VTI racks, who has them?

polkfarmboy

Well I have been looking into getting a new rack. I dont want to spend very much money at all and the 2 small mini racks I have were always just for stacking the equipment on. The cheap rack I want now needs to be a little more performance orientated.

I have been looking at the VTI BL 404 as its super cheap and then noticed the much better looking BLG404. The BLG's are the glass shelf version and hold alot of weight and they look good and priced where I want my budget sweet spot.

Mikey081057

I have the AGR series and they are very solid. The glass shelves support up to 200 lbs and I was able to stand on it (205 lbs ) Easy to assemble too. Pretty good value.

brgman

Look at the Sanus a Euro series.
If you shuffle equipment and change around its a great system.
You can get different height spacers and make low racks,high racks,wide racks,whatever.
Modular and solid.
Love the stuff.

cfrizz

I got this VTI in Feb. courtesy of my brother.

https://us.v-cdn.net/5021930/uploads/attachments/5/4/1/2/3/89401.jpg

xjghost

I saw the VTI in Upstairs Audio in Columbia, SC last year and liked it. It's on the list of all the other things I want to do. I've never seen the Sanus stuff. I've been looking for something cheap for my son's system but not having any luck. I have been considering getting myself the VTI and giving him the one I got at Best Buy about a year ago. I'd be interested in some hands on onions on the VTI stuff or other brands that are like the two mentioned. Modular and well built. I personally prefer wood over glass.

Mikey081057

The VTI stuff is at a great price point for quality/looks. When I was designing my setup i had several spacing questions and their customer support answered all of my questions very promptly. With the AGR series I know if I need to reconfig and need to change a post size that parts are readily available. What I like about the AGR is that you can configure and build a solid immovable unit, but if you need to reconfig you just unscrew the posts. I have 2 60+lb amps on mine and no problems... the glass shelves are rated at like 200 or 250lbs. You can also shop the pricing and apply some coupons to get the price down.

SCompRacer

I'm on my second VTI rack. First was the BL503 series and now the BL404.

Here is a thread on deadening the tubes. Should anyone go this route, it seems the top caps are thinner now and easier to dent.

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/157082/vti-bl-series-rack-deadening

Mikey081057

This is actually a VTI 6 shelf unit and an amp stand configured in to 2 freestanding racks.

erniejade

VTI owner here also. It holds my McIntosh 402 without any issues and it I believe is at the 110 lb mark.

polkfarmboy

SCompRacer wrote: »

I'm on my second VTI rack. First was the BL503 series and now the BL404.

Here is a thread on deadening the tubes. Should anyone go this route, it seems the top caps are thinner now and easier to dent.

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/157082/vti-bl-series-rack-deadening

Man that bl404 looks so much better when you see it in a real world environment. Its got me giving a second thought to the blg404 and saving some money. Can those shelfs be used on there own ie. If I was to go for a blg could I then order 2 extra shelfs and sit a could of mono's ontop of them. I saw an add for the addition shelf and said " cannot be used as a single shelf" ?

SCompRacer

I ordered an extra base with shelf to use as an amp stand. My amp has some depth so I had to turn the base sideways. IIRC I ordered them from 4380134d, New Quest Sound, at Audiogon.

doctor r

I used the 404 for a while (now at college holding my sons system). I originally ordered one additional 7" tall section that gave a lot more options with stacking to form some symmetric custom shapes. Excellent rack for the money.

thsmith

If you decide to fill the legs with sand or whatever be careful lifting the shelf as the caps can fall off and you will have a nice pile of sand on the floor.

doctor r

^^^^ What thsmith said is true...... don't ask how I know

Mikey081057

Always a good idea to fill stands outside if you can

SCompRacer

My VTI mishap dealt with lead shot. If one fills the tubes with anything, they should also seal the small slots in the underside where the cross bars meet the tubes. If the rubber plugs in the tubes where the cross bars attach slip out of place, whatever is inside the tube can migrate into the cross bars. If the fill material is smaller than the tiny slots, it can get out. I used a smear of clear silicone sealer.

Rather than use an adhesive of some type on the lower caps, or spray insulation, I prefer the pipe insulation method now to deaden the VTI rack tubes. To add more mass, get some plastic pipe, cut to proper length, cap one end and fill it with material of choice, cap the open end and stuff it in center.

gudnoyez

I have a Sanus Euro rack and a Euro amp stand, but that VTI stuff looks pretty sexy for sure, wouldn't mind one myself.

polkfarmboy

Well I ordered the BLG404 in all black with silver caps. Cymax has them for $379 shipped but there was a make an offer on them. I noticed they had them on sale on the ebay page so I used the formula of deduction the ebay and paypal fee's. The offer I put on the cymax web page was accepted so nearly $50 on total savings of the already fantastic low price. Compared to the comp the average price of this rack is$430 so I got mine nearly $100 below that.

This is going to look fantastic with all the new gear I have coming inand cant wait to set it up. Will post some pics on the Friday arrival

SCompRacer

Kewl! Nice rack!



I haven't ordered it yet, but you can purchase the wire management grid separately. The newer racks come with threaded inserts at the rear to attach it. I think it would allow for neater routing of power/IC cables and allow easy attachment points with zip ties.

polkfarmboy

Scomp l got the rack you can have my cable management grid for free if ya want it bud.

Best looking rack in my eye's for the money, not even any assembley required. They should say on the add ' Polkfarmboy proof ' or ' So easy to assemble, even pfb cant fck it up '

Mikey081057

All right put it together put some toys on it and lets see it!

xjghost

Mikey081057 wrote: »

All right put it together put some toys on it and lets see it!

x2!

EndersShadow

polkfarmboy wrote: »

They should say on the add ' Polkfarmboy proof ' or ' So easy to assemble, even pfb cant fck it up '

That should be a endorsement lol...

polkfarmboy

Will add pics shortly as the dreaded mother inlaw is visiting right now.

polkfarmboy

mm
Here is a pic!!

polkfarmboy

Wow 3.8mb upload, I am loving the higher rez pic uploads the forum now has!!

polkfarmboy

Here is a solo **** pic upload

polkfarmboy

Another close up of the 3 shelf

Mikey081057

The black with silver accents look great... congrats PFB!

xjghost

You sir suck!

schwarcw

Very nice PFB! They look great!