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AV Racks & Furniture Wiki

1.0 Overview of Home Theater Equipment racks
2.0 What does an AV Rack Do?
3.0 Types of AV Racks

3.1 Basic Shelving Systems
3.2 Modular Systems
3.3 Custom Designed Systems
3.4 Custom Installation Racks
3.5 Audiophile Racks

4.0 Benefits of a Quality AV Rack
5.0 Rack Accessories

5.1 Cable Management
5.2 Heat Control
5.3 Power Management
5.4 Lighting

1.0 Overview of Home Theater Equipment Racks
An AV equipment rack is designed to safely house all your audio and/or video components. The rack that works best for you will be determined by your system, how you use it and the design of your home and listening room. AV racks come in every price point and size, from simple utilitarian shelving systems to modern examples of extreme engineering offering every option available to maximize the sonic performance of your components. They can be designed to showcase the finest of gear or safely hide it all away in a closet, keeping the room looking clean and tidy. While many different types of racks are pre-made, racks and shelving systems can, of course, be custom-made to fit into any home.

2.0 What Does an AV Rack Do?
AV racks provide safe and secure platforms for all your audio and video equipment, and as such must be able to handle both the size and the weight of your specific AV components. Simple systems can be housed on thin boards, while large and heavy components can be very difficult to support. AV racks must allow for adequate ventilation to minimize heat buildup. High-end AV racks are expected to minimize anything that could be of detriment to the sound of the components it holds: external and internal vibration, heat, electro-magnetic interference and even grounding issues.

3.0 Types of AV Racks

3.1 Basic Shelving Systems
Either adjustable or fixed shelves, numbering in the range of one to six, in various finishes are available from any number of manufacturers and can easily be obtained at local audio stores. These racks come in all shapes and colors and can safely house smaller systems. Often, they are not capable of handling the weights of larger, beefier components or amplifiers. Some companies make matching TV stands to allow for walls of similar-looking furniture.

3.2 Modular Systems
A popular design available from many manufacturers, modular systems allow you to custom-tailor the rack to suit your current needs, while permitting easy adaptability for future expansion or contraction of your system. While most of these units are more expensive than the basic shelving systems, they are often worth the price difference for their increased flexibility and future-proofing.

3.3 Custom-Designed Systems
Racks can be custom-made by a good carpenter in beautiful wood finishes and built to match any décor. Prices for such custom systems are high, but they can be designed to compliment any room and décor so these rank high on the wife acceptance factor. Changes later on are often very difficult and expensive, so if you go this route, be sure to plan wisely.

3.4 Custom Installation Racks
These racks are common in systems where the components are to be hidden from view. They are often constructed of a basic metal frame with adjustable shelving heights and custom faceplates, so when the installation is complete, each component sits with its face flush to the front panel. While these racks offer a great deal of flexibility and can be made to any size, they are not very pretty, though they can handle massive weight. When they are closed in closets and/or small rooms, heat produced by the components can become an issue when using this type of rack. These racks often turn or slide out on rails to allow access to the rear of the components, while many homes have doors behind them for easy access.

3.5 Audiophile Racks
When only the best will do, there are hundreds of companies that build high-end, and high-dollar, racks for the audio and video purist. Prices and designs run the gamut, but expect high-end materials, such as carbon fiber, Sorbothane, granite and ultra-pure aluminum and steel in the construction. Many companies differ on what they deem most important, but all stress the importance of vibration control, heat dissipation and massive weight handling capabilities. Visco-elastic polymers and air bladders are just some of the materials various companies employ to minimize the effects of vibration on the performance of the AV components on these racks.

4.0 Benefits of a Quality AV Rack
Investing in a solid AV rack is often something consumers overlook when building a system, but your components need a safe and secure place to reside. Not only will this safeguard your gear from undergoing unnecessary trauma, but when the shelving system you choose minimizes vibration and extraneous interference from affecting your components, it allows then to perform at their best, giving you the finest sound possible. When investing large sums of money in an AV system, a good rack is a must.

5.0 Rack Accessories

5.1 Cable Management
Most if not all racks offer some form of cable management. Proper cable management will minimize interference and also make the entire system cleaner and neater.

5.2 Heat control
For most systems, adequate space is all that is needed for the safe dissipation of heat from the components, but when a rack is enclosed in a small room or closet, active heating control with ducting and fans can become necessary.

5.3 Power Management
The more components the rack holds, the more difficult providing power to the system becomes. Simple power strips to power regenerators with battery backup can all be added to any rack system to help manage the number of outlets needed and, in the latter case, can add significant improvements in performance.

5.4 Lighting
Depending on the placement and design of your rack system, lighting may need to be added to allow you to see the appropriate devices. Different racks offer many different designs, from small "overhead" fluorescent bulbs that can be turned on when necessary to small flexible turntable "cuing" lights and everything in between.