just some thoughts,

Chris L

Posted on: 14 November 2001 by Craig B

Fred,

Are they Lack tables? If so, I agree that they are the best sounding support surfaces that were ever not intended for audio use.

One of the reasons for their great performance can be found here.

Craig