Hifi Wood Rack - Group Initiative - SoundFoundations (ali)

[magma]

Hi all

i created this thread as promised to discuss the proposed possibility of a group purchase for a custom designed all wood rack

Fully assembled OR
Partially finished/Flat Packs etc

Brainstorming,advice etc is welcomed

What i suggested in the other thread was as follows

Initiative 1
Completed fully assembled rack
4 shelves 35inches tall
Color - Two Tone - Dark pillars (Possibly a hardwood) - Natural polished Maple shelves or Rubber Wood - that i will decide only when i get the samples
what i like ,what i feel is strong - what i feel is right without overkilling

initiative 2
Flat packs
This is open for debate
how and what to provide

Initiative 3
Another custom design
like Shivams
But please understand
an all teak rack finished my way will not be below 24k-26k

Going all teak especially for the shelves is a bit overkil INMO
especaillly when the equipment covers 80% of the shelf

 

[ukjeyaraj]

Interesting Initiative. Thanks for starting this Mr. Magma. First of all best wishes in advance to all who is going to benefit and contribute for this initiative.

My first preference is Initiative 1.

Initative 1 may increase shipping cost, especially for non-mumbai people, in which case flat pack(initiative 2) will be convenient. However, when the final buyer assembles item from flat pack, will it be as good as the fully assembled one?

Looking forward on the progress of this initiatives. I will most probably opt for either initiative 1 or 2.

 

[RMCWS]

I am really interested in Initiative 1. But I am not sure how much extra for shipping to Calcutta I have to bear from Initiative 1 and 2.

If there are other members from Calcutta interested in this, then we can opt for Initiative 2 and assembled it at some common place jointly. Wouldn't it be fun and a great learning experience?

Anyways, if the budget suits me, I am game for it.

Thanks.

 

[AmitKumar]

hi Ali,

my best wishes for this initiative of yours!

I have few small recommendations to increase the genuine interest.

1) this is a separate thread, so i suggest you add photograph of what you plan to build.
2) give little more info on specifications i.e width of the rack, thickness of legs, type of wood for legs once finalised. Wood cost vary between 1000 rs per cft to 4000 rs or more per cft. This can influence the total cost by 20 percent or so. ghana teak seems to be good substitute for indian or burma teak, it will cost half of good quality burma teak
3) further the price approximate range for option 1 and 2 with a note that pricing may be revised based on the wood choosen.
4) you may want to provide option of matching speaker stands. All over a good set of hifi interiors. You may want to give a discount to people who may want to buy along with speaker stands.
Infact i was planning for a custom made matching speaker stands and hifi rack.

Meanwhile i am also interested in the option 1 or 2.

 

[vinehs]

Hi magma,
Count me in....i trust your skills...:clapping:
regards

 

[panditji]

My first preference is also option 1 and in case it does not work out, then option 2....Option 3 is too expensive for me...

Like Amit Kumar, I too would be interested in speakers stands as well in wood which matches the rack....

Colour: I would be interested in the natural wood finish for both the rack and speaker stands....

hi Ali,

my best wishes for this initiative of yours!

I have few small recommendations to increase the genuine interest.

1) this is a separate thread, so i suggest you add photograph of what you plan to build.
2) give little more info on specifications i.e width of the rack, thickness of legs, type of wood for legs once finalised. Wood cost vary between 1000 rs per cft to 4000 rs or more per cft. This can influence the total cost by 20 percent or so. ghana teak seems to be good substitute for indian or burma teak, it will cost half of good quality burma teak
3) further the price approximate range for option 1 and 2 with a note that pricing may be revised based on the wood choosen.
4) you may want to provide option of matching speaker stands. All over a good set of hifi interiors. You may want to give a discount to people who may want to buy along with speaker stands.
Infact i was planning for a custom made matching speaker stands and hifi rack.

Meanwhile i am also interested in the option 1 or 2.

