Why are equipment racks so expensive?

1. Because someone charges 3-10k for rack doesn't mean you or me will pay it.. I'm with you. 30k amps, 10k DACs, 20k speaker cables.

Someone will pay for sure. Just not me.. BUT I covet none of it.

Admire maybe, covet, never. 225.00 per 24 x 60 x 1 1/2 tier of BBlock. Serious manufacturing and shipping cost I'd say. 1k max for all the parts stain, serious spring loaded dollies and clear coat.. 6K Retail for 3 tiers

What do they pay their labor. 150.00 per hour.. Where is that application form.. I'm game at 67. I can turn out one a day. :-). Heck one a week would pay ALL the bills..

I'm right there having to BUY or BUILD for my new set up. I'll build.  Not a lot of equipment racks that accommodate 2 TT and RtR that don't look just like a recording studio.. Gotta make it..

Regards

Dwebe:

Here is a Lack Rack post by member Riotubes, which also contains a link to the original A'Gon thread (thank you A'Gon for storing/maintaining this info).

https://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/messages/11/119775.html

As I'm no longer confortable using power saws I would opt for a fine toothed box saw to cut the legs (think I may have used one on my second go round).

I made a few Lack shelves back then, but used upturned brass cones instead of spikes (still they were really good).

I then opted for a couple of Ken's Greater Ranges shelves as he was kind enough to make a few custom shaped units for my Studio Tech rack (requires cut off/snipped corners).

No answer to your main question (even though I do have one:-).

Anyway, if you want a good reasonably priced rack make a Lack Rack adhering to the basic/general guidelines as they are sound.

DeKay

You certainly must do your research, but high quality audio racks can be considered a component. Not if you have $500 components, but if you have $10K or higher.... and particularly on turntables and tube equipment. They must be rock solid... many contain vibration isolation mechanisms or may be designed to do that. Like any other component you have to match appropriate spending the overall quality of your system.

I agree with ghdprentice’s remarks about choosing a rack that is in a price tier that makes sense in relation to the cost of your components. Like you, I have used Ikea products: Ingolf stools as speaker stands for about five years. I chose to buy Skylan stands as an overdue upgrade for my Harbeth speakers. (Yes, I’m aware that some here are certain that I should have bought stands with open bottoms, but that ship has sailed.)
I recently chose to upgrade my rack from a basic Sanus model with glass shelves that served me well for about ten years. Its replacement is a Symposium Foundation Ultra rack, which cost almost ten times what I paid for the Sanus rack. The differences between the two racks are substantial too, from design to parts; and the Symposium is U.S. made. I would have preferred that the new rack had cost less but chose to buy it anyway. I believe that my system sounds better partly due to the new rack and recently purchased speaker stands. I funded purchase of the new rack with proceeds of sales of some used equipment.
There are basic racks available for $200 to $300, followed by more attractive designs that are somewhat sturdier in the $500 to $1,000 range, and then more expensive options, up to $10,000 if you have funds to afford that.