Spec Rack questions

[mistro]

I was lucky to just acquire two Pioneer ja r2s Spec racks. They won’t be delivered until the end of the month. They are complete with the exception of screws and shelves and should accommodate my collection of Spec components that up to now has been housed in a generic rack.

I read the thread on Alternative Spec Rack screws and will be ordering/procuring some of the options in that thread but my question is concerning shelves.

Do I need? Can the components be installed directly into the rack or is there some reason to use shelves? If the components can be installed directly as they are in my generic rack, what are the shelves for?

Finally is there anything else I should be aware of as I populate the rack(s). TIA Mike

 

[pustelniakr]

First, be careful about the bottom shelf of each rack, specifically regarding the retention of the wheels. Many of these racks have experienced being rolled over rough spots, with excessive effort, tearing out the fiberboard retaining the wheels. If the meat is still there, it can be repaired/restored to strength with the proper adhesive and attention.

As for shelves: components with their own rack mount ears, you need no shelves. They will not properly install with their feet on, so you will have to remove them. I would put them in a small ziplock bag and tape them to the component, or they will get lost over time.

Components that have no rack-mount ears will need the SPEC adapter shelves, which include rack-mount faces. Only certain models are provided for. Such components are the SG-9500 Equalizer, TX-9500-II Tuner, SA-9500-II Integrated Amp, etc. For those components, I recommend backing the rack-mount faces with some kind of soft, insulating tape or such, to keep from damaging the front panels of the components installed in them. The adapters do abrasion and corrosion damage otherwise.

Some components, like the high end cassette decks, did not originally come with rack-mount ears. However, Pioneer made attachable rack-mount ears for those units, like the CT-F1000, CT-F1250, etc. Once the ears have been installed, you need no shelf for installation.

Enjoy,
Rich P

 

[mistro]

First, be careful about the bottom shelf of each rack, specifically regarding the retention of the wheels. Many of these racks have experienced being rolled over rough spots, with excessive effort, tearing out the fiberboard retaining the wheels. If the meat is still there, it can be repaired/restored to strength with the proper adhesive and attention.

As for shelves: components with their own rack mount ears, you need no shelves. They will not properly install with their feet on, so you will have to remove them. I would put them in a small ziplock bag and tape them to the component, or they will get lost over time.

Components that have no rack-mount ears will need the SPEC adapter shelves, which include rack-mount faces. Only certain models are provided for. Such components are the SG-9500 Equalizer, TX-9500-II Tuner, SA-9500-II Integrated Amp, etc. For those components, I recommend backing the rack-mount faces with some kind of soft, insulating tape or such, to keep from damaging the front panels of the components installed in them. The adapters do abrasion and corrosion damage otherwise.

Some components, like the high end cassette decks, did not originally come with rack-mount ears. However, Pioneer made attachable rack-mount ears for those units, like the CT-F1000, CT-F1250, etc. Once the ears have been installed, you need no shelf for installation.

Enjoy,
Rich P

Thanks much! Very helpful. So I will only need a rack for a CD player. And does a turntable sit on top or should it have a rack too? And just to be certain, the rack handles on a shelf are just cosmetic. The shelf does not extend?

Thanks again. Mike

 

[pustelniakr]

You may be able to find an aftermarket shelf that extends, upon which you can put a turntable. However, the turntable is intended to sit on top. The turntable for the SPEC system was the PL-630. Pioneer did make turntables which extend out like a large disk player. You will need a simple aftermarket shelf for that.

Rich P