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

240sx4u said:
Was that tab broken because the weight of all the gear from the top plus the other shelves came smashing down on it?
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I don't know for sure, but I think the right tab broke first, then the amp dropped down, everything else crashed down, and broke the left tab.


Mchaz said:
So, it appears the shelves just slide into the tabs from the front of the rack, correct? If Bell'O would have engineered some sort of retention mechanism to keep the shelves from sliding out from the back support after installation your accident never would have happened. That is a design flaw on their part, IMO.
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The shelves slide into the tabs and these soft plastic screws clamp (poorly) down on the glass. If a shelf is pulled out, it'll fall down. If the side rails are pushed apart, a shelf will fall down. If a clip breaks, a shelf will fall down.

I'm not happy with the design in the slightest.
 
hrballenger said:
REAL racks support the equipment with mounting flanges securely attached to the equipment and the flanges securely attached to the 19" center rack mounting rails... if it's not it's just a shelf, not a rack.
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Is splitting hairs on this really necessary? I think this guy has been through enough. :smoke:
 
Sorry about your gear and rack. Glad your arm is only bruised.

You could build a Flexy Rack from tnt-audio. They are pretty much the same thing as the Atlantis racks but a lot cheaper. The construction allows for lots of variation in shelf material. I built a twelve shelf dual Flexy. Total cost was around $120 including having the lumber yard cut and drill (3 holes each shelf) a 4' x 8' x 3/4" sheet of MDF into 12 16" x 24" shelves. The most expensive parts were the nuts. A box of 50 at Home Depot was almost $60. It's sturdy enough for an adult to jump on a shelf.
 
Sorry about your gear bro.....and glad you're ok.

I've never liked these more modern style racks myself, many seem like a accident waiting to happen. I guess there's still something to be said for that old school style nuts, bolts & "2x4 construction"
 
Just think John if one of the glass shelves would have broke while using your arm to steady the stuff coming down!
It was a good idea from another post about building a rack, 5/8" threaded rod
and nuts bolted to 1/8" aluminum checker plate. Looks very retro and can be expanded. I've given up on prefab racks especially with glass.
Your arm seems to have survived the catastrophe, hope the gear checks out ok.
 
RichPA said:
I'm sorry, but this piece made me laugh out loud.

Seriously, that really sucks, and I hope your arm is OK and your gear still functional.
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I didn't laugh until I saw the "teaser pic" and when I saw that... well, I just had to laugh, too. In fact, I have saved the photo for future mischief, if you don't mind. It is just too funny.
They say stuff that bothers you the most is sometimes stuff that makes you laugh... so I have to say that it is not something I would want to see for myself. But I will certainly take your warning, and do something about the garage sale wooden shelves holding up half my records and hardware, because the thing is leaning oddly to one side these days and maybe that signifies.
 
Feel bad for ya. I thought it was bad enough that the other day my fisher fell and took with it 25 zip disks, a new thing of CDs (of course with the lid off), knocked down my monitor, a couple of random computer parts and scratched a speaker all in one task.

Good to know your arm is Ok, also the glass didn't break (and I'm surprised).
 
Hendrix416 said:
Wow that really sucks. Looking at those pics makes me cringe like seeing an accident on the freeway. Hopefully, the damage to you and your gear are just cosmetic.
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Agreed. Hopefully everything works out! :yes:
 
Glad to see your Ok, certain rack designs are very dangerous, I have a Pioneer display rack that is very top heavy here The original owner added shelves to it for stability. According to info he had it was decommissioned after a child got seriously hurt in a pioneer dealership after pulling on the front shelf.
Good luck geting your rig back in order.
 
That's an alarming picture of damage. Glad you're ok and didn't have to saw your arm off like that guy under the boulder. ;)


Question about the Mc712: you just don't like it or what? Was the glass front plate cracked before the shelf accident?
 
jchouston said:
That's an alarming picture of damage. Glad you're ok and didn't have to saw your arm off like that guy under the boulder. ;)


Question about the Mc712: you just don't like it or what? Was the glass front plate cracked before the shelf accident?
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Well, I did have two pocket knives on me if things had taken a turn for the worse.

The Mac's flaceplate was always cracked. I think it's not a very well made component. It's had lots of defects and failures, the physical design is more for show than go. If I could find a preamp with the controls I like from a make like Acurus or Bryston I'd go for it. They must have forgotten to install the "McInotsh build quality" that Mac owners rub themselves raw thinking about.
 
Sorry to hear about your accident. That stand is good looking but really looks too flimsy to support weighty components. Very lucky the glass which was likely tempered did not shatter. I use a Grand Prix design for my legacy system, very expensive but will be the last shelf I ever need to buy as it as functional as it is beautiful. It also seems to hold its resale value should that concern ever arise. For my BR system I have an older Standesign which is powder coated welded steel that is not going to fail short of an earthquake. I also lucked out recently and found a vintage Yamaha cabinet with glass door ar a GW. The construction is far superior to the usual Bush, O'Sullivan, Pioneer, Sanui etc. particle board stuff which is so ubiquitous. Only problem is the width is too narrow for all but my old Sherwoods but it is a fine looking rack nonetheless with full walnut veneer on all surfaces. I have yet to come across a similar one. Again sorry about your incident, I would definitely write a letter to the CEO of the company along with the pictures. If they are legitimate you ought to get some sort of compensation
 
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