what do you guys recommend for shelving in yuur custom installs? I just had a custom installer (he's very good, and does high end stuff in our area) design an 18 ft cabinet for my media room, which my cabinet guy will build. the center section is designed for a 60 inch plasma, with two 36x22x22 openings on either side of the screen for equipment. below this there are drawers for DVD storage, etc. there are paneled doors that close over the equipment space. I mentioned rack mounts in these spaces, but his experience is that they are not really worth the trouble, and recommended wood shelves notched out in the back for cables and ventilation. there would be a fan mounted on each side as well...
I'm just a little concerned about heat, as I'll have a big multizone amp in there. I thought somebody might make a perforated metal shelving system that could be used in place of wood... any guidance on this?

Regardless of whether you use a rack system or just wooden shelves they key hear is to get the heat up to the fan. In the past we have had the cabinet makers cut very large square holes( I'm talking almost the size of the shelf hole) in the wooden shelves so that the air can pass through the components that are vented both on the top and bottom.

I'd recommend putting the multizone amp at the very top of the rack closest to the fan because it will problably be the piece that generates the most heat. No point in having it at the bottom and then all of that heat have to travel up through the rest of the components.

I'd also recommend some type of ventilation at the bottom of each cavity so that as the fan sucks the hot air up and out it can pull in fresh air from outside the cabinet.

Robbie S

Middle Atantic makes racks that slide out to allow more convenient servicing and are easier to wire neatly. You can fit a variety of fans for cooling. Upgrades or changes are more convenient. Avrack also makes a rack that extends out and swivels. They are not cheap but either are the finished shelves they replace.

I agree with Shoe. Do yourself a favor and insist on a rack. I tell people that for what I have to charge to install in shelves they can afford a rack. Plus, I have to charge the same labor if I ever have to go back and work on it. With a rack, you just tell the carpenter what size hole you need and you're done.