DIY Audiophile racks

[Gary]

Considering my budget, I am left with two ideas for a DIY rack.

Idea 1) Bolt entire system to wall studs (horizontally, what else do you think!?! Sheesh! ;) ) using brackets commonly found at the Home Depot.

Advantages: Versatile (you can set the height ONCE!) No vibration from footsteps, etc.
Disadvantages: Weld (or solder with torch) brackets to the 'frame' means you have to live with what you originally set it up for. Will the wall hold that weight? Depends I guess....

Idea 2) The TNT FleXy table http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/flexye.html I can buy all the parts at Roma/Lansing or Home Depot.

Advantages: Height can be adjusted whenever you want. Versatile - you can make it horizontal so all four pieces of stereo equipment will not be above tweeter height.
Disadvantages: Could be susceptible to footsteps. Needs to sit on floor.

Either way I plan to buy turntable racks that DO bolt to the wall.

Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks! :)

G

PS I also investigated modifying industrial / workbench type racks (also available at Roma/Lansing or Home Depot) with steel legs, etc. but the fixed width was not acceptable.

[Joseph]

Gary,
I used to mount my turntable to the wall using large L brackets that were about 12" long by 12" high. I then screwed four threaded screws through the holes. The four screws were grinded to a point. The table sat on the points and could be leveled by adjusting the pointed screws. Cost: about $10. Effectiveness: worked very well, the table never skipped again.


The DIY racks look real interesting. Dave, are you up to the challenge of building them. IF you are, you're a better man than I.

Good Luck;)

[Dave]

If I were Gary... I'd probably go with the wall mount system as long as he doesn't have anything already built in to it on that side of the house. MHO

[Tullman]

Gary, If you bolt the shelves to the wall studs it doesn't leave you much room for cables and cleaning. I kinda like the DIY rack. You could get some audioquest feet to go between the shelve and component.

[Gary]

Originally posted by Tullman
Gary, If you bolt the shelves to the wall studs it doesn't leave you much room for cables and cleaning. I kinda like the DIY rack. You could get some audioquest feet to go between the shelve and component.

Cleaning? What's that? :D

Yes, one of the requirements is to have sound isolation between the components and shelving, no matter what I decide to do.

The rack may be more secure as it could hold a lot of weight (and I can still keep the TT on the wall bolted unit!). I am thinking of having 1) shelf, 2) isolation device, 3) marble slab and 4) stereo component. Marble slab could absorb vibrations from the unit....

Or maybe 1) shelf, 2) magic pillow.

Sounds like I may have some experimenting to do!

Thanks for your thoughts, Tullman!

[aashton]

Gary - what size shelves are you thinking of having on the unit ? It may be worth looking at alternatives to marble - such as Carbon fibre or Aerolam if you are interested in absorbtion. I use a shelf with a thick granite base myself and then inch thick laminated glass shelves - but I believe it is designed to allow energy to pass through rather than being absorbed. They do tend to weigh a bit as well - my 3 shelf unit weighs around 170lb - I pitied the delivery man (that "evil" grin smilie is still missing :D )

Love to see what you decide on - cool thread :cool: Andrew

[Tullman]

Originally posted by Gary


Cleaning? What's that? :D

Yes, one of the requirements is to have sound isolation between the components and shelving, no matter what I decide to do.

The rack may be more secure as it could hold a lot of weight (and I can still keep the TT on the wall bolted unit!). I am thinking of having 1) shelf, 2) isolation device, 3) marble slab and 4) stereo component. Marble slab could absorb vibrations from the unit....

Or maybe 1) shelf, 2) magic pillow.

Sounds like I may have some experimenting to do!

Thanks for your thoughts, Tullman!

My father was in the salvaging bussiness when I was a kid. I remember bathroom stalls that were divided by stone slabs that looked to me like marble. My dad made a table top out of one of them.

I can picture Gary rumaging around the work site and his eyes lighting up when he gets to the bathroom. Actually come to think of it they would have made great shelves, especially if you stacked two together.:cool:

[Gary]

I WOULD do that, Tullman! But I'd wash 'em first.... ;)