I really need some advice on which rack to buy. The thing is my space is very limited. I only have 24" max depth capacity and would prefer the rack to be about 40 to 50" tall. Another problem is funds; I can't go over $700.

I have narrow it to two options:

1. Holovision 50" with 4 mdf shelves (22" deep) for about $640 shipped from the nerds.net. I'll need to buy another shelf separately.
http://eholovision.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=38

2. Samsom 40" (21 spaces / 18" deep). I'll need to take the wheels off and purchase 5 Middle Atlantic shelves separately, but I can still get all for less than $500 shipped.
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1827

Questions:

- Which one is better?
- Do steel shelves produce better sound than mdf?

Total weight of components about 150 pounds.

Any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance,

are you handy at all? 700 seems like a lot of money for a rack. I have seen the racks people have online and they look great... but I always wonder why you can't just build a shlef unit out of MDF. Heck for 700 you could build it out of some exotic hardwood.

I am in the same position, trying to figure out how to mount my equipment, but I think I am just going to build a shelf unit... can't be that hard, or am I missing something in regards the benefit of a rack?

At 50" you're talking about at least a 36-space rack, and nobody really makes that large a rack in a knockdown variety so you're looking at steel or hard wood. Neither of those are cheap options, hence the price tag. That would be a large, heavy item too so shipping would be expensive as well.

If you're handy you could probably make something yourself...if not, then $700 is probably not unreasonable at all.

Frank

You can buy the rack rails, install those, then buy the shelves! Then, frame around the rails - get a nice professional look.

Have you considered that option?

You can buy the rack rails, install those, then buy the shelves! Then, frame around the rails - get a nice professional look.

Have you considered that option?

This is exactly what I did, though I haven't finished populating it with shelves/blanks.

I grabbed 2 rails from the dumpster at work (you can get them in the $50-75 range), mounted them to the sides of the framed out opening, added some paint and trim, installed some rack mount shelves ($20-50 each).

Check out my build thread for details and pics.