Critical Mass Maxxum Install

[Mike]

Busy day installing this gorgeous rack for a customer yesterday. The improvement in sound was immediately noticeable.












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[mep]

There is something missing in those pictures. The rack looks nice though.

[The Sandman]

There is something missing in those pictures. The rack looks nice though.

Yes, I agree... I wish the S7s were biampable so I could buy another pair of XS300s.

That’s what you meant, no?

[mep]

Yes, I agree... I wish the S7s were biampable so I could buy another pair of XS300s.

That’s what you meant, no?

Nope. I was teasing because I don't see any analog source gear in the picture.

[The Sandman]

Nope. I was teasing because I don't see any analog source gear in the picture.

Yeah, I knew that. I was teasing too.

[Priaptor]

Spectacular rack. The one "component" I am still debating on for my Select II is the rack and that is on my short list for sure. Beautiful.

[mulveling]

Definitely a 3-level Maxxum made the perfect rack for my turntable (Clearaudio Master Innovation), tube phono, and tube pre. Great racks!!

[Ritmo]

Beautiful setup Howard! Enjoy in good health.

[Cincy2]

Spectacular rack. The one "component" I am still debating on for my Select II is the rack and that is on my short list for sure. Beautiful.

Resistance is futile. I just ordered one for the MSB and a pair of amp stands for the D'Ag's.

Eric

[The Sandman]

Thanks!

The Maxxum rack is really incredible - amazing build quality, beautiful to look at (wifey adores it), and quite an improvement to my system. Many thanks to Mike and Rick for making it surprisingly easy to get it set up.

As the photos show, the rack is triple wide on the bottom so it's basically a three tier rack with integrated amp stands. The XSPre power supply sits on its own stand behind the rack (see second photo). Everything is custom designed for my system.

I've been trying to upgrade to a real rack for more than 10 years, but there were always issues that prevented me from pulling the trigger. Of course, I had to get my system to a "final" configuration and my room treatments done. Then I had to get everything to fit my system and fit in the room. And it had to be of the highest quality. It wasn't until Mike got involved with Critical Mass that it all finally came together.

Sound quality is vastly improved and that was only in a 2 hour listening session right after the system was reassembled - all of the components were dead cold - unplugged from the wall cold. That's at least a 24 hour warm-up to be back to normal for my system. And the rack takes 300 hours of break-in with music playing for everything to settle in the way it's supposed to. So I can only imagine how good it will be in a month or two.

Thanks Critical Mass, Mike, and Rick!

[The Sandman]

Second listening session last night - first listen with system properly warmed up.

I expected the Maxxum to make a noticeable change. I'm not really sure how to put this, except to say that I was not at all prepared for the magnitude of the improvement. It's certainly a bigger incremental step than any previous upgrade I've done anywhere in my system... and I've done some pretty big upgrades. Everything that you think would be better is indeed way better - bass is ridiculous, jet black backgrounds, more separation between instruments with a sense of better placement in the soundstage, much richer tones, a more relaxed presentation despite a sense of greater detail, etc.. Even the things that you didn't think would improve or could improve are clearly better.

Mike calls it voodoo. For lack of a better word, I have to agree with him.

[mulveling]

I upgraded a lot of big stuff at once, including the rack, so it wasn't possible for me to attribute the improvements solely to the Maxxum. But what I could parse out is that it completely solved a host of issues I had with my turntable being sensitive to feedback, footfalls, etc. Yes, a clean quiet record now can be spectacular in its noiselessness and clarity! The lead-shot filling and maple platform tricks on my old stand were a complete joke compared to the Maxxum's effect. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for!!

[Cincy2]

Just took delivery of a three shelf Maxxum with two amp stands. Many boxes on a pallet - 500 lbs. Going to install it with Mike of Suncoast this Saturday. My elevator got a good workout moving the boxes upstairs. I'm getting too old for this Audio hobby........

Eric

[Mike]

Just took delivery of a three shelf Maxxum with two amp stands. Many boxes on a pallet - 500 lbs. Going to install it with Mike of Suncoast this Saturday. My elevator got a good workout moving the boxes upstairs. I'm getting too old for this Audio hobby........

Eric

Looking forward to it! See you Saturday.


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[brodricj]

..My elevator got a good workout moving the boxes upstairs. I'm getting too old for this Audio hobby........

Assuming same said elevator successfully tackled your M3, the three shelf Maxxum stack should have been a piece of cake.

[Ritmo]

Well, how does it look and sound?

[Cincy2]

Well, how does it look and sound?

