Rethm Taalam Component Rack (3x2)

This is a modular Rack system that will accommodate 6 components into a two tower 3 shelf system. Condition is good.

This rack provides maximum cooling potential (great for tube equipment) and minimal mass. The premise behind the latter being that mass increases inertia and energy storage, so minimal mass will transfer vibration out of the system as quickly as possible. Works best on hard floors.

The Taalam Racks, like Rethm Loudspeakers, were developed when we felt that most of the racks on offer were not giving us what we were looking for – apart from the fact that some of the better ones were also rather expensive. While the Taalam Rack is not exactly inexpensive, it costs a fraction of the efforts of our competition.

A rack is, to put crudely, a "shelving unit" for audio equipment. However, it needs to look good (and worthy of the multi-thousand dollar pieces of Audio jewelry it would be supporting) and more importantly, it needs to SOUND good. While aesthetics are subjective, there is nothing subjective about what it needs to achieve aurally.

The problem? Vibrations, and Resonance induced by these vibrations.
Vibrations are four fold in nature:

The first - are the microvibrations within the pieces of equipment. These need to be "damped out" without making them overdamped and robbing the music of its life.

The second is to isolate each piece of electronics from the vibrations of the other units sharing the same rack.

The third, to damp air-borne vibrations (mainly from the music being played) that impact the equipment.

The fourth, to stop floor-borne vibrations from reaching the equipment.
Resonance occurs within anything and everything. Solid flat shelves are very prone to induced resonances, as it behaves as a "plate".

We therefore came up with the following design criteria:

• It had to eliminate all Vibration and Resonance issues.
While we use several unique details to control these issues, the fundamental thing we do that is different from all other manufacturers is in not having a "shelf" at all – as this is what induces plate resonances – whatever the material.

• It had to be made of WOOD.
We happen to like the sound of wood as we feel it imparts an "organic" character to the sound, apart from the fact that it has some unique natural damping qualities.

• It had to be LIGHT.
Over several years of observation, we have concluded that " mass" - in any audio component- tends to rob "life" out of the musical reproduction. We have therefor become great believers in audio "light".
And of course, there are the more practical advantages of keeping the shelves light – that of shipping costs, and ease of handling for the customers.

• It had to be STRONG.
The entire rack system is designed like a beam-column structure anologuous to the structure of an apartment building.

• It should be totally MODULAR.
The customer should have the option of buying only what he needed while having the option of adding additional shelves when needed without having to order a new rack system.

• It should be EASY to assemble.
Wooden composite "beams" support the spikes or footers of the equipment. Each "beam" has a V-groove running along its length into which the spike sits, thereby eliminating any chance of its slipping off.
These beams can be moved forward and backward to accommodate any size of equipment. It is supported at the ends by yet another set of wood beams running back to front.

This rack provides extreme flexibility while preserving the fundamental aural philosophies we believe in.