Middle Atlantic Shelf Size recommendations

It's not a matter of choosing by price, it's a matter of choosing by application.

The U3 is rated for more weight, and it is also deeper. You do niot want to have a shelf that is too shallow... unless you want your products to fall out the back of your rack when you are pressing on the front panel.

To determine the correct shelf, there are two ways...

1) (The hard way) Get the height and depth measurements of your components as well as the weight. Compare them to the rackshelves (remembering that 1U = 1.75") Compare them to the ratings on the rackjshelves you are buying.
If your units are between exact rack sizes, always go one rack space larger.

2) Visit the Middle Atlantic site and click on the "Custom Rackshelf Search -- Go" button on the lower right section of the home page.
This takes you tro a database where you can search for your components.
It may take a few tries to learn the search engine, try to use brand names and then scroll the results.

When you find your component, it will give a height designation (in RU) and a depth (one of the 4 possible RSH shelf depths)

You can use this to determine the correct rackshelf, whether you go with Universals, RSHs, or Clamping rackshelves.

For VERY heavy or deep components (400 disc changers, big 7 channel amps, etc.) use a SH-5A, which is a froont to back shelf that bolts to the front AND rear rails of a Slim5 rack.

PS. your power conditioners will probably be available with rack ears so you won't need a shelf at all.

Actually, pro equipment comes with rack ears and does not need rackshelves!!!
Look at it this way, MA stuff actually costs LESS than carpenter's site built shelving, or decent audio shelving...

HI Rick,

I am considering MA slim 5-43 myself now. Where did you get it and how much? I am reseaching the price on the Internet.

Thanks,
--Tom

nineteeninch . com is the best place to buy any middle atlantic items

I have the Middle Atlantic SRSR ROTATING SLIDING RAIL SYSTEM in my theater. When I was buying shelves I went to the manufacturer's website for each piece and got the measurements and weight. I then looked on the MA site for a shelf that could accommodate. It only took a few minutes.

You can put your equipment number into the custom shelf search engine on the MA site. What I found when doing this though is that the custom rack shelves were ALWAYS at least 1U size larger than what I came up with in my research. I am guessing that they are ensuring greater airflow for your components. So you can do it this way if you have the extra space in your rack.

Just a side note - If there are any Middle Atlantic Reps trolling the boards can you come up with a custom rack shelf that holds BOTH the Xbox 360 and the HD-DVD drive add-on!?!? Using 4U of space with 2 separate shelves is a waste!

Thanks. Thats the best prices I have seen for MA items.