Looking for some feedback. If you are doing a basic job, with just distributed audio for rack mountabe equip, do you STILL use a rack?

Example, everything else will fit in a structured wiring enclosure..... NEtowrk, phone, TV, etc. All the home runs are in a utility closet or basement. You are doing a distributed audio system, and those are the only pieces that wont go in a can. And Im not talking about a D/A system w CD changers, media servers, etc. Basic Russound system with maybe the Russound tuners, satellite radio tuners, etc. So max we have 3 pieces of equipment, and maybe a rack mountable surge. Do you STILL use a full blown rack, and just leave the rest empty? Do you use the wall mount racks (even though theyre typicall more $), or do you just put up some shelves and call it a day?

TIA

I use the wall mounted racks. Shelves are right out. They make for a slopply job.

My thoughts as well, just seemed like overkill to use a full rack for 2 or 3 pieces

I use a rack whenever possible. You'd be surprised how inexpensive a small slim5 rack can be. If it is as small a job as the one you are describing a slim5 will work just fine as there won't be much for big amounts of cable management and you don't NEED sidepanels or a door.
I would probably throw in a 5-21 with some locking casters and a couple rack drawers to put all the miscelaneous OEM remotes, manuals, etc. Then just slide it up against the wall when you are done. That way everything is done neatly and professionally and when the client wants to add a music server, cable music, cd changer, etc it is as easy as putting in a shelf or rack mountable piece of gear and plugging it in.

I thought full racks were available that were short enough to not be overkill. Overkill is a 65" rack for three items. Lots of sizes are available, right?

You are correct. There are racks available that are as small as 8 spaces ~14 inches (maybe smaller).

The rack I recommended is a 21 space rack and around 36" tall with casters. I like this size for small racks because it is a good height to use as a rolling cart while you are working on the headend and it works very well as a laptop cart when you are programming or finishing the job. There will be extra empty spaces, but I don't see that as a bad thing - I see it as room for future expansion.

Add a 2 space surge unit, 2 space UPS (if needed), a few 4 space drawers for storage (locking or non-locking), and the equipment needed for the job. You already have 12 spaces filled without any venting for amps or cable/sat receivers. You will be surprised how full you can make a 21 space rack apear.

Are you talking about Middle Atlantic? Are there any other options out there for our niche of the rack biz?

MA is the only rack company I use. They are the rack industry standard in my book. Why fix what isn't broken?

Because they would not give me the time of day at EHX. They seemed to go out of their way to ignore me. I sold a ton of their stuff back in the Sound Advice days but now that I am running my own show they ignore me. I am not going to chase or beg a vendor to help me. I thought maybe I caught them at a bad time but I got the same treatment all 3 days of the show at the MA booth. Maybe I will give them another shot at Cedia.

CCD, If you don't want to or can't get anywhere with middle atlantic, raxxess is another viable option. You may want to check into them carefully though as their domain has expired and I'm not sure if this is just an oversight or a sign of something amiss with the company.

Raxxess (?) seems to be gaining some ground but we still use MA. Our clients tend to dig it when we rack mount the gear. They don't "get it" when it's spec'd in the proposal but, they show 'em off once the job is complete. Rack it, idodishez.

DWR baby.

CCD, going direct is easy. Find your rep and call him.

Not true. You can get a wall moutable rack for less then $200.

I just used a raxxess ERK-20-20B. wood sided rack and cheap. But it worked and was much cheaper than the comparable slim5. MA is my main rack source but I wanted to try a cheaper option and the raxxess worked out well.

Frank,
DWR swing away racks with door...
or
EWR economy wall rack.