Can someone recommend me a nice audio rack?

Joey_V

Help me out guys... looking for a nice audio rack. I want something that can hold over 100lbs per shelf (or atleast some of the shelves) and looks good to the eye.

I dont want to spend too much on this as I have to be careful where I spend my money in terms of audio equipment.... I just bought a new preamp (again) and I'm still in the running for the Transporter, which costs more than a pretty penny.

So... umm... nothing too expensive.

I checked audiogon and found a few, but I havent found anything that truly is to my liking. If you guys have any recommendations, please post and let me know.

Thanks,
Joey

beardog03

I like Adona...but they are kinda pricey

I have the Adona for the main rig, and I`m looking at getting a second one for the tube gear....but like I said ...to costly at this jucture !!!!











I`m no help, am I..?!!

DarqueKnight

Joey_V wrote:

I want something that can hold over 100lbs per shelf (or atleast some of the shelves) and looks good to the eye.

I dont want to spend too much on this.....

What you ask is...difficult.

100 lbs/shelf + looks good = $$$$$

A DIY project might be your best option. Good luck.

Joey_V

DarqueKnight wrote:

What you ask is...difficult.

100 lbs/shelf + looks good = $$$$$

A DIY project might be your best option. Good luck.

Ok ok... 100lbs for atleast just one shelf. I doubt a preamp of mine will ever tip the 100lb mark, I dont even think that's possible.

Joey_V

beardog03 wrote:

I like Adona...but they are kinda pricey

I have the Adona for the main rig, and I`m looking at getting a second one for the tube gear....but like I said ...to costly at this jucture !!!!

I`m no help, am I..?!!

Bear....

You're always a good help to me!

Thanks for the Adona tip... I looked at those via google and their site, it looks REAL nice!! Wow... just what the Dr ordered.

Pricey though at over $1K for some of them... so I'll keep my options open. BUT, I really like the modular design! I can have them split apart or stack them... very neat!

Joey

beardog03

I have the three teir...gold and black, w/ black granite

I think it was around 800 shipped....maybe a little less

solid design though

If you decide to go that route, give him a call...he will work with you
You can always go a level at a time....that`s my next plan...I think it`s around 250-275 a level
I`m about to get an amp stand....black w/green granite

janmike

Joey, Take a look at Plateau. I have the XT series and they are very sturdy and look good. My Proceed AMP weights 120 pounds and I have it on the top shelf. No problem with the weight. This unit have 4 levels and you can expand them by buying additional shelves.

Joey_V

Robert (Bear),
I'll look into Adona some more... very costly though, but very nice at the same time. Looks like for 4 racks, I'm looking at over $1K or more. Yikes.... that takes out some of my Transporter budget. But the cool thing about the Adona is that I could unstack them and have an amp stand solo if I wanted.

Michael,
The Plateaus look real nice also.... the XT is one solid rack. At $300, it's a good price.



I'm looking at the VTI racks at the moment, they seem to be modular and good looking at the same time.

univera

What's wrong with that Ikea ampstand?:D Is the Plinius getting closer and closer to the floor......?

SCompRacer

The VTI BL series are a reasonably priced and nice looking rack. You can fill the tubes with lead shot if you want. They rate a single shelf at 200 pounds with a 350 pound total load capactity, so one must do the math. I use the double wide BL rack. My system made the cover of the November issue of Affordable $$ Audio so it must not look too awful bad.:cool:

dkg999

SCompRacer wrote:

The VTI BL series are a reasonably priced and nice looking rack. You can fill the tubes with lead shot if you want. They rate a single shelf at 200 pounds with a 350 pound total load capactity, so one must do the math. I use the double wide BL rack. My system made the cover of the November issue of Affordable $$ Audio so it must not look too awful bad.:cool:

I think Rich just became an audio snob on us

janmike

I personally like the Cherry finish and the square, black tubes. I have this one and the speaker stands to match. Fill all the tubes with lead shot. Very solid at a good price.

SCompRacer

dkg999 wrote:

I think Rich just became an audio snob on us

:eek: LOL It's all I got. I'm spent now.

wingnut4772

I really like my Salamander rack.

I-SIG

SCompRacer wrote:

The VTI BL series are a reasonably priced and nice looking rack. You can fill the tubes with lead shot if you want. They rate a single shelf at 200 pounds with a 350 pound total load capactity, so one must do the math. I use the double wide BL rack. My system made the cover of the November issue of Affordable $$ Audio so it must not look too awful bad.:cool:

Another shout out for the VTI stuff. Here's mine:

Wes's VTI rack


Wes

SCompRacer

I-SIG wrote:

Another shout out for the VTI stuff. Here's mine:

Wes's VTI rack


Wes

Very nice Wes! The Oak shelves look good in your room. I went with Black shelves to contrast our Oak floor.

I-SIG

SCompRacer wrote:

Very nice Wes! The Oak shelves look good in your room. I went with Black shelves to contrast our Oak floor.

Thanks. I thought the oak shelves would go nicely with the wood on the SRS'a and the silver accents would go with the silver equipment I have.

Your black and gold goes really well the equipment in the system showcase picture. Very high-class.

Wes

hearingimpared

Joey this cost me $250 new/shipped. It's a good start.

Joe

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=19666&d=1159490642

dudeinaroom

here are a couple I found, I like the last 2.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5172398
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5172402
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3208880
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2138613
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3601508

Holydoc

Bah... spend the big bucks:

http://www.diamondcase.com/TT/TT_HTML_Files/TT400_Open.HTML

Joey_V

Thanks for all the tips guys!! Really really appreciate them all!

