It’s worth noting that Andante Largo also offer their TH (Through Hole) range of stainless-steel spikes, intended for after-market application to speakers, stands and racks. Despite appearances, these are not quite the same as the spikes used on their own racks. Instead, they use standard, course pitch metric or imperial threads to match the threads used throughout the rest of the industry. The fine pitch threads used on the AL racks allow for easier and more precise adjustment of level and loading – as you’ll quickly discover if you get to play with one.
The Tubes
The Andante Largo Grand Tower racks are built using 32mm, titanium tubing with 1mm walls, a resilient, lightweight material that is steadily gaining a reputation for its dynamic and tonal properties when applied to audio applications. But the precision cut tubes are only the beginning. Each tube is internally coated with two thick (but carefully calculated) layers of silicon damping. In addition, a large diameter, ball bearing, the weight of each carefully matched to the length of the tube in question, is embedded in the silicon coating, acting as a parasitic resonator to further dissipate vibrational energy (an approach used by Naim Audio, amongst others, in its speaker cabinets). Finally, each tube is stuffed with natural wool to further absorb acoustic energy. The resulting tube is light in weight, transmits energy along its length with incredible efficiency but is also critically damped to absorb and dissipate that energy while preventing ringing.
The Spikes
As described above, the spikes (and locking nuts) that come fitted to the Grand Tower racks are precision machined from carefully chosen stainless steel, selected after extensive comparative listening. But the devil is in the detail. As noted above, the upward-facing spikes are supplied in matched sets of four, to a tolerance of ±0.05mm.
Each spike features a concave profile resulting in a narrow tip, perfect for penetrating carpet without lasting damage. It’s a profile shared with the Track Audio spikes as well as the cones fitted to Avalon speakers. It’s also a profile that’s delivered excellent musical results in the past (although whether that’s down to the shape itself or the harder alloys that it mandates, who can say?). The barrel of the spike features a wide, through hole for adjustment, while the beautifully cut narrow threads make for smooth movement when adjusting the bottom spikes for level, avoiding any ‘snagging’ or inadvertent movement when locking down. Andante Largo supply both a pry-bar to adjust the spikes and a D-spanner to fit the lock nuts. The result is a solution that is easy to adjust and fix with considerable precision, while the pry-bar also acts as a manual ‘torque wrench’ for locking down the upward facing spikes to a consistent setting/tension. Just tighten until the bar starts to flex and you’re done: simple and intuitive.
The Shelf and Shelf/Frame Interface
Andante Largo use birch ply for their shelves, available in two thicknesses, three colours (cherry, mahogany or black) and with a range of six different sized, off-set central cutouts, designed to accommodate varying different locations or spacing of the couplers or feet on the supported component. These cutouts reduce the mass of the supporting surface, while their complex, curved shape helps to distribute its resonant signature. You can also order shelves without the cutout to support smaller or multiple items, while there are also a range of dedicated shelves, each with a specific cutout to match the LP12 (where a larger rack is used), or accept drop-in studio-style record decks like the EMT 930, Thorens TD-124 or Garrard 301/401, eliminating the need for a separate plinth.