 

[RMCWS]

Even I am interested in matching speaker stands if it comes within my budget. And also provide the details as asked by AmitKumar. It will be very helpful for us to decide on the basis of the details.

Waiting patiently for your reply, Ali.

 

[magma]

hi Ali,

my best wishes for this initiative of yours!

I have few small recommendations to increase the genuine interest.

1) this is a separate thread, so i suggest you add photograph of what you plan to build.
2) give little more info on specifications i.e width of the rack, thickness of legs, type of wood for legs once finalised. Wood cost vary between 1000 rs per cft to 4000 rs or more per cft. This can influence the total cost by 20 percent or so. ghana teak seems to be good substitute for indian or burma teak, it will cost half of good quality burma teak
3) further the price approximate range for option 1 and 2 with a note that pricing may be revised based on the wood choosen.
4) you may want to provide option of matching speaker stands. All over a good set of hifi interiors. You may want to give a discount to people who may want to buy along with speaker stands.
Infact i was planning for a custom made matching speaker stands and hifi rack.

Meanwhile i am also interested in the option 1 or 2.

Amit
i should cut you a commision and let you market my company
im a total failure at PR and mktgg


the problem im facing is that i have never done this earlier ( all wood rack - in a budget )
the last ones i did were no holds barred all BTC for myself and another client

due to this i dont know how to work out my costs

i dont want members to have a raw deal\
nor do i want myself to end up loosing money


currently a rack is being prepared for FM rikhav
hes given me a free hand
i will have a good cost estimation soon

in the meantime i will try and give details as per your advice

 

[Shivam]

Option 3 (the one that I have) has some disadvantages too-

The weight is a problem especially when cleaning is to be done.
Turntable is very nice on the top shelf but I still use vibrapods.
Silicon based glue which I had used is not usually used with wood and so I don't know the long-term results.

 

[ukjeyaraj]

Matching speaker stand is a good suggestion. Though I am not using any bookshelf, I am inclined towards taking bookshelf stand too.

 

[AmitKumar]

Amit
i should cut you a commision and let you market my company
im a total failure at PR and mktgg

my only commision will that you offer lowest possible price to the forum members and give the best of your quality possible in that price. ofcourse it is understood that you need to make something out of this for yourself i.e profit margin.

you see some interest is coming for stands also. i think the left out portion of large wooden panels can be used for top and bottom of speaker stands.

 

[ukjeyaraj]

Is it possible to provide a PDU box with 6 or 8 Multi Pin Socket and 6 switches in the rack. This box can be provided IEC. Single cable from IEC to wall socket or stabilizer will power up 6 equipments with separate switch control. The sockets shall be placed inside and only switches shall be visible outside the rack. This will be convenient to connect the equipments and switch on and off devices.

 

[Shivam]

I saw at Lakozy in Delhi a similar idea. On his wooden rack, he had attached a Supra power strip with multiple sockets.

This makes more sense than drilling holes in the rack itself or putting wires inside, compromising the built quality and also limiting the users options to power cables provided in the rack.

 

[omishra]

Is it possible to provide a PDU box with 6 or 8 Multi Pin Socket and 6 switches in the rack. This box can be provided IEC. Single cable from IEC to wall socket or stabilizer will power up 6 equipments with separate switch control. The sockets shall be placed inside and only switches shall be visible outside the rack. This will be convenient to connect the equipments and switch on and off devices.

I would suggest keep PDU separate from rack, anyway you can tie it to any vertical leg of rack away from signals.
For PDU I can see this as one option with international pins and more the better.

MX 8 OUTLET UNIVERSAL POWER STRIP WITH DUAL POLE MCB 5 AMP.

PS: no affiliation

 

[ukjeyaraj]

I am already using a similar (DIY)PDU which I have mentioned in the earlier post. Its in hometown and I dont have a pic as of now. It is very convenient as all plugs and wires are inside the cabinet and only switches in the side of the cabinet. This makes it easy to operate by all and also one can switch on only the equipments required at that point of time.

