New Equipment!

[gmorris]

Here is a shot of my new equipment rack. Built this myself. (4) 42" long X 1/2" diameter threaded rod. (48) 1/2" nuts & washers. (6) 21" wide X 19" deep X 3/4" thick MDF shelves.

I am NOT claiming to have designed this. I got the idea from a rack I saw on AudioAdvisor.com. (http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=SALA5B/X&product_name=Archetype%205%2E0%20Five-Shelf%20Audio%20Rack)

Enjoy.

[gmorris]

Here is a shot of the new right side wall acoustic panel.

This was built with a 1" X 2" frame, with an 1/8" hardboard back (like pegboard, without the holes). 4 eggcrate style acoustic panels are glued onto the hardboard back, inside the frame. The whole assembly was then covered with material.

The center of the panel is located exactly at the right channel 1'st order reflection point.

These pictures & more are also located in my system showcase. I just thought I'd share these two in the forum.

[PolkThug]

Love the rack, good work! However, that acoustic panel is ugly! lol


Regards,
PolkThug

[Zero]

Excellent job on the rack!

[gmorris]

Originally posted by PolkThug
Love the rack, good work! However, that acoustic panel is ugly! lol


Regards,
PolkThug

Yeah, I figured I'd get mixed emotions about that panel. Either love it or hate it.

It really does make a HUGE improvement in the sound. I happen to like it, my taste is a little old fashion, I guess...

[PolkThug]

I'm actually headed down this same path myself. I've got some panels but haven't had time to test them yet.

[gmorris]

with the panels in place, i've noticed an improvement (increase) in detail. The soundstage is also deeper, but it has lost a small bit of width. This makes sense to me. Less reflected sound increases the detail & depth. But, with less ambiance, the soundstage seems to shrink a small amount.

I was fine leaving the frame and panels uncovered, but the SAF (spousal acceptance factor) was low. My fiancee was not having that. So she went out and bought the fabric we used to cover the panel with. I'm ok with it, as the panel still "works", and it looks nice to me.

[dragon1952]

Where did you get the materials for the rack. I'd be interested in building one of those myself. Did you paint it? Great job!

[gmorris]

I got a 3/4" MDF 4' X 8' sheet at Home Depot, & they even cut all the shelves out for me. I ended up with 8 shelves, and some scrap. I left the scrap at the store, and took the 8 shelves. Total cost is about $25.

The shelves then need to be sealed. I used 3 coats (more would have been better) of Minwax Sanding Sealer. One quart was about $10, and was plenty. I then sanded the shelves, ending up with 300 grit. Turned out nice and smooth. I then painted the shelves with Sherwin Williams satin black oil based enamel. About $15 for 1 quart of paint, thinner, and a sponge roller. 3 coats to the top & sides of the shelves, 2 coats to the bottom.

I then got (4) 6' 1/2-13 threaded rods from Apple Fasteners. $14.80 plus free shipping because UPS lost the package.

I got (50) 1/2-13 nuts & washer from McMaster Carr. About $45!!! (These nuts & washer were black oxide finish, which turned out to be a total waste because I ended up painting them anyway.) They are an industrial supplier. I used oversized nuts. They look better than regular 1/2" nuts you'd find at a hardware store. Regular nuts will just be smaller, and won't cost as much, probably about 1/2 of what I paid, but the larger nuts look better.

[tryrrthg]

Nice lookin rack! Lookin good!

just some FYI for people interested in making one. You can get the threaded rod at Home Depot but it will be silver in color, depending on the diameter you can get them for $2 to $5 a piece. I think my rack cost me about $60 to $70 to make most of the cost was eaten up by the cherry vinyl covering that I used to cover the MDF.

My rack (http://www.angelfire.com/alt/tryrrthg/stand3.jpg)

I believe TNT-audio have a nice little site about making your own Flexi Rack (http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/flexye.html)

[organ]

Excellent work! Looks very proffesional. I like the acoustic panel too. The fabric is a nice contrast against the wall.

Maurice

[gmorris]

Originally posted by organ
Excellent work! Looks very proffesional. I like the acoustic panel too. The fabric is a nice contrast against the wall.

Maurice

Thank you. I was beginning to think I was alone in liking the panel....:eek:

[organ]

It has a nice artistic look to it. Forgot to ask this earlier, is that a DIY panel? I'm thinking about building one because I sit right against the back wall. Man, you should see the thin blanket I've got hanging on the back wall. Naaaasty:D.

Maurice

[gmorris]

Yeah, the panel is DIY, I built it & my fiancee covered it with the material. It really makes a HUGE improvement, espescially in detail. Soundstage depth increases also.

[dragon1952]

However, that acoustic panel is ugly! lol

You think that panel is ugly...check out the kid in the top, left picture! :eek:

[gmorris]

Originally posted by dragon1952
You think that panel is ugly...check out the kid in the top, left picture! :eek:

That's ma dawg...;)

[gidrah]

Great looking rack. Ugly kid though.:p Just kidding. Nice dog (for being a dog) too.

[Willow]

great job!!! and where are the cables...good management !!

[gmorris]

Thanks Willow.

Here is a picture of the backside of the rack. This picture does not really do the cable management justice, they are actually better organized than this picture looks. Thanks for noticing.

[Willow]

no prob 2 thumbs up to you !! I went out and bought some flexi tube I seperated all my audio, video cables, and all power cables together.... I have to clean up the speaker cables ....and then all the damn cables behind the TV stand !!

But sweet job !!

[dragon1952]

Here is a picture of the backside of the rack. This picture does not really do the cable management justice, they are actually better organized than this picture looks.

Arghhhh! I wish mine looked like that.....I hate you! :D

[steveinaz]

G-Mo, excellent idea on the acoustic panels, I would have never thought of that approach. Cool!

[pjdami]

gmorris,

Nice DIY rack. I built one too a few months ago. Looks just like yours.

As far as the acoustic panel, its a great idea if one can integrate it into the living environment.

Here's a link to echobusters. Most of the reading that I've done on this topic people like to eliminate the first reflections off the side walls and the area behind the speakers.

These are some expensive treatments though. I wouldn't pay for them but DIY is always a good option.

http://www.echobusters.com/page9.html

[pjdami]

Check out this guy's acoustic treatments. Pretty ingenious if it really works:

http://members.cox.net/sandman41/roomlens

Who would have thought that putting up "plants" would make your system sound better.

[Grzegorz]

I just finished building my flexy this weekend. I'm not exactly a handy guy but this was just too easy. :)

[gmorris]

Grzegorz, nice job. I like the contrasting shelf & rod/hardware colors. It goes good with the speakers.