Does anyone use extension blocks on their Isoblue racks ?
I’m just curious as to what they look like in the flesh and how it affects the rack stability.
James
I have extensions on the bottom rung of my rack @james_n - hopefully you can see this in the photo below (a bit dark). The extensions are to ensure there is enough clearance for the mains block to slot underneath.
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hi @james_n
i am considering the isoblue rack and looked carefully at an example at my dealers with shelves having no extensions, single and double extensions. personally i found the original design rather elegant, but felt this was lost when the extensions were added - they looked rather clumsy. however tastes vary and i guess after a couple of months the rack will fade into the background.
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I’ve got a couple of single ones James. They are a hangover from when I had my CDS3 on the top and my NAC282 beneath it, and wanted to put a bit of free space above the pre.
Years later, though those bits of kit are long gone, the spacers are still there. They look fine.
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Ugly with the extensions
Thanks Gavin - that was just what i was looking for. Unfortunately after looking at the extensions available, they don’t take into account the 20mm shelf height. I was thinking i could remove the first shelf on the right hand rack and space appropriately with extensions (35 + 65mm) to keep the shelf symmetry between racks and allow for a larger amp on the bottom as you have done, but i’d end up with 20mm difference in shelf height to the left hand rack.
Back to the drawing board !
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A pair of 350s would fit rather nicely, with no need for extensions.
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Have a word with Andy at Winchester hifi, he may be able to arrange something for you (he owns isoblue the company).
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They certainly would, Nigel - Just keeping my options open.
Thanks @robert_h - That’s useful info. Thanks.
I bought a set for the other stack too to match heights. It’s a shame that the extensions aren’t the equivalent of one or two standard shelves. Stability is fine though.
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Yes, that’s another approach. I could probably raise both shelves by 35mm which gives me more options on the amp front, without ending up with too much empty space to the left hand rack.
Hi James, I’ve used a couple of small (35mm) extensions at times. I think they look fine, but I do find the larger ones look a bit ungainly. No problem with stability though.
Isoblue are a small company, so I guess you could ask them if they do custom orders. If not, it would be an easy job for a skilled joiner to make up a pair to order. Either that or use the regular legs and get a pair of 20mm spacers made up, to use instead of a shelf. That would give you a 220mm gap and keep the other shelves level.
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I like the finish on that - Walnut?
I seem to recall you had a very nice oak (?) veneer upgrade when you had the racks.
Back home and a slightly clearer pic of the base extensions @james_n. As it turned out, I didn’t actually need them - my G3 mainsblock would have fitted underneath anyway. I do agree with some of the comments that large extensions in the middle of the rack do look a little ungainly.
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Looking at the extension pieces i would say that about 10 minutes to knock them up. Any decent carpenter could make you these in whatever height you need.
But I would make new legs in the same shape as the original ones but just taller as the extensions to me look very ugly and DIY
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Isoblue Special Branch in walnut. One of the best looking and best sounding racks that looks like a piece of furniture. In my opinion of course !
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Thanks folks - I can always guarantee some good suggestions from the forum so I appreciate all the responses. Some food for thought 
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