However I dont know if it causes any impact on sonic quality of the audio system kept in the rack. Currently I am using TV, AVR, STB, Media Player only in this setup.

 

[asliarun]

Someone pointed me to the Salamander Archetype when I was earlier looking for an audio rack. I found the design quite intriguing so I thought I would share. It has infinite levels of height adjustment and uses thick metal threaded rods to host the wooden planks.

On a side note, I found myself with the same power strip situation recently when I was setting up my system after moving houses. For what it is worth, I ended up replacing the power strip that looked like the one in the photo with a wider model where the plug points were far apart from each other - so that you can fit multiple adapters side by side. In most of the power strips, the plug points are too close to each other, and it is a royal pain to try and fit all the adapters in a single power strip. I ended up with something like this.

 

[magma]

Hi
All

I have pretty much narrowed down on the wood selection for the shelves and the finish for them

I will in all probability use 1.5 inch maple

Rubber woods are currently difficult to source in more than 1 inch thickness
Rubco has asked me to put in a minimum order of 300k for them to consider direct supply

None of their dealers have what I want

More importantly
Maple is far superior to rubber wood panels in my personal opinion
Acoustically,strength wise and aesthetically
Albeit more expensive

I am still deciding on side columns frame materials
Currently I'm looking at BTC and weighing options on using other solid (non jointed) timbers that have a good grain

Various woods are availbe
Cp is a cheaper alternative but getting a good Pali of cp will require legwork
I will see what I can do

Anyway
I read some discussion about powersstrips

Just as a heads up

not to disappoint anyone
But I'm sure you all know
Using powersstrips that have been mentioned earlier above completely pour water over all the hard work you may have done setting up good quality internal wiring and investing money in good power cables

Power distribution is a different game altogether

People who understand this know that your power network is only as strong as your weakest link

Which in most cases is actually your distribution/extension box

You may use good internal wiring ofc copper
Good power cables for your electronics ofc copper

But what have you used in between?
An mx or belkin or yes even a supra (I have seen the innards of an entry level supra)
Powerstip

That too international sockets rather than dedicated ones that fit tight

Please open up these powerstrips
See the wire they use
See their contacts

I find them really unacceptable
Infact I find all modular sockets even the good ones unacceptable

All use brass nickel plated
Most use only 19gauge thickness
The internal wire is nowhere near the good power cables you may use let alone the smaller gauge
None of them provide a really firm connection

Independent switches screw things up even further
So many breaks
So many joints
So much noise

Please do try and build your own
I assure you you will do much better

I think there is a thread where I helped a fellow fm build one
Take points from there

There is no point in using a 200$ cable when you are going to throw it all away using a modular socket based powerstrip

Keep no switches
Try not to cut wires but loop then in continuity
Use the best terminations you can

Anyway
Too much rambling

Onto the rack
Any more suggestions ?

I will upload some pics tomm of what I envisage
I would love inputs
We can take it from there

 

[gopib]

Hi Ali,

Looks promising to me. My only suggestion is to keep it simple and let it stay as a rack - solid, level, good shelve material (meaning seasoned, polished, treated whatever). The vertical posts also should be solid. The joints again rigid.

These are all standard ones which is well within your areas of expertise. Since I would like to place a turntable on top the height should be comfortable to play around with the TT.

If the lower shelf is a little raised it would help cleaning below the shelf.

Once you zero in on the design do post the measurements...

Thanks

 

[magma]

I agree
On the cleaning issue
My family really fusses about that

The first shelf starting at 7inches of the floor?
Which means equipment will be at
8.5 inches off


Topmost shelf at 34?
That's a decent tt ht and still good enough not to give off reflections from the mid base

4 shelves including the top.?

 

[magma]

Rikhav rack was polished today

I picked a dark brown mahagony
Like bournville chocolate or wenge for the side posts

Looks good

I picked this color especially because you can see the wood grain

Black would have hidden them all