A 6FT Hi-Fi Rack Without Breaking The Bank?

[Minstrel SE]

As you know when they have a space problem in cities they build upwards...its a no brainer.

I have a space problem with hi fi equipment and I need a taller rack to cut the space of two racks down to one. The reason is I have an Amp, Tuner, Cassette Deck, CD player, Minidisc Player, VCR, Two turntables, Spare Freeview box for the Radio...etc etc...the TV unit is also full.

Im thinking through my options that wont be very expensive. Ive seen the modular units which can add up to £700+ with only 5 low shelves.

Wall units seem out as I like to get round the back

I could bolt a Target TT2 to a TT5 but thats a bit messy isnt it . I have two black and a dark green rack but they are five shelves and the lower shelves have a tuner or something just near the floor.

Any ideas or is it a non starter? Ive got to get some equipment up to head height as thats where the space is in my place ...upwards :)

Please help me think this through.

[Lawrence001]

I've never seen a single width rack solution for two turntables. Height wise you need sufficient clearance to lift the lid on both, that's the problem. Maybe there's a leftfield solution I'm not aware of though.

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[Metlor]

You could build it yourself.
M16 or M20 threaded bar with birch ply shelves.

Adjustable to suit, think about hooking it to the wall for safety ?
It does take a while spinning those nuts too.

[Edward]

Have a chat with Paul at https://www.solid-sounds.co.uk/

I met him at the last WAM show (he was the guy who had the Dutch & Dutch speakers). The racks he makes seem to be world class.

I've been chatting with him about a possible project.

[Pharos]

Although not as tall as you need, I became really annoyed at the prices of racks and a few year ago made my own, and cheaply, but with some work.

I bought four large size broom handles and made a six shelf unit which could be seven, (I left a larger gap at the bottom for the power amp), and used MDF for the shelves. my method of fixing was both difficult and labour intensive, and I now realise that I should have used the same approach as furniture does, using screwable lengths of wood with metal threaded protrusions. (Typically on coffee tables).

I feel sure that there must be metal part available to insert into lengths of dowel, and then you can build your own height.

[mikmas]

If you have solid walls and are handy with a drill (or know someone who is..) then Spur shelving supports are the affordable way to go :thumbsup:

The uprights are available in lengths up to 2.4 meter and I usually use the 30cm snap-in brackets (there are some even longer) with 33x40cm birch ply shelves, leaving a space at the back for cabling.

Use heavy duty plugs and screws and they will take a fairly hefty load without flinching - my TT weighs a ton and is on the top shelf of a low set seen in this thread here:

https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?62118-Some-boxes-joined-together-with-wires/page3

I've only came to this solution because in the past I always found racks (especially homebrew attempts) to be a complete PITA for all kinds of reasons - tall racks even more so ...

[Minstrel SE]

Yes some great replies thanks.

yes 6ft is pushing it so maybe a multi shelf unit lower in height than that. I could make something and had previously been aware of the tnt flexy table design with threaded rods. The turntables couldnt go on a tall rack so would have to go on a sideboard type unit or wall shelf. That was just to give you an idea that I have too much equipment. I am trying to go minimalist but failing miserably. :)

Yes the Solid Sound designs look great and I may pay the money to get the storage looking just great. Storage is everything and there is little point owning something if you cant display it properly

Making my own could be an option and to be quite frank I get annoyed with the prices of modular wood stack hi fi units...you know 3 shelves up and its already at £600. Ok they look nice but £150 for one wood spiked shelf gets ridiculous in my view

I may build wall shelving units as Im already planning alcove shelves

You are right that the standard rack isnt really aimed at people with too much equipment or living spaces that have to be planned more carefully.

Im handy with a drill so may well build something myself

[Lawrence001]

Second hand modular might be the way forward. For example in my second system I'm using an Alphason glass shelf rack with aluminium tubes (cost £50) which I took apart to transport. If I find two identical racks I don't see why I couldn't add the second rack (or half of) onto the first but leave the top shelf of the lower rack out to give me more access to a TT on that level. I'd also avoid putting heavy equipment higher up to keep it safe. Not sure how much weight the combined rack could take but it looks pretty robust with strong rods inside the tubes.

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[rigger67]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-5-Tier-Ladder-Shelf-Bookcase-Plant-Flower-CD-DVD-Display-Unit-Stand-Rack/153561961116?hash=item23c101929c:g:1rEAAOSw9CtdJwS 0

I nearly bought one of these a while back. You can attach it to the wall for stability and put the smaller bits of kit on the higher shelves with plenty of room below for the big boys :)

[nonuffin]

My rack has 7 x 10mm toughened smoked glass shelves joined with M6 threaded rods and it weighs a huge amount. It doesn't sway at all much to my surprise and although it was a right pain spinning the nuts and washers down the rods when building it, at least each shelf is now adjustable for height to accomodate whatever components I wish to put into it.

I spent ages looking for a rack with the ease of shelf height adjustment and for a sensible outlay but I couldn't find any that could meet both important criteria.

[nonuffin]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-5-Tier-Ladder-Shelf-Bookcase-Plant-Flower-CD-DVD-Display-Unit-Stand-Rack/153561961116?hash=item23c101929c:g:1rEAAOSw9CtdJwS 0

I nearly bought one of these a while back. You can attach it to the wall for stability and put the smaller bits of kit on the higher shelves with plenty of room below for the big boys :)

Load capacity of each tier is only 5kg. How long would a big Krell amp last on one of those :lol:

[walpurgis]

If using threaded rod, the look can be enhanced by sliding cut sections of chrome or black steel tube over it. Available from places like B&Q.

