Building a Closed Hifi Equipment Rack with Ventilation - by SoundBlab

Today I am building this enclosed hifi equipment rack with integrated power sockets and cooling fan.
This hifi rack is the second part of my Listening Room Build Series. I live in a fairly large studio. It was originally an old industrial building, now converted to live-in studio spaces with workshops. It can get fairly dusty in here, especially when the famous south easter wind blows here in Cape Town. Thus, this equipment rack has to be enclosed, and also should then have some sort of air flow management to prevent the equipment inside to overheat. Sure, this is not the typical hifi rack with spiked feet and anti-vibration technology built in, but I am ultimately more interested in keeping my equipment dust free and working still for many years to come.

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[donwest]

I modified an "antique" one purchased at a garage sale. Wish I had a tablesaw.( Nice thought-ful design)

[robertoortiz]

Noted that this was 3 yes ago but none the less!
This rack is a perfect example of practicality and design
Thanks for the inspiration

[michaelz]

Ohh, I really like the grooves for the shelf pins! Great idea that I simply must steal. 😊

Thx for putting together the video and sharing!

[davidharkins]

I wish I had your skill level - you make that look easy !

[rbestavros]

Excellent job, you are very practical and thorough in you design/implementation

[ashrafthemariner]

Very nice engineered art work. Really impressed the way of yr work. Keep it up . Hope to see some more master pieces. Thanks

[wemel]

I've been planning on making something like this for a while now but don't have the space (yet) to place one. Those cut-outs for air-flow are genius! Also the build looks realy nice. Great job!

[akeeperofoddknowledge]

Well thought out and expertly executed!

[edwinpn]

Nice outcome..with complete power tools..

[hi-fihaven]

I really enjoy your videos! You really come up with some great projects.

[alainduquenois]

Très ingénieux le meuble avec 2 ventilateur

[jeremyhull]

Great video, lots of thought went into the design. I need to see if I can adapt these ideas to a closed in space where I plan to install sliding shelves for the various stereo components.

[richardbmw]

Looking good Hanri, liking the new intro too!

[benjaminreinhardt]

Cabinet looks good. I plan to build something similar for my garage. I am planning to have the fan blow in from the bottom (pulling in through a filter) and have vents at the top of the cabinet. My thought is the cabinet will then be under positive pressure (with filtered air) and I will not need to seal the case. Thoughts/experience?

[livacreative]

Very nice and good job at the intro animation.

[TheCHRISCaPWN]

I have revisited this build video several times now. I am planning on building a 7 foot tall rack very similar to this to house all of the gear for my home theater, as well as the gear for my living room system. I am back and forth between using MDF or Plywood for the build. My main hangup is weight vs shelf sag. I don't know that at 18" wide there will be much sag, but I am curious what your thoughts are after your experience?

[hallowed]

that is just killer.. many great ideas in your build \MM/

[warpspeed]

Only two pins per side is "bare essential". Maybe it's just me but I would double that for extra safety...

[hvheerden]

VERY nicely done!
Cabinet looks amazing. The airflow and cable management is well thought out, something dearly missing in most store-bought cabinets.

Where did you buy the birch plywood in Cape Town?

[tayred]

Very nice. Little pitty that you didnt cut out the corners of the inside of the acrylic door.