The reason we’re even talking about clichés like the “Women Acceptance Factor” (WAF) in hi-fi is not just bulky loudspeakers but above all rack systems more akin to altars than to pieces of furniture. Yet the listening room is also a living space. Beaudioful founder André Schwager has set out to remedy this situation: his RÄCK racks are just about the prettiest thing a hi-fi system can find itself placed on – and they even deliver the sound quality that their appearance suggests.
How nice that you don’t have to explain the purpose of a hi-fi rack to experienced FIDELITY readers: provided its developer knows what he’s doing, it dissipates vibrations and resonances from components and at the same time ensures that neither impact nor structure-borne noise – mainly from the speakers – can affect them from outside. André Schwager was familiar with this basic knowledge when he took on a hobby-driven part-time job at a hi-fi dealer. In his actual life, the trained automotive engineer worked at Audi, where he was a studio designer. In this role, he takes technical specifications from other engineers and tries to package and integrate them into car concepts such that the result is visually appealing – a not insignificant aspect in a car. No wonder, then, that someone with this background can only shake his head when looking at most hi-fi shelves. He appreciates it when things work perfectly from a technical standpoint, he tells me during his visit to the editorial office. But he likes it even better when they look good too. And many racks – designed more as a base for a hi-fi altar – fail the lifestyle test.
It was precisely with this premise in mind that he began tinkering with his own concepts. The clean lines and focused design of his furniture, reduced to the essentials, were close to today’s models from the very beginning. The “technical innards,” if you can call them that in a rack, naturally took time and countless experiments. André Schwager first produced relatively simple MDF constructions, which gradually became more and more sophisticated. Over time, he learned how different types of wood affect the sound of the components, which led him to view the shelves of his racks as instruments and to increasingly use solid wood. In 2017, on the occasion of his first trade fair appearance, the name “beaudioful” was added, and with it the official founding of the company. Incidentally, you can pronounce the brand name however you like: it combines the English “beautiful” with “be audioful.” Both pronunciations are acceptable; anything in between speaks to your creativity.
Our test rack, the beaudioful RÄCK-R, marks a break with the comparatively linear development to date. Moving away from pure real wood, it climbs to the next stage of evolution with its complex layering of HDF and solid wood panels. Two times six layers of different materials and thicknesses are glued together – the inner layers are comparatively soft, while the outer layers become increasingly harder. Two linoleum coverings on the top and bottom complete the design. The natural material looks great on the RÄCK and also serves as an electrically non-conductive insulator. According to André Schwager, he was inspired to use this construction method not only by his knowledge of materials, but also by aircraft construction, where a core that is as light as possible is also encased in an extremely stable outer shell.
The effect here is different, of course: the rigid outer layers receive vibrations and conduct them to the interior, where they can dissipate in the softer materials. The visual finesse of the RÄCK-R comes courtesy of the cute hoppity rabbit company logo as well as the real-wood surface runnibg the circumference of the shelves. The colorful linoleum top plate provides a magnificent contrast. The material is available in a whole range of muted colors, but we immediately fell in love with the bright orange of our test sample. Incidentally, the underside of our shelves was pastel green. Since the shelves are symmetrical, you can simply change the color if you get tired of orange.
The levels are supported by solid aluminum beams, each of which is fixed to the RÄCK-R with a substantial bolt. Between each beam and its anchorage in the rack floor is a wafer-thin absorber plate, which may seem trivial but plays an enormous role in the insulation of the floors, as André Schwager explains.
Our rack is based on a “35 +10” element (10 cm floor clearance, 35 cm clearance to the second level), two shelves measuring 120 x 50 centimeters, which are bolted directly to each other via their four supports. The frame rests on brass spikes with M6 screw sockets in the supplied floor protectors, which have small felt pads attached to their underside. Since the M6 format is rather unusual in hi-fi, the spikes cannot be easily replaced with commercially available alternatives. André Schwager explains that he is aware of this, but that they nevertheless opted for the smaller socket in order to keep the aluminum profiles as slim and elegant as possible – in this and other aspects, the appearance was given priority. And there is really no reason to change: the spikes, which are also available in stainless steel, work perfectly with their fixing ring in the context of the RÄCK.
Incidentally, there are small holes at the top of the four 35 + 10 beams into which flattened threaded pins have been inserted. These serve as supports for the spikes on the final third level. Customers have reported that there is some tuning potential here: the exact fit of the threaded pins determines how stable the upper base is. Savvy sound enthusiasts have already replaced them with POM versions, which reportedly brought sonic benefits.
Even aside from fine tuning, there are countless aspects of the RÄCK-R to consider, especially before purchasing. In addition to the linoleum color options, the wooden version of the frames, and aluminum supports in black or silver, the shelves are available in three widths: 60, 120, and 180 centimeters—enough variables for a completely customized design of the RÄCK-R. The starting price for a medium level (120 cm) is around 3,100 Euros. Our base model (35+10) with its two levels costs around 6,500 Euros – quite reasonable considering the customization and finish made to order. At 9,800 Euros, our entire test RACK sits just shy of the magical five-figure threshold and, offering space for six very large components, is an excellent choice in the luxury rack segment.
We can also attest to this in terms of sound quality. We used a wide variety of devices in our tests, and (in the absence of a tube amplifier) we once again found that DACs and streamers in particular benefit from a solid base. Our test triptych, consisting of the T+A SDV 3100 HV/Lyravox LyraKore Duo+ and Lumin P1 Mini, sounded wonderfully earthy on the RÄCK-R and always gained in inner calm, presence, and imaging sharpness compared to all kinds of hastily procured tables. Of course, we also consulted other hi-fi racks for comparison. The Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference Mk II, for example, in which our players seemed a touch airier, but that’s a matter of taste, and apart from that, they meet more or less on eye’s height. The difference between the two racks lies more in their concepts: the Pagode is more modular and can be equipped with individually loadable and procured shelves per shelf space, while the RÄCK-R is designed as a visually customizable piece of furniture that seamlessly integrates the hi-fi chain into a “beautiful living” ambience.
Accompanying Equipment
CD player: Audio Note CD 3.1x | Streamer/media player: Lumin P1 Mini, Lyravox LyraKore Duo+ | Preamplifier: T+A PSD 3100 HV | Power amplifier: Burmester 216 | Integrated amplifier: Aavik I-580 | Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Sasha DAW, Marten Parker Quintet | Cables: WestminsterLab, AudioQuest | Racks: Finite Elemente, Solidsteel
HiFi rack Beaudioful RÄCK-R
Concept: heavy hi-fi rack with multi-layer shelves and numerous visual customization options | Material: each shelf consists of a total of 12 layers of HDF, real wood, and linoleum | Finishes: in addition to numerous linoleum variants, frames made of woods such as oak and walnut are available, and the aluminum supports are offered in natural aluminum and black anodized. Practically anything is possible on request (and at an additional cost) | Dimensions: standard range 60, 120, or 180 x 50 cm, adjustable heights in 5 cm increments; special dimensions available at extra cost | Warranty period: 2 years | Prices: from €3100 (one level, 60 x 50 cm), 35 + 10 module around €6500, as reviewed around €9800
Beaudioful
Schloßstraße 29
38871 Ilsenburg
Phone +49 176 81328213
info@beaudioful.com