[ovlov854]

I have got a substantial number of the original Sound Factory/Sound Advice Tripod modules.
These would easily make up almost any height you heart desires
I you send me a PM with your email I can send you a copy of the brochure

[Pharos]

Mike's suggestion is of course a very good solution, but you need access to the wall, I recommended it to my father and he used it, and very good for turntables it is.

[Sherwood]

I have two of these Ikea units but mine are the narrower units which cost £45.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/fjaellbo-shelving-unit-black-70339291/

I can strongly recommend this design. The frame is steel with reinforcing brackets on the corners. This makes the unit extremely rigid. The wooden shelves are well made and give a feel of quality. From your posting this double unit may meet you needs at a very low cost.

Geoff

I haven't tried it, but the shelf spacing may be sufficient to accommodate a turntable though personally I would not go down that route.

[Minstrel SE]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-5-Tier-Ladder-Shelf-Bookcase-Plant-Flower-CD-DVD-Display-Unit-Stand-Rack/153561961116?hash=item23c101929c:g:1rEAAOSw9CtdJwS 0

I nearly bought one of these a while back. You can attach it to the wall for stability and put the smaller bits of kit on the higher shelves with plenty of room below for the big boys :)

Yes you see a lot of general shelving units like this but it doesnt look strong enough IMO. A lot of the shelving that isnt specifically for hi fi just looks as though it could barely hold the weight of a few books and ornaments.

Have you felt the weight of a PM7200? I bet a lot of you just have dacs and headphone amps on your shelves :)

I might see if two identical five shelf racks will bolt together.

eight shelves quite close together would do it. I dont know...its going to cost to do this right. I may have to build a unit covering a whole wall..solid wall storage is probably the way for me to go.

It has to look good. I always thought those Target turntable shelves looked damn ugly. I like the new wood designs but by god they are expensive.

[Minstrel SE]

I have got a substantial number of the original Sound Factory/Sound Advice Tripod modules.
These would easily make up almost any height you heart desires
I you send me a PM with your email I can send you a copy of the brochure

Yes Ive seen this sort of thing but How much are they? Say I was stacking eight of those its going to add up. Probably my idea of what Im doing wont match the cost of those...I dont know yet.

Im going to have to spend either way...I need more floor space

[DiveDeepDog]

I collected a stack of Atacama Equinox a while ago, but it seems less popular and still quite expensive. Pretty substantial and up to the job though.

[Minstrel SE]

I am thinking now of the Alphason, Stands Unique, Sound Style or newer Apollo racks bolted together. I will have to look into the contruction and if that have removable top caps on the tubular kegs. One Sound style rack does so that sort of tubular leg design with the plastic top caps revealing a thread

If they have the tube design going through shelves I should be able to combine two of them.

The problem with my current Target Racks is they are a fixed welded frame.

The modular spike stack shelves would be ideal but I dont think I can afford that many shelves

[Mike Reed]

You don't want it against a wall. You're handy with DIY. You don't have much lateral space but oodles of height. You've got a lot of kit. Hmmmmm!

How much lateral width and depth can you accommodate? I built a three shelf (18mm ply), stained & polished) unit affixed to a side wall but 18/20" away from the back wall. Each shelf is supported underneath by a batten and damped by rubber fillets. It holds 2x valved mono's (heavy !), CDP, DAC, 2 x P/Ss, tuner and valved pre. There's still space for another box or two, but the overall width is 4' & height 41" to top shelf.

Turntable is on a separate h/d Target table, but if you have the depth and width, it's not impossible to incorporate wider ply shelves at, say, second or third shelf level with adequate vertical ply side pieces/supports.

Personally I'd never have a t/t on the same surface as electronics and instead of 2 x turntables, get one which takes multiple arms.

If any inkling is derived from the above, it'll be worth the writing of it. :)

[Minstrel SE]

Yes a lot of kit is not pretty in a minimalist sense but it is fun. I have so many cables down the back...silver spiral, Ixos Ecosse, k20 that I cant see wall units accomodating it all. These are stiff cables in a spaghetti junction.

I like to get round the back which is why racks are good.

My two turntables are a little hobby. They are only Duals Ive fully restored with new lids and the deluxe bases. A Planar 2 is coming soon. Problem is I keep hanging on to stuff and I will have to get rid of some of it. Its not expensive equipment but I love it.

So I have two TT5s with a TT2 next to them. Then I have a dark green tubular 5 shelf Target with glass shelves and another TT2 with the laptop on....too many racks and the low racks ( 2 shelf ) are a waste of space

The turntables are on the spiked TT5 top shelves...an 80s rack which looks far too black and ugly...maybe I will get them powder coated

Storage is key! We should always have the room ready before bringing equipment in. I have done it the other way round and I will have to put it all in big yellow storage while I rebuild.

Ive got height up to victorian ceilings

Ive seen those 7 shelf Optimum racks but they are £600+ for glass shelves and chrome tubes. Maybe the wood ones arent such steep value after all. The s/h ones are usually 150 miles away :)

[Lawrence001]

Mine's like this they come up quite often. Only thing is you might want 4 legs for the extra weight.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F 133068744373


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[Audio Al]

https://www.bigdug.co.uk/shelving-c4505/adjustable-shelving-c5021

https://www.bigdug.co.uk/shelving-c4505/garage-shelving-c4512/garage-corner-shelving-storage-kit-p19828

:)

[guy]

speed frame?

https://www.dexionstore.co.uk/dexion-speedframe-c-3234_3219_564.html?infinity=ict2~net~gaw~ar~300590 595351~kw~speed%20frame~mt~e~cmp~Search%20-%20Speedframe%20Dexion%20-%20Exact%20-%20Desktop~ag~Dexion%20Speedframe%20-%20Exact&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzJ6q67vE5AIVRLDtCh091wKBEAAYAiAA EgJVK_D_BwE