I actually like the Walnut. It is however more expensive. Still thinking.

They have a wall-mounted turntable shelf unit. The ad for it is crazy.

I actually like their XL (extra large) series. But it's quite large to handle, and less modular, and perhaps a bit compromising in sound. But I think it is very good looking.

Summing up I prefer Podium Modular for the following reasons:

1. Very solid built and feel. Depending on yr taste, you could choose yr colour. Walnut is my fav.

2. Reasonably priced. 129 pounds per unit. Less than Isoblue.

3. Seems to have good reputation. It's a young company so it's still 'accumulating' users. WhatHiFi may be exaggerating its performance - but it shouldn't be bad sound.

4. EXTREMELY MODULAR. Isoblue is modular, but as it is wider, it's less flexible. Podium is 59cm. Better. More usable space.

5. Leg length chosen at no extra cost. GREAT!

6. Depth at 40cm. I often found many racks is too 'deep'. Apart from poweramp, many gears don't need that amount of depth. Even for some big poweramp, the legs underbeneath is often less than 40cm. I find this depth saving space. Less is more (homespace).

Cons:

1. Alternative colour adds 40 pounds per tier!! oh...

2. Heavier than Quadraspire to ship.

3. Less users in HK. Well, it is also the case for Quadraspire and Isoblue (or Hutter). But if I really want to stay away from metallic racks ... I better forget this.

My search is probably over.

My choice has some strong subjective elements. I think both Quadraspire and Isoblue have something good that Podium doesn't have. But Podium reference just fits my subjective preference more. You may have other consideration! :)


I did this for the labour of love. I hope it would save some time for people like me - who prefer wooden racks rather than metallic ones - in their search. When I have done my purchase, I may be back :)

最後修改時間: 2011-06-17 17:05:55

Wants to buy one. Can I buy the racks in Hong Kong? Ching, please advise!

Which one? Podium?

None of them have dealers in HK though.

No I am communicating with the guy at hifi racks. Buying directly from them could have VAT excluded. But the shipping cost is a bit more expensive. Still figuring out the logistics.

最後修改時間: 2011-06-17 18:18:32

zbigniew821
Thank you for sharing. I went through the similar process and still not sure. One that I will end up with is probably the McKinnon Furniture Bellevue Symphony media cabinet (walnut).
http://www.mckinnonfurniture.com/mediacabinets/audio_symphony.htm

Image

leben hing, as yr name shows, I understand you like antique things!!

U mean this one?

It really looks very, very good, though the other things in my home can't match this. The only worry is the door. But if you have a big house, it probably doesn't matter ...

I guess you dun like Podium if you like the one you mentioned :) It's still too 'mechanical'. Yrs is really a piece of furniture.

Accidentally stumbled across this. Amazing.

zbigniew821 hing,
Yes. The one I like is the lower one. It is a furniture and then some more. It is my kind of unit. It is not fully compatible with my furniture....
i fully endorse the racks you have mentioned.

One more addition to this fine thread. Not as good, but cheaper than the Quadraspire.

http://salamanderdesigns.com/archetype/gal_towers.jsp




最後修改時間: 2011-06-18 22:30:08

Good addition, leben hing ...

Additional info:
THE NATIONAL AUDIO SHOW-WHITTLEBURY HALL 25th TO 26th SEPTEMBER 2010 PART FIVE

Hifi racks 'corner':

This pic gives me a better glimpse of what other colours look like. I like the Walnut even more.



最後修改時間: 2011-06-19 02:22:43

Two videos of the podium racks. WhatHiFi is quite hard-sell, but that video seems to reveal the solid-built quality of the racks.

leben hing,

This one looks very, very good to me.The translated web says:

"We take the protection of planet Earth and its resources very seriously and use, wherever possible, environmentally neutral and environmentally friendly production methods and natural materials, such as renewable woods or vegetable oils".

I confirmed that all are woods.

Very classic look. Not sure if it's yr taste. But it's almost tripled the price of Podium. It's really an issue to me.





最後修改時間: 2011-06-19 14:41:36

Timetable in action.

And Germans like LP12 very much. Time Table often tests and discuss its racks in relation to LP12.

The price is a bit ...