An audio equipment stand is essential in providing stability to AV receivers, disc players, digital media streamers, amplifiers and other components. They help reduce vibrations to decrease noise floors and reveal fine timbral and dynamic details for greater realism while offering rock-solid bass foundation.
Solid machined aluminum isolation racks made in the United States are visually appealing and significantly enhance the aesthetics of sensitive electronics. By decoupling components efficiently, immediate benefits in terms of timbre, detail and image focus become apparent.
High-End Audio Component Racks
An audio equipment rack is an integral component of any high-end system, no less important than premium amplifiers, loudspeakers or cables. They help enhance sound quality by damping structural and airborne vibrations which could interfere with sound signals; those components with greater refinement or sensitivity will especially appreciate increased levels of vibration isolation.
High-end audio component racks typically boast rigid structures designed to reduce resonant transmission between shelves and other elements in the system, such as walls or floors. Furthermore, they minimize flow of mechanical energy by decoupling shelves from each other – while some even come equipped with specially designed feet to minimize vibration transference.
High-end equipment racks typically consist of wood or metal construction with various finishes available to customize them to the space in which they’re placed. While some designs are freestanding, others can be attached directly to floors or walls; and still others feature removable shelves to accommodate different system configurations.
Atacama’s Evoque Eco 60-40 SE2 equipment rack is an outstanding example of high-end audio equipment rack that perfectly blends engineering with aesthetics. Recently awarded Best Equipment Rack at the What HiFi? Awards, this bamboo shelving unit was widely praised by reviewers – even having an isolated spike system to regulate mechanical energy transfer between its shelves and ground surface.
A properly designed high-end equipment rack will not add or subtract to the music signal, but can help improve clarity and focus by eliminating unwanted resonances that cause distortion to frequency response and degrade performance. A properly designed audio rack can decouple electronics from its structure resulting in significant improvements to timbre, detail and image focus.
Christopher Hildebrand and his crew at WoodyYard combine precision machinists with master carpenters, creating custom HiFi furniture products with unparalleled fit and finish. They specialize in HiFi racks, vinyl racks, heavy-duty platforms and speaker stands for bookshelf and stand-floor speakers as well as vibration-controlling footers and acoustic panels made specifically to order.
ATA Cases
ATA cases are designed to meet specific standards that ensure they can safely transport fragile equipment through air transport. They’re constructed with durable materials designed to withstand impacts and environmental elements. With latches that stay securely fastened during transit and customized dimensions that fit any piece of equipment being transported – not to mention customizable interior details! – they provide maximum protection.
Different industries use ATA flight cases to transport their equipment. Musicians may use them for concerts, camera and equipment transport for film/photo productions or industrial equipment and machinery parts storage and transport.
While many case companies produce “ATA-style” cases, not all adhere to its stringent standards. When searching for case suppliers that use superior materials and put them through rigorous durability testing procedures. You should seek one whose cases can withstand corrosion resistance, extreme temperatures and have corrosion-proof seals.
Interior of an ATA case should be constructed from durable materials like medium density fiberboard and foam, cushioned with block foam or honeycomb designs to protect the items inside, tongue-and-groove closure system that is secure, wheels for ease of transportation and expander panels on both sides. Furthermore, for added strength it would be beneficial to choose an ATA case equipped with stainless steel buckles.
An ATA case can be customized with additional pockets and dividers to organize items more easily during transit, and reduce rattle. Select an ATA case with ergonomic handles that make moving it around easy.
An ATA case is an ideal way to transport expensive equipment. However, for safe shipping purposes it must be packed correctly by sealing it with plastic wrap, taking measures to protect any fragile hardware and placing all hardware inside before repackaging in a box for ultimate protection of equipment.
Rackmountable Components
If you need to consolidate multiple AV components into one rack mount, there are numerous solutions available to you. From ATA cases and custom rack mounts designed specifically for specific equipment to rack mounts designed to secure and stabilize hardware in an organized and space-saving fashion – they offer secure locations that also help organize cabling, reduce vibrations and enhance sound quality.
AV racks are typically standardized and sized based on their intended height and width inside an Air Transport Association case, known as an “ATA case.” These dimensions are designated by ATA (Air Transport Association) standards as “rack units”, or RUs – one rack unit being 1.75 inches in height by 19 inches wide.
Your options for mounting equipment on an AV rack include purchasing or using an empty ATA case as your own mounting solution. In either case, all ATA cases must be padded and insulated for safe air travel and marked with the appropriate label – only this design meets ATA’s minimum requirements for air travel.
Once your AV rack is assembled, it is essential to remember that heat can damage electronic gear. Therefore, some form of cooling should be implemented so your equipment operates at its optimum temperature. An efficient way of cooling is installing fans or vents at both the bottom and top of the rack for efficient ventilation solutions; alternatively thermostat-controlled fans provide additional temperature regulation.
Your rack may also come equipped with either passive or active cooling systems to improve performance. Active systems use fans or blowers to draw air into the front of your rack while passive ones rely on natural convection currents to move hot air around inside of it.
Speaker Stands
Durable speaker stands may not be top of mind when setting up an audio system, but they can have a tremendously positive effect on overall sound quality. By elevating speakers off the floor and helping reduce vibrations and resonance that can muddle the sound quality, these stands can reduce vibrations and resonance that muddy it further and allow you to position speakers at optimal listening height.
To select an ideal stand model, take into account both your budget and room size. There are models designed to support speakers of all sizes; smaller options may be more affordable or suitable for tight spaces. Also keep material and build quality in mind, as this may affect sound quality differently; wood stands may offer warmer sound than metal ones but might not provide as much stability.
Any audio equipment stand must meet two important criteria before being considered suitable. First and foremost is weight capacity. You may be able to find smaller stands that support only a few pounds at most; most will need to hold at least the weight of a bookshelf speaker.
Next, decide how the stand will attach to your speakers. There are various methods available ranging from Blu-Tack blobs and adhesive pads to keyhole holders or keyhole holders; additionally some stands come equipped with built-in cable management options, making these an attractive feature in home theater systems and 5.1 surround sound setups.
Isolation and decoupling should also be given careful consideration when choosing speaker stands. High-quality stands often come equipped with isolation features to further reduce vibrations caused by foot traffic or nearby appliances; using isolation on speakers can enhance bass response for a more immersive and accurate listening experience.