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Post by dsjr on Apr 24, 2024 10:05:41 GMT
I used to rate and sell Something Solid's skeletal racks and speaker stands, but when Mark retired, attention in some quarters turned to HiFi Racks' stands. they were reasonably priced but once they became known, prices seemed to all but double (a usual scenario in the audio industry I think).
It would appear that they wanted to diversify into making speaker cabinets once Timberworx ceased supplying non-Spendor UK companies (Timberworx was latterly a major box maker I believe). Apparently a huge investment in specialised tools to make flat-panel boxes and it takes time and money to build consistency I gather...
Not sure how many supposedly UK audio companies actually make the stuff here these days, as I believe most of it except some KEF, B&W, ATC and I believe PMC models are far easternmade for tuppence-ha'penny a pair...
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Post by Westie on Apr 24, 2024 10:46:27 GMT
I’m quite partial to the Something Solid speaker stands, but I really don’t like the looks of the racks.
Visually, I like Atacama Equinox in silver with the blue/green glass. A lot of that is down to practicalities. They have loads of depth and you can wire, remove and clean kit so much more easily when you can remove and add layer by layer.
I’ve never really bought into racks affecting the sound, unless a turntable is involved. Even then, a rack may not be ideal.
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Post by André on Apr 24, 2024 11:26:51 GMT
From the early 80's to the 90's i used the same old SOUND ORGANISATION racks. i liked them because they had no visible welds & the did half width racks as well as record rack tables & they were stackable. the only thing i didnt like was attached non adjustable spike & too thin shelf. Nothing has attracted my attention since, probably because i would never use a rack again but a speaker stand that did attract me was the SOLID STEEL SS. Nice but too trendy looking for me.
I did have RATA TORLYTE for a short time in the past but the wife hated to look of it hence switched back to SOUND ORG.
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Post by Westie on Apr 24, 2024 12:38:07 GMT
I had some Rata Torlyte platforms that I liked, but there was a profit on them so they went. Same story with the Rata turntable stand. I got it cheap and did t have a turntable at the time. The temptation to sell was too great and I never got to try it,
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Post by André on Apr 24, 2024 13:17:07 GMT
I had some Rata Torlyte platforms that I liked, but there was a profit on them so they went. Same story with the Rata turntable stand. I got it cheap and did t have a turntable at the time. The temptation to sell was too great and I never got to try it, Yeah i had a TORLYTE TT stand & a bunch of isolation platforms with Oak cones. They seem to have big rounded edges these days, Those i had were straight sharp corners, like you they fetched quite a bit but id already lost out buying them from new anyway. |
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Post by dsjr on Apr 24, 2024 17:36:13 GMT
Something Solid did balsa shelves and these really did work. Their top frame-rack used pre-tensioned thin 'rope' (sail line) to sit the balsa shelves on and I swear it made a sonic difference to some gear (Arcam FMJ stuff which ended up with 'damping pads' on certain chips). For turntables, the very odd but effective Townshend platform with 'damped pendulum' top shelf seemed to work well but it was very odd to 'experience' it.
I have to say I don't like the 'audio shrine' approach to setting up gear (racking in between the speakers) and there really was something to RD's idea of spreading it all around a bit, even with equipment cases which were properly hum-shielded...
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Post by Westie on Apr 25, 2024 8:24:58 GMT
I always wondered if FMJ stood for “full metal jacket”. Any idea what it did stand for?
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Post by dsjr on Apr 25, 2024 10:44:53 GMT
What you suggested... Instead of the tin and polastic standard Arcam cases, the FMJ's were beefed up and felt much more solid as a result. The claim priginally was that the FMJ amp and CD player were tweaked over the Alpha 10 units they were based on, but since eyesight and visuals accounts for so much in audio gear appraisal, it's hard to say looking back (I tend to doubt everything these days). The FMJ's were certainly products (between a grand and fifteen hundred per box) that gave a good vibe to use and own.
Eventually, the cheaper units shifted production I believe to the far east and their cases were correspondingly beefed up. The deliberately hard tone of the Alpha 8 amp (to get WTF 5* reviews) was mellowed out into a much safer tone which I gather continues to this day, although the market they sold into has all but evaporated in the Uk now due to the copious amouint of good used gear being available today.
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Post by André on Apr 25, 2024 10:58:31 GMT
I always wondered if FMJ stood for “full metal jacket”. Any idea what it did stand for? I actually bought a 'CD72' when they first came out with 'A75+' & 'P75+'. I had so much trouble with the power amp ended up selling it & the integrated. I upgraded the 'CD72' to 'CD92' status with the ring DAC, yet more money down the drain to my ears  All the enclosure were ok build of what you would expect for something of that price bracket. |
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All the enclosure were ok build of what you would expect for something of that price bracket.