Quality of Atlantis racks?

[KenW]

I've been toying with the idea of making our sitting room a listening room....just for me and if I do, a rack will certainly be a mandatory piece of gear. Along those lines, I've got to have the WAF and she hates those metal/glass combos. It simply won't "go with the decor". Needless to say, I've learned when not to push. She's at least entertaining the possibility so I'm going slow and easy with her.

Now to the question. The Atlantis REF 5 seems to be something we could both live with aesthetically. Does anyone know about the build quality of these units? Others with quality builds at reasonable pricing? I'm looking to keep the rack at under $750 or so. If it's a killer, I could go up to $1K for the right piece.

Suggestions? Help?

Here's the current front runner:

REF 5 and other racks.

 

[tkam]

In that price range you should take a look at the BDI Axis series:

 

[warpdriver]

Atlantis makes good stuff, I've had several things from them and had no complaints.

 

[KenW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkam In that price range you should take a look at the BDI Axis series:

I'd seen those on the same site I linked. Not bad and it certainly looks "different". Do you own this brand? Quality? Sometimes price doesn't accurately reflect the quality and I definitely want something solid, good looking and long lasting.

 

[KenW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by warpdriver Atlantis makes good stuff, I've had several things from them and had no complaints.

Many thanks! Always good to hear from folks who own.

 

[Wmcmanus]

Ken, I have been using REF 5 racks for years and would highly recommend them. I have 2 of them. My decision making process was similar to yours in terms of looks, stability and value. As I recall they were about $415 each (best price), but that was several years ago. I do remember that there was a lot of variance in terms of what online retailers were selling them for, so Google is your friend.

My only disappointment was in the color of the shelves. I forget what mine are called, but they are in fact quite orange-ish. I was going to get the rosewood, and really should have, but really liked the way the color I chose looked on the stock photos shown on the internet. I have now seen the rosewood in person as well and think it looks much better, or at least "normal" as compared to my orange-ish shelves. But I got used to them after a while.

In terms of stability, they are excellent because you can make adjustments to each individual shelf for leveling purposes, as well as making floor level adjustments. You can also fill the columns with dry sillicone sand (avoid beach sand with salt in it due to moisture) or with lead shot (avoid if you have kids or pets due to health risks) and this will add a lot of weight, strength and stability. Guess I must be lazy because I have never gotten around to the task! But they are pretty solid without being filled.

 

[KenW]

^^Orangish?? Did you get the honey finish to the shelves? I'm not sure what that picture I linked shows but those look pretty dark. I figured they were rosewood shelves?

JMO but I think the honey finish with the black supports would be too much contrast for me....er....and the wife. I'd favored the rosewood/black combo or perhaps even all black. Glad to hear from an owner with favorable comments! So many options but the choice is difficult. Pictures can be deceiving and sometimes they can mask quality issues. Guess I could and should do the 2+ hour drive to see it up close and personal before I buy. Thanks for the info. Glad I'm not the only one trying to please a wife AND get what he/she wants.

Btw, I noticed you also have the VeraStarr racks. How do they compare? Which do you like best and why? Granite shelves?? Nice!

 

[Wmcmanus]

I think the color I got was "Brandy" but it doesn't seem that they sell these any more. I did find one link that shows a picture of it (see the REF 5 rack down the page): http://www.audioc.com/accessories1/atlantis/atracks.htm

But even that company doesn't seem to offer this as a color option. It's not nearly as dark, and thus more orange-ish, in person. Anyway, just get with the rosewood.

As much as I like the Atlantis racks, the Verastarr racks pretty much blow them out of the water in terms of strength, stability, flexibility, cosmetic appeal, etc. But, then again, the Varastarr racks blow away nearly anything else, other than perhaps Rix Racks, Grand Prix, and maybe Zoethecus.

The granite shelves obvioulsy weigh a lot, so it's something like 400 pounds for my 6 shelf rack even before loading equipment. The other nice thing is that the support rods are threaded from top to bottom, so it's completely flexible and you can adjust the height of each shelf to exactly where you want it. But cost is the big problem. Even for a 4 shelf rack, you'll be safely over your $1k budget. I've got 3 of them now (one 6 shelves and the other 2 are 4 shelves) and I'm thinking about ordering another one that will be custom made for my analog rig. It will be only 3 shelves but they will be 42" wide.

 

[KenW]

The VeraStarr's are sweet but the first thing out of my wifes mouth when she saw those racks was "hideous". The reaction was instantaneous and certain. The granite she could almost live with but the supports weren't going in her house. Guess that takes care of that option!

Edit: forgot to mention that I agree that the VeraStarrs are MUCH more attactive than the Atlantis but the wife does not agree.....at all!

 

[micaela]

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Gusdo...oductDetail.do

I just got this rack. Its very sturdy & I liked the price as well as the looks.

 

[mulveling]

Of course I'm biased, but I'm extremely pleased with the aesthetics of my Lovan Sovereign rack with dark wood shelves. It's also fairly well built and modular. Similar color scheme to the rack you posted, and similar price too, IIRC. My *only* complaint is that the 3-leg design means really deep gear can't easily stick out over the back (unless it's on the top shelf). To make it really stable you will need to fill the frames with something (they're fillable) but this will be true of almost any rack. For my purposes it's worked great without the need to fill it.

 

[KenW]

^^Hey...I like that one, too! Kind of reminds me of the Adona line that's all over the Audiogon site. I'll have to look it up on Google to see what the depth is but that one is less "furniture like" than the Atlantis. Back to the depth.... I don't see it as a problem right now but as fickle as I am with gear it probably will be an issue somewhere down the line.

The clincher would be if they'd throw in a pair of those L3000's to sweeten the deal. I'd jump all over it then!

 

[Patrick82]

How about this which also improves the sound, 3-tier Radius is $800. Review.

 

[KenW]

Got a feeling the metallic look to the legs/supports will be the kiss of death. That one would look nice with my E5 and GCHA but the MPX3 would look a bit retro for it I think. Of couse, nothing will have a permanent place in the house so I won't be picking a rack for a piece of gear I presently own. Still that one also looks nice. So far the VeraStarr looks like my choice but the wife won't have it. If I had a second choice at the moment, I'd say the Lovan suits me with the Atlantis coming next.

Hey, as long as the ideas continue coming, I'll keep floating things by the missus. Sooner or later, we'll find a unit that we can both agree on. Frankly, I can't see the issue. It's in a remote "sitting room" that no one but family will see so I don't know what the problem is with me having whatever "look" I want! Yet, there's got to be peace in the house so.....

Some very good ideas so far! I'm hoping she'll soften on those VeraStarrs. Man, I love that granite look!! Screw the budget. If she says yes, I'm getting one of those babies!