I'd assume the guy posting does indeed value his life more than the gear, and is simply asking for a better way to secure it. I live in harm's way in Seattle. Retrofitting homes for earthquake protection is no longer just an option, it's mandatory for any new construction and most renovations. The stuff you point to are band-aids compared to the need to retrofit the house itself for protection. If the house falls on your gear, it won't matter whether it's strapped to the wall and didn't move, it'll probably get damaged. Then again, as has been pointed out, so might you. If you do live in an area that is vulnerable, I would check to see if your home is properly retrofitted (is the frame bolted to the foundation for starters). If not, this can be a pretty straightforward, albeit time-consuming and tedious, procedure if your basement is open (unfinished) and your home is small. It is far more messy and time consuming if your basement is finished. The first step would be to bolt the frame of your house to the sill plate. You need access to your sill plate around the entire perimeter of your house. If your house is large you will likely need to add shear protection and or strapping, which is a major retrofit you may not want to take on yourself. The FEMA link suggests hiring a contractor, but if you take your time and learn the procedure, following instructions to the letter, the sill plate bolting is a simple process requiring the use of a good hammerdrill and some messy epoxy (yes, I've done it myself, as well as for a friend). Again, on a major retrofit on larger multi-story houses I would think twice about doing that myself. In the case of multi-story houses you really should get a structural engineer involved. If your house is not bolted to the foundation, one of the worst things that can happen in an earthquake is for it to slide off the foundation. Once that happens it is extremely difficult to remedy (not sure it can be done actually). If that happens your stereo will be the least of your concerns, though there are some folks here with systems that cost more than other's homes. You can buy all the supplies for a sill plate retrofit (or more involved retrofiting) at your local Home Depot or mega-hardware dealer. The stuff I get here in Seattle is made by Simpson Strong-Tie. If you take on the task yourself do make sure to check with your local building code as to standards for seismic retrofitting. There are very specific standards in each city, and they are not always the same. Finally, if you do the work, or have it done, document it while it is still exposed using a video camera, and or have it inspected and documented by a qualified inspector who is familiar with the local building codes. If nothing else it may help sell your house.
Marco
Marco