Hiding an audio component/audio rack question

[jdubs]

Here is an issue I've been dealing with for awhile and I'm hoping someone here can give me a creative way to solve with it.

I'm wanting to upgrade my audio rack to a single tier/stack open design. Simple, small footprint, elegant. Something like that Salamander Archetype. However, my subs are a passive design and are powered by an incredibly capable, yet ugly, Behringer amp. So, it's not something I want to display but it does need to live with my audio components. Making my idea of a completely open design rack a bad idea. Everything I've found that is an open design on top, but has a hidden area behind a cabinet door is more "furniture grade" versus "audiophile grade". What I mean by that is that it's made to look good (by their standards) but not really fit audio components. My pre-amp is 19" wide so what most furniture manufacturers consider an audio rack isn't up to snuff. If it's wide enough it's not deep enough etc.

I digress... is there a creative way to hide an audio component on an open shelf? Something more elegant than throwing fabric over it? The component in question has fans, so as long as I allow some kind of airflow around it and an area to vent out the back I'm good.

BTW, any ideas on an inexpensive rack are welcomed too. I'm not wanting to do the DIY with the threaded poles.

[Jean Genie]

Would this work for you?

www.shelving.com/SI-24-d-x-24-w-Chrome-Wire-Shelving-Unit-p/ws2424-p.htm

They're also available in other configurations.

[jdubs]

Sept 9, 2021 9:09:56 GMT -5 Jean Genie said:

Would this work for you?

www.shelving.com/SI-24-d-x-24-w-Chrome-Wire-Shelving-Unit-p/ws2424-p.htm

They're also available in other configurations.

Not a bad idea. What I have in mind would be a little less industrial. Something like this. My components are black, so something with lighter colored shelves would be nice though.

www.amazon.com/dp/B00004U8A0/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00004U8A0&pd_rd_w=RSoV5&pf_rd_p=5d846283-ed3e-4512-a744-a30f97c5d738&pd_rd_wg=xZV3D&pf_rd_r=Z1G3EQMKY0NN8T8P9BY3&pd_rd_r=7aa83b4b-850f-4fb2-abe6-40dc9e718285&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyM1EwOUlISFNXN1lTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzkxOTI5MzI2Q1dVVVZLRzlEMiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTcxOTkzMkFNWENDR1RLVjJPVyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[jdubs]

Maybe a small cabinet to hide the ugly, pre-amp on top, and a wall mounted floating shelf above for streamer/DAC? Could make cable management a bear.

[JKCashin]

Saw title "Hiding an audio component/audio rack question"
Immediately thought "How can I hide my new amp from my wife"

[jdubs]

What about getting some parts from a pro-audio rack? Rack rails, a blank front, and a rack mounted shelf. Build an enclosure (open on the sides unless I come up with something for that) that covers it but still looks like it should be there.

[LCSeminole]

Below are some audio racks that I came across that I would've considered if I were looking for the type of rack you've described. I recently had researched for about 5 months to replace my old console when finally settling on a Salamander Designs low profile console, but the links below were what caught my eye, especially for the price, there were more but these are what stuck out in my mind for what you might be describing. Also check out YouTube as there are videos of these links of actual owners receiving and putting them together, which should give you an idea of the build quality.

www.pangeaaudio.com/Pangea-Audio-Vulcan-5-Shelf-Rack

www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=39167

www.crutchfield.com/p_961S25/Solidsteel-S2-5.html

[jdubs]

Went a very different direction. Looked at a ton of racks, and I want to thank those that made suggestions. I had an old BDI rack in the basement that was pretty beat up, but the glass was in perfect condition. So, I sanded and painted the rack, added some LED lights, and it fits. I really wanted something more narrow, but this works at least for now. Very little invested in it.

BUT, to the actual topic of this thread... I'm hiding the ugly amp in plain sight. I found a brushed aluminum 2U rack blank faceplate (AC Infinity). The amp had rack ears, the faceplate is 19", and my pre-amp is 19" even though it's not a rack mount. I got some nice stainless hardware to mount it to the front. Surprisingly, the it hides the lights as well. It worked out very well. You'd have to really look to realize it isn't supposed to be that way.

[creimes]

I was gonna mention something of the same idea if you went with one of those racks mentioned above, purchase or find a piece of aluminum to fit between the shelf spacing that could hide the amp, you could even add a hinge system so it could flip up to make any adjustments to the amps controls if needed.

[AudioHTIT]

Good solution 👍