TV Rack / Cabinet options

[admin_exported]

Hi All,

There seems to be a limited number of TV rack/cabinets with good reviews to choose from for those on a smaller budget.

Whilst I appreciate you get what you pay for and the benefits of spending big bucks, in other equipment there are always options on 5 star, value for money, rated reviews for low to mid-range products.

I have no problem buying a quality product like the Atacama Equinox rack but would prefer something in wood and possibly more of a cabinet style. I have been looking at the Alphason Ambri - ABR1100 and Alphason Finewoods - FW1100. Are the more enclosed items a no no for higher end AV kit regarding cooling ?

Any thoughts ?

 

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I went from an Alpahson Apollo rack to an IKEA cabinet (Besta, with the back removed) and invested in some good isolation materials from Herbie's Audiolab. The sound has improved immensely, and my wife is vey happy with the change. I run a medium/high end system (Meridian / Kef Reference). Link:

http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/549207.aspx

The Alphason Finewoodslooks nice though.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

I now have a Stax which is more enclosed - see my comment on a COOL Xmas ! (Earlier posting)

Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, will check out the links.

 

[Anonymous]

the Just Racks JRA150 - i had this and is very good quality with a nice living room feel.

 

[Paul.]

I Just bought one of these...

http://tinyurl.com/alphasononebay

Im in a rented house so didn't want to wall mount the TV, and some what limited by budget. Went to see one in Currys, they were £149 without the TV bracket. I got mine for £114 with the TV support.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Paul, will be checking that one out.

Not seen that before as part of the Alphason range, looks like it's one of their OEM items which is why you saw it in Currys and now up for clearance.

 

[Anonymous]

woollyjoe, would probably need to smaller version JRA120. Not sure on the black or white, looks smart though. Think the price has gone up since launched.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the TOBO TV Bench from IKEA, great budget stand if you have a lot of equipment.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/20117674

I modified it slightly by removing the bottom drawer for my Centre speaker and cutting a large whole in the rear for ventilation.

 

[robjcooper]

Hi Garry,

If you are interested in the Atacama Equinox, then I would suggest you keep an eye on ebay. I have a base unit with three 18cm shelves and in total it cost me approx. £100. My AV base unit and single shelf for the TV cost me £120. Both are in superb condition, only downside is that two of the hi-fi units came with black shelves rather than smoked grey like all of the others had, but I put them on the base unit and you can't really tell. Only, thing is you do have to be patient as they don't come up for sale too often !

Good Hunting.

Rob

 

[RobinKidderminster]

I have one on Gumtree but is this allowed? MODS?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your help guys

 

[the record spot]

Went to Ikea over Christmas to get a rack, but cost was hopelessly over what we wanted to pay. Then found a Lack stand, which the new telly currently sits on top of. £14.99, assembly took less than 30 minutes. Nice height, good solid build - recommended if a basic one will do or you've minimal kit.

 

[Crocodile]

Garry Greenstreet:I have been looking at the Alphason Ambri - ABR1100I bought one of these just before Christmas & am thoroughly unimpressed.

1) Clips to retain the glass in the front panel were missing.

2) Cracks in the veneer had been filled - with orange paint! And this is on the top of the unit, in plain sight.

3) The stupid door stays cause problems with fitting full width kit..

4) Despite claims of real oak veneer, the edges of the panels look & feel suspiciously like printed paper.

5) The castors don't work even on my soon to be replaced, flat as a pancake pile carpet.

6) The frame of the door is so wide that stacking kit in an attempt to
gain some usable space means displays/IR receivers are often hidden.

7) The access holes in the back panel are way too small, especially for amp connections. You could enlarge these with a saw but given that it's so hard to load kit from the front & potential ventilation problems, it really has to be omitted.There is then nothing to retain the glass shelves in position & stop them sliding backwards.

8) The glass door is clear. It looks SO much better smoked. I fitted some car tint film to mine.

I got replacement parts direct from Alphason but it doesn't say much for their QC that their factory can ship carp like this.

Why on earth they've elected to make the unit 1100mm wide with all the restrictions the door stay causes I've no idea. Making it 1150mm would have solved the problem completely.

If I'd paid £75 from Ikea for it I'd have been disappointed. For £200+ it's extremely poorly designed & finished.