Building your own HiFi rack/Stacking Amp on top of CD player

[tony340]

Hi guys
i am considering building a rack for my amp and cd player, as they are stacked on top of each other. Firstly, wanted to ask if anyone of u have had experience building one, and if so, what are the materials and guidelines needed in ensuring the right build? Also my secondary system is in a limited space, so i cant afford to place on a rack, hence the amp sits on the cdplayer, is this alright?
Thanks in advance

[JoeE SP9]

Go to TNT-Audio and check out the "Flexy" rack. I built a dual Flexy some time ago.

[blackraven]

Here are some nice wood racks. I am going to build one of these. If you use plywood for the shelf's, consider Baltic Burch finish grade. You can also use tempered glass and you can usually get it from some Auto Glass company's cut to size with finished edges.

https://www.google.com/search?q=diy+wood+stereo+rack+pictures&espv=2&biw=1120&bih=612&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=1goLVczLEpD_ggSut4PgAw&ved=0CB0QsAQ

this is the one that I would like to build-

Product Review (http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_4/diy-component-rack-11-2005.html)

[Feanor]

I build this one a while back. The sides were scrap plywood, the base scrap 2x6, and the shelves 3/4 MDF. The shelves are adjustable except for the top and bottom. The color is ugly but I happened to have that icky color on hand.

http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/500/Nikon_066_X1_.jpghttp://gallery.audioreview.com/data/500/Nikon_065_X1_.jpg

[Glen B]

Here's my old DIY audio rack from several years back. It was was made of 1 3/4" white oak posts. The shelves were bullnose 3/4" MDF, painted matte black, and the edges veneered with iron-on real oak. The top and bottom shelves floated on hidden spikes. The middle shelves were fixed to help with structural rigidity. A 1" x 3" cross piece of solid red oak in the back also helped to minimize flexing.

http://i994.photobucket.com/albums/af67/mr_classe/Systems/2ch_system2_zps42f1f09e.jpg~original

[Feanor]

Here's my old DIY audio rack from several years back. It was was made of 1 3/4" white oak posts. The shelves were bullnose 3/4" MDF, painted matte black, and the edges veneered with iron-on real oak. The top and bottom shelves floated on hidden spikes. The middle shelves were fixed to help with structural rigidity. A 1" x 3" cross piece of solid red oak in the back also helped to minimize flexing.

http://i994.photobucket.com/albums/af67/mr_classe/Systems/2ch_system2_zps42f1f09e.jpg~original
Simple design, nice workmanship!

[RoyY51]

I have a couple of photos on "Member Galleries" that I posted some years ago. It's my Home Depot Component Rack and it's as vibration-resistant as I knew how to make. With the exception of the Parts Express brass footers, all parts are available at your local H.D. All posts and crosspieces were coated with 3 coats of urathane before assembly, providing 6 coats of insulation between all wood surfaces. The brass footers were dipped in liquid rubber. The 1 1/2" platforms are 2, 3/4" MDF slabs glued together with urathane glue. After I finished the assembly, to test it out, I put my small subwoofer on the bottom shelf, and a glass of water on the top shelf. The vibrations in the water were barely perceptible. If you can get past the decidedly industrial appearance, this might be something for you to consider. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[tony340]

Thanks a lot to all of u for the awesome replies, as always! I live in a condo, so diy options are virtually impossible, except for small projects. So I got this idea from this site IKEA Hi-Fi Stand (easy, MODULAR and f-in solid) DIY Guide (http://www.head-fi.org/t/723557/ikea-hi-fi-stand-easy-modular-and-f-in-solid-diy-guide)
and ordered the stuff, I'm waiting for it to be delivered. Just one question, the legs, on these as u might see are a little short, so I might need to find something to keep between the shelf and the legs, on order to get another couple of cm in height, any idea on any dampening material that I may use to do this? Sorbothane is quite expensive

[tony340]

Sorry guys, but I've been reading up a lot on vibration isolation, and kind of got inundated with info!! Firstly, does vibration from ur amplifier and CD player actually translate into audible sound difference?? Also what are we talking of in a solid platform that holds ur components, does it have to be rigid/vibration free from the floor, or can it be something that decouples the component from any furniture ur keeping it on?? I'm being confused reading all this... Thanks for ur replies, I'm always getting more educated in my quest to be an audiophil and u guys have helped me immensely thanks

[Glen B]

Just get a sturdy rack that does not sway easily from side to side and has solid shelves. 3/4-inch or thicker MDF shelves are a good choice, and preferable to glass (IMO). I would worry more about vibration when it comes to a turntable setup than with other gear. Isolation of other components is highly subjective.

[JohnMichael]

I have a solid maple table that I use for my audio components but can also be used later as a console or buffet table. It is Amish built and very heavy. The maple absorbs vibrations very well.

[Feanor]

I have a solid maple table that I use for my audio components but can also be used later as a console or buffet table. It is Amish built and very heavy. The maple absorbs vibrations very well.

It's a nice looking piece. I think the "two column" approach is very valid; it's just as practical and more aesthetically pleasing under many circumstances than the usual, "single column" rack.