Yes, Rich is now an audio snob.... that AA cover really did it for him!

Holydoc... I dont know where to start with that ginormous thing you posted there.. hahahaha....:).

Dude..... I like the way those look, but I need more heft.... thanks though!

Wes, Rich, Joe... I think the VTI is definitely the way to go and they arent too expensive. I suppose the Plinius will have to stay on the bottom so as to not overload the rest of the rack.

VTI and Plateau... those are the two top ones on my list so far.

I personally think that the Adonas are just too expensive for me.... but they look killer no doubt! Robert... you're lucky to have those guys!! I'm jealous!!

Joey

hearingimpared

Joey_V wrote:

Thanks for all the tips guys!! Really really appreciate them all!

Yes, Rich is now an audio snob.... that AA cover really did it for him!

Holydoc... I dont know where to start with that ginormous thing you posted there.. hahahaha....:).

Dude..... I like the way those look, but I need more heft.... thanks though!

Wes, Rich, Joe... I think the VTI is definitely the way to go and they arent too expensive. I suppose the Plinius will have to stay on the bottom so as to not overload the rest of the rack.

VTI and Plateau... those are the two top ones on my list so far.

I personally think that the Adonas are just too expensive for me.... but they look killer no doubt! Robert... you're lucky to have those guys!! I'm jealous!!

Joey

Joey, that VTI I posted weighs 75 pounds. That's without the lead shot or sand in the vertical pipes.
Joe

Joey_V

hearingimpared wrote:

Joey, that VTI I posted weighs 75 pounds. That's without the lead shot or sand in the vertical pipes.
Joe

Joe,

Are you saying that the VTI should be able to handle the Plinius on any rack?

How well made are those endcaps where the rack's feet (point) rest on? Are they solid enough that the endcaps wont buckle under some serious weight?



This is the EXACT color scheme that I want if I go with the VTI:


Im excited!

Joey

hearingimpared

Joey_V wrote:

Joe,

Are you saying that the VTI should be able to handle the Plinius on any rack?

How well made are those endcaps where the rack's feet (point) rest on? Are they solid enough that the endcaps wont buckle under some serious weight?



This is the EXACT color scheme that I want if I go with the VTI:


Im excited!

Joey

Joey,

According to the infromation I have on the VTI rack I purchased it has a maximum weight capacity of 450 lbs. My experience with racks and their specs is that you can probably push the weight another 50 lbs. I would think the Plinius would just cause the rack to giggle a little.

Here is some info I dug up:

http://www.racksandstands.com/VTI-BL503-VI1000.html#ProdDetails

Joe

Joey_V

Joe,

You've been a swell help... thanks very very much!

I think the VTI is the way to go... now, I have to decide which to get.. the larger racks or the rack I just posted. Hmmm.....?

BTW, I think I just saw Rich's review of the VTI with that link you just posted... hehehe....

Joey

Joey_V

hearingimpared wrote:

Joey,
I would think the Plinius would just cause the rack to giggle a little.
Joe

That's funny!

Wait until I get the 300lb Krells on it... we'll see who laughs last.

Joey

SCompRacer

Joey_V wrote:

Joe,

Are you saying that the VTI should be able to handle the Plinius on any rack?

How well made are those endcaps where the rack's feet (point) rest on? Are they solid enough that the endcaps wont buckle under some serious weight?


Joey

What does your Plinius weigh? 125 pounds? BL404 max weight 350 - 125 = 225 pounds. 225 divided by 3 = 75 pounds per remaining shelf.

I estimate around 195 pounds on my BL503GB. When folks come over, or for serious listening, I spread the speakers out. To do that, I have to slide the rack over a couple of feet. I attached hard felt to the underside of the feet so the rack could be moved without scratching the hardwood floor. The spikes don't pop out as I move the rack and the spike tips haven't bent, so I say they are pretty stout.

Joey_V

Rich,

Thanks for chiming in..

The Plinius weighs around 100 flat, but I was planning on going up to the Plinius Reference which weights in at over 150lbs (hence the initial weight requirement I had posted).... so with my current amp I have about 250lbs of wiggle room leftover. I just wasnt sure if I could have the amp on the top shelf or if I was constrained to the bottom shelf.

I really dont have anything else that will take care of the remaining 250lbs as preamps, conditioner, and source/transport will never approach that.

I think that the max weight is probably a concern if one went with some heavy duty 100lb monoblocks and stacked them on vertically on the rack.

Thanks Rich for commenting on their "stoutness"... I'm sure they're perfectly adept at handling my equipment. Which color scheme did you go with?

Joey

SCompRacer

Joey_V wrote:

BTW, I think I just saw Rich's review of the VTI with that link you just posted... hehehe....

I felt great customer service needed to be acknowledged. Once I found the speakers I really liked and how I wanted them powered, the Bello rack I had would no longer work for me. Per email, the fellow that was buying my Carvers said he would buy my Bello rack, so I needed one by the weekend. I ordered on a Wednesday and had it shipped two day service. Per VTI.... Orders placed before 2:00 PM Pacific standard time will be shipped out the same day if item (s) in stock. Racks and Stands called them and made it happen.

Which color scheme did you go with?

Black posts/shelves with Gold caps to contrast the Oak floor.

dkg999

If you search for VTI within Consumer Electronics on eBay there was a guy out of Las Vegas selling new VTI racks pretty cheap. I got two in storage I got from him for around $75 less each than RacksandStands.com. Smooth transactions and the racks were NIB. I'll use them as soon as I get moved to a new place.

MikeC78

I really like that VTI rack!