Wow! Thanks for all the compliments! I will take everyones advice seriously and skip on the rack/stand. I'll look into an isolation platform for the turntable and maybe some fancy footers for the rest of the gear and leave it at that. Does anybody have any advice in that direction? (feet/platforms)?

As far as the ProAcs...they're a great speaker. They are quite efficient/sensitive for a ProAc design and can be driven quite well with my 10 wpc single-ended tube amp. I've tried them with 4 different amps and have had no issues with tube or solid-state. They have the traditional "beautiful" ProAc sound (lush vocals and out of the box sound) but are also fast and quite dynamic. I've had quality mini-monitors my whole audio life and could never find a floorstanding speaker that is as quick and detailed as minis. The ProAcs were the first large speaker I've heard that can also sound speedy while having great bass extension. They essentially sound like mini-monitors with great bass!

Thanks again to all who've commented.

fullnine November 10, 2011 23:47

Thanks to Jimbo & Spinaker for the complements. I do like having a good looking set-up as well as a good sounding one. Hiding all the cables, power supplies etc behind the cabinet certainly helps with the neat & tidy look. I guess I'm just an easy sale because when I read a review of a stand/rack and the author describes how it "transforms" his system, I start getting all hot and itchy to try one. I've tried home-made iso platforms under my TT so I know that they can have an effect. I'm curious to try an "engineered" solution.

fullnine October 30, 2011 14:14

There are lotsa different plans for open baffles on the net, and most are easy enough to build even for a non-carpenter like myself. I heard a set of open baffles many years ago and the sound has been locked in my brain ever since. They sound very different from box speakers, more like plannars or stats. I've got the drivers already...a set of Electro-Voice SP-12b. Now I just need a piece of plywood with a 12" hole cut in it!

As far as amps...I'm thinking about an Audio Note something like that. Anything integrated and burnin' 300b's.

fullnine October 13, 2011 03:06

Ask and ye shall receive....

fullnine October 12, 2011 20:43