Need help finding an audio rack

[naylorman32]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the whole audio blog thing, but i need some advice. I'm in the market for a new audio rack to hold all of my components. I'm currently using a utility shelf that you would find at home depot. It works great and gets the job done, but its not... aesthetically pleasing. Its about 4 feet wide, and 7 feet tall... yeah...I'm looking for something thin and tall to just stack all my gear in. I'd really like to decrease the footprint overall.

My gear includes:
Emotiva XPR 5 (100 lbs)
Integra DHC 80.3
Panamax M7500 Pro
PS4
Xbox One
Cable box
If room, my wireless router.


I cant seem to find one that holds the weight of my amp. I know i can use ear racks, but I kind of like them just sitting on a shelf. And while I've thought about an AMP stand, i'd really like to keep everything enclosed due to having 2 nephews under age 3. Don't even want to think about the damage they could cause in a couple of years.

Budget: I'd say around $1000 tops. Its tough to spend much more than that on something that really doesn't add any performance. I'd love to spend that money on a projector/screen, but I know keeping my gear safe is crucial.

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I love my VTI BLG 404 modular glass rack. You can add additional modular shelves (7, 9, or 13" high) for about $120 each.

BLG Series - VTI Manufacturing





VTI BLG Series Extended Height Audio Rack (Various Finishes) BLG404-13

Each glass shelf is rated for 300lbs. Total rack rated for 400lbs.

 

[naylorman32]

Those are nice! Thanks! They'd be perfect if they had a door on it. VTI seems to be a great value.

 

[walter duque]

This Salamander Designs Synergy Single 303 - 30 Series - 23.25'' Wide 30'' Tall (3 Adjustable shelves, 1 30'' Door) | The Simple Stores is what I use. Same size but no sides, back and no door. Paid retail for that one $299.00. Very high quality build, can hold 100# amps with ease and adjustable shelf.

 

[crossedover]

Those are nice! Thanks! They'd be perfect if they had a door on it. VTI seems to be a great value.

Sounds like your torn between enclosed and open racks. You can look at middle atlantic enclosed with shelves instead of rack ears. Great cable management and highly functional with many options including shelve fans, internal mounted power centers, etc.

 

[ImcLoud]

Why enclosed? VTI is an awesome deal, and they are audiophile-ish with the spiked floating shelves...

sonax has some but they seem cheezy to me Amazon.com - Sonax CR-2360 Cranley Wide Enclosed Component Stand, 21-Inch, Ravenwood Black - Audio Video Media Cabinets Bush and ikcco are about the same quality as Sonax....
I would check out Salamander Designs, Techcraft, and Bello...

 

[herbu]

This is what I use. Not "tall and thin", but also wanted doors to keep the critters from in/around/behind the components. Kind of like your kid protection.



You can see a few of the holes I drilled for air circulation, and you can see some of the wood I added to increase the shelf weight capability. Turned out to be a fair amount of work, but nothing difficult. Got the cabinet at a local chain store, H. H. Gregg, for ~$200 if I remember correctly. So though this might not fit your bill, adding some shelf support w/ wood, screws & glue, and even adding circulation by drilling holes, can be done.

 

[naylorman32]

yeah kid protection is really the main goal here. They seem to love anything with buttons and LED lights, so my emotiva pretty much has a target on it haha.

 

[slipperybidness]

They seem to love anything with buttons and LED lights, so my emotiva pretty much has a target on it haha.

I wonder where they learned that behavior

 

[little wing]

I love my VTI BLG 404 modular glass rack. You can add additional modular shelves (7, 9, or 13" high) for about $120 each.

BLG Series - VTI Manufacturing





VTI BLG Series Extended Height Audio Rack (Various Finishes) BLG404-13

Each glass shelf is rated for 300lbs. Total rack rated for 400lbs.

Just curious, is this a showroom set up or your theater room?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Just curious, is this a showroom set up or your theater room?

It was my personal home theater.

 

[ellisr63]

Have you thought about designing your own, and then building it? I designed some racks years ago, and had them all welded up, tapped for spikes, installed marble shelves, and then filled them with sand. They were really nice and were made for less than half of store bought ones. Another option is the extruded aluminum T-Channel (like post #4)... I have seen some very nice ones built by others. We just built our 180" Scope Screen frame out of extruded aluminum "T" channel, and it was super easy to make. You could easily build it yourself as it is just like getting a store bought one and assembling it... Just cheaper and custom made to your design.

 

[ellisr63]

It was my personal home theater.

Why so many speakers?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

yeah kid protection is really the main goal here. They seem to love anything with buttons and LED lights, so my emotiva pretty much has a target on it haha.

Well, you know that heat is the enemy of all electronics, so ventilation is salient.

Closed cabinets with rear ventilation holes may offer better protection from kids, but not from heat.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Why so many speakers?

Temporary insanity.

 

[ellisr63]

Temporary insanity.

Do you just hook up what ever pair you want to listen to, and leave the others disconnected?

 

[little wing]

It was my personal home theater.

Wow, impressive..

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Do you just hook up what ever pair you want to listen to, and leave the others disconnected?

No I used an ADCOM speaker selector, which holds up to 6 pairs of speakers. All speakers were connected to the ADCOM via banana plugs.

 

[JohnnieB]

Musicians friend has racks as well. I am in the process of designing my own cabinet. If you are not woodworking inclined, your local home depot would have plenty of pre cut, pre finished panels. It would still be cheaper than buying retail. To make adjustable shelves, use a pre drilled panel with holes for shelf pegs. Check out The Cooler Guys website for cooling fans. Glass can be cut to custom size. Just about any type of hinge and latch system for glass doors can be found online with a simple Google search.
Most home improvement warehouses have a custom cabinet service for free, if you buy the cabinets from them. Really a nice audio cabinet is no different than a kitchen cabinet. A little foot work, some imagination and voila, you have a custom audio cabinet that looks good.

 

[FrancisDaniel]

those are awesome!
just a little safety tip, since you mentioned you have your nephews around, might as well use gaffers tapes to secure loose wires. I also use them to hold equipments still on its place on your audio rack. Goodluck!