• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Arrrrggggggghhhhhh--audio rack just tried to kill me & my system

John in MA

John in MA

Respect the gamba tuba
This is a first for me. Disconnecting the speaker cables on my amp today and the shelf supports on my rack gave way. The amp's cables pulled on the preamp, and its shelf pulled out, which then PULLED EVERY OTHER SHELF OUT. My entire system collapsed on my arm. I could barely pull it out from under all the equipment and I feel lucky I'm not still stuck there waiting for AK to wonder why I'm not posting any more.

It's a Bell'O AT-4203A, the $650+ price of which doesn't seem appropriate at this point. These stupid shelf clips are made out of thin cast zinc and most of them appear to be deformed slightly.

I don't know if my gear still works, but total damage known so far:

One bruised arm
One Kinergetics KCD-40 Platinum CDP with a scratched back panel
One Rotel RB-990BX power amp with a dented and squished top panel
One plastic toy figure with damaged hair

And I have someone coming in two hours to demo a different amp and everything's in a pile on the floor.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Hope your arm and gear are okay.

Is it possible to replace the failed clips with better quality clips? Maybe Bell'O has some they can provide?
 
Teaser pic until I have time to order them all:

DSC_0254.jpg
 
That bites...I have a Bell'O with glass shelves that also tend to pull out when an item is moved. The shelf brackets have screws but they somehow loosen or just dont grip the glass well. I havent had them fully fall yet but it will get me someday...
 
Oh, the humanity.....

Hope yer arm is OK. I would think the gear will survive but I'd check EVRY connector for stress damage.
 
Crap, yeah thats the same one I have. Damn I going to have to be careful with that thing! I hope everything survives for you.
 
oh man that sucks! build you a flei rack, 3/4" threaded rod with 8 bolts holding in each shelf aint going nowhere. good luck , I hope everything works out for you.
 
john hope your ok. im also very sorry this happened to you. that being said i have seen more Bell'o failures than any other systems. the shelf ratings are not to be trusted. let us know how everything is when you can.

eric
 
Man that sucks. I hope everything works, including your arm.

That rack is maybe more style than substance?
 
Oh no! That would literally make my heart sink. Not taking away from any of that excellent gear but it particularily pains me to see that McIntosh out of sorts. Most importantly, I hope your arm is OK.
 
Sorry to see the aftermath but glad your arm is ok and the gear is just cosmetically hit. Glad it wasn't some tube amps!

Having said that, it would seem any stand or rack that cannot ensure no shelf movement would be suspect, especially when loading and pulling gear out.

Everytime I look at racks with glass shelves and only 3 or 4 small points of support, I get nervous about using them with heavier vintage pieces. I've used Standesign racks that use 1/2 wood shelves supported by 4 inverted cones at 1/2 inch inward of the corners from underneath in welded supports.

I think the glass rack designers were thinking about lighter weight stuff like DVD players and HT receivers that are lighter in weight.

Sorry to hear of your mishap but trust things will be back up soon.
 
I hope you and your gear pull through OK.

This is why I felt compelled to start building my own equipment stands now. As expensive as current audio/video furniture has gotten, most of it seems worse designed and less reliable than twenty-year-old particle board and veneer RTA bookshelves.
 
Wow man, That is terrible. Glad your arm is okay. I keep my gear on a wooden shelf I constructed and that is a constant fear of mine. I hope all your gear is okay. I'm sure it's your last concern but I'd be contacting the maker of that shelf and inquiring as to why the product is unable to hold up to it's rated stress. Good luck with everything!
 
Ouch! Good thing you at least caught it halfway, otherwise it could have been worse. That rack looks flimsy compared to mine.
Picture463.jpg
 
You know what I would do?

Post this tale on every hi-fi/AV forum that I could think of and send a e-mail to the company that their product is an ill-considered piece of ****.

Sorry to hear that you had to experience this.
 
man did your post bring back memories. the Kinergetics KCD-40 was the first high end CD player that I ever purchased. picked it up around 1990 and drove a brand new Bryston 3B with it. and it was the first CD player I'd ever seen with an analog volume control meant to drive a poweramp directly. I had made my own speaker from David Weems Loudspeaker cookbook, the ones made from chimney flue although I didn't use flue I made them from mdf but kept the basic design intact. thanks for the memories.

oh and so sorry for your mishap

Shawn
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom