March 2007

Decorating For Music
Part III
Article By Rick Becker

Equipment Furniture

Not everyone likes, or can afford the expensive high-tech vibration absorbing component racks the high-end industry offers. Often times the extensive use of metal simply does not work with the décor of the listening room. Then again, the simple, unobtrusive use of competent footers can achieve the same end. Here is a selection of alternatives that may fulfill your Plan B. I've included a number of tables that are designed for widescreen TV's, since most of us also will have one in the near future, if not already.

The basic lines of this table would work equally well for audio or video.

The side-by-side placement of components eliminates a lot of bending over — a big plus for aging Boomers! From the same company I found this component rack that featured shelves on the end for CD storage.

Schroers & Schroers from Berlin make a wide selection of metal and glass furniture for different media applications. While this style is not my personal taste, it is simply too stunning to overlook. Note the use of ball bearings in grooves carved in the glass to create swivel tops.

From Maria Yee furniture comes this wonderful console table constructed from bamboo, and showing a definite Asian influence.

Bamboo is a highly sustainable wood offering a very hard surface with interesting visual textures. This console allows for horizontal placement of components as well as storage for accessories and software. Furthermore, the storage conceals much of the cabling that may droop behind the components.

For those wishing to draw attention to otherwise bland components, this somewhat vertical rack from Axi will do the trick! It certainly stopped me in my tracks in the Design Center. Axi always has a showroom full of delightful eye candy.

BDI (no relation) showed this impressive tinted glass widescreen ensemble that is probably out in mass distribution channels by now.

Nonetheless, it is a quality product.

TLS by Design is a small, high quality manufacturer that offers a pair of solutions for the audiophile. The larger buffet pictured here features ample storage for whatever — not necessarily just audio related clutter. The wood grain is very attractive and the transitional hardware allows this piece to work in either contemporary or traditional settings. Like the Maria Yee piece shown above the storage area will hide most cables dangling behind your components. If you prefer a more open style TLS has a very sturdy and well proportioned console table that will do justice to your finest components in either a contemporary or transitional setting. The warmth of the wood of these pieces balances out the silver or black metal typically found with most audio gear.

Last, and but not least, except in the minimalist sense, are the wall shelves created by my local metal artist, John Hendry. While the shelves shown here are of modest depth, the basic design can be reconfigured to hold your large and moderately heavy audio components. The shelves feature brushed aluminum surfaces, but they could also be custom made of steel to look like the chairside table shown earlier in this column. Wall mounting is especially desirable where suspended floors would transmit vibrations to turntables and tube gear. In a small room where space is at a premium, this could be a very positive solution. It could also be a very dramatic way to showcase a gorgeous component at a level where your guests could easily view it.

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