Hi there,
I was wondering about the benefits of using a decent hifi stand? At the moment iv got them on a chest of drawers which is ideal height wise but im not sure performance wise? I've seen a few standa about but im really in the dark as to what to look out for! What about building my own? Any information on prices etc or websites where theyre sold?
Cheers!
Rich

Hi Rich,

As usual on this forum you will get asked a load more questions before you get any answers!

What kit do you want to put on the rack?

Anything of unusual size?

What are your future plans for your system?
(Do you need space for possible upgrades or does the rack need to be modular?)

Any requirments on materials/finish?

Are there any size/siting restrictions?

Budget?


Tel

One other very important question: "Do you have a solid carpeted concrete floor, or is it a suspended or sprung wooden floor?"

Reason for question: "Stand design will differ for the two types of floor: one will have to address floor-transmitted vibrations."

Another question: "Do you have a turntable? (Vibration sensitivity)"

Hi,
The rack is going to be situated in a top floor bedroom and as such will be on a typical floor boarded surface.
Kit that it needs to accomodated is an amplifier (Marantz) Cd player, dvd player, tuner (as im hoping to get an upgraded one in the near future) and possibly a set top box for television. There is no need to accomodate a turntable as i rarely use mine and am planning on storing it away. It's a nice piece of equipment but not getting the use out of it so storing it away will hopefully stop it getting knocked or anything! None of my components are anything over-sized. However, i do intend for it to incoporate both cd and dvd storage -only around 30 cd's and 15-20 dvd's, although i would obviously rather cater for more and have gaps in the design for the future as my collection of both formats is ever increasing!
I was considering building my own over the coming month or two as ive been impressed with the outcome of my sub box (pics to follow next week). For the sub box i used 18mm MDF, which was cheap and easy to work with. Would this be suitable? Any body had any experiece with building their own?
Ive got an old hifi cabinet glass door stored in the garage from a past cabinet that has since been used for other purposes, and would ideally like to incorporate this glass to keep prying fingers/liquids/foods/dust/knocks away from the hifi itself. Dont ask me the measurements of the glass at the moment because im not sure, but i will be able to find out from next week!
What about feet for the cabinet/rack itself?
Cheers,
Rich

Try this:

Thankyou dev!
A couple of questions -
1. Is there a reason for it being three legged? I do like the design but was wondering if it was based on past experience with sound benefits etc?
2. What overall benefits am i likely to notice, besides the obvious aesthetics?
3. Are the shelves alright to be made with MDF? I do prefer the look of glass and chrome but fear the costs associated with buying these materials along with the problem of making the stand with such materials a difficult one.
What say you?
Thanks again,
Rich

Answers:

1) 3 leg design eliminates "wobble" from uneven floor
2) You can make 4 legs - just copy front legs to rear
3) Benefits: Tighter bass, better balance
4) MDF is fine! Paint with 2 coats matte black polyurethane
5) Use 2 coats clear polyurethane varnish for hardwood legs

Given floor materials quoted earlier, I'd look to adding rubber "feet" to the underside of each leg to help with isolation.

"Exotic" materials like glass & chrome-plated steel are a bitch to work with and require specialist skills/tools - besides, they look like some product of a tortured Swede's nightmares (to my eyes, at least...)

Have fun...

Racks?
Tweaks. At best.

Yours,
Cynical of Gloucester

AUNT FANNY ADVISES

Dear "Cynical of Gloucester",

If your post above was "tongue-in-cheek", have a smile...

If your post was, however, intended as a serious statement expressing your views on the value of a decent rack, then I'd strongly recommend that you try an A:B comparative audition of your own system without/with a decent rack and then re-post afterwards...

Yours chidingly,

Aunt Fanny

Cheers for that Dev!
Ive got too much uni work on at the moment completing my dissertation and what not but ill hve plenty of free time over the summer for a decent project!! My sub-woofer has been the project for the last month!
Im sure weve all got our own opinions on whether or not its worth going for a rack or not - evn if i dont notice a change in sound, im sure itl look a whole lot better than having my kit slung on the top of a chest of drawers!!
Thanks again,
Rich