Over the years I've spent a lot of time and money on equipment in the search for audio bliss. I have spent little of either on racks. That all changed today. Mike and Rick from Suncoast Audio stopped by to help me set up Critical Mass's Maxxum rack and amp stands with my electronics. The first thing you notice is the build quality and finish on these items are off the charts (See pics below). When they said the color was Ferrari black they weren't kidding. Even if there wasn't any audible improvement in my system I would have been totally satisfied with the purchase because they hold their own with some very well built gear.

I warmed everything up for a half hour and sat down with my favorite Chesky and Mapleshade tracks to have a listen. First track, first minute - the difference was very much like a major power conditioning upgrade. When the background noise decreases every image becomes more defined and three dimensional. This was not a subtle improvement with Maxxum - it was immediately noticeable and very satisfying. True, the Select 2 and my D'Ag's did the heavy lifting but this rack by some inexplicable physics was making the presentation even more lifelike. In orchestral pieces each voice in the hall was more noticeable. Piano and percussion instruments had more percussive leading edges. Drums farther back in the soundstage popped more than with my older plebeian rack.

it's been my experience that the effect of any upgrade be it cable, speaker or front end is more pronounced as the caliber of your supporting equipment improves. This must have been the case here. I was gobsmacked by the MSB DAC when I added it. This Rackimus Maxummus has taken the whole experience to an even higher level. Thanks to Mike and Rick at Suncoast for the usual excellent customer service. My wallet is a lot lighter but it was definitely worth it.

[joeinid]

Holy cow what a beautiful system!

Congratulations.

[brodricj]

Are the M400 plugged in to the P20?

[Mike]

Are the M400 plugged in to the P20?

Yes.

[mdp632]

Mike,

Do you still carry Artesania racks?

[brodricj]

And has there been any comparison between plugging them directly into wall and into P20?

[Mike]

Mike,

Do you still carry Artesania racks?

Yes. I’m focusing solely on Artesania and Critical Mass.

[UltraFast69]

Mike and Rick from Suncoast Audio stopped by to help me set up Critical Mass's Maxxum rack and amp stands with my electronics.

Wow, you can almost hear the pictures.

360 NICE!


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[Ritmo]

Absolutely gorgeous! Very nice system and installation!

[Cincy2]

And has there been any comparison between plugging them directly into wall and into P20?

Not exactly. I used to have each amp on its own separate 25 amp circuit with a smaller PS Audio regenerator. For some unfathomable reason, when I added the MSB, that configuration caused a very bad ground loop / hum. Once I plugged everything into the P20 and gave them a common ground, the hum disappeared. By the way with two REL subs, two mono blocks and the MSB, the P20 is only at 60% capacity. It works very well.

Eric

[Alpinist]

Simply gorgeous system, Eric, congratulations!!

Ken

Over the years I've spent a lot of time and money on equipment in the search for audio bliss. I have spent little of either on racks. That all changed today. Mike and Rick from Suncoast Audio stopped by to help me set up Critical Mass's Maxxum rack and amp stands with my electronics. The first thing you notice is the build quality and finish on these items are off the charts (See pics below). When they said the color was Ferrari black they weren't kidding. Even if there wasn't any audible improvement in my system I would have been totally satisfied with the purchase because they hold their own with some very well built gear.

I warmed everything up for a half hour and sat down with my favorite Chesky and Mapleshade tracks to have a listen. First track, first minute - the difference was very much like a major power conditioning upgrade. When the background noise decreases every image becomes more defined and three dimensional. This was not a subtle improvement with Maxxum - it was immediately noticeable and very satisfying. True, the Select 2 and my D'Ag's did the heavy lifting but this rack by some inexplicable physics was making the presentation even more lifelike. In orchestral pieces each voice in the hall was more noticeable. Piano and percussion instruments had more percussive leading edges. Drums farther back in the soundstage popped more than with my older plebeian rack.

it's been my experience that the effect of any upgrade be it cable, speaker or front end is more pronounced as the caliber of your supporting equipment improves. This must have been the case here. I was gobsmacked by the MSB DAC when I added it. This Rackimus Maxummus has taken the whole experience to an even higher level. Thanks to Mike and Rick at Suncoast for the usual excellent customer service. My wallet is a lot lighter but it was definitely worth it.

[still-one]

Beautiful set-up.

[Odyssey]

Nicely done!

[Audiophilehi]

Outstanding system, rack, and setup. Literally a work of art.

[still-one]

Out of curiosity what is the MSRP of the two amps stands?

[Kuoppis]

Wonderful setup, congrats.


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[Cincy2]

Out of curiosity what is the MSRP of the two amps stands?

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...plifier-stand/

[still-one]

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...plifier-stand/

Thanks for linking!!!