Advice for assembling a PA rack?

[Ledvedder]

I've been getting great information from the forum regarding a mixer upgrade for my band. I've purchased a Behringer XR18. Now I want to assemble a decent rack for it. I've thinking the mixer, power conditioner, storage drawer, 2u power amp (for now), and possibly room for a wifi router. So my guess is 6u or 8u?

So with this, I'm asking the folks who are much smarter than me for some purchasing advice for a rack, power conditioner, etc?

 

[pipelineaudio]

For the router, a lot of us put velcro on the bottom of the router and the top of the rack or bag and stick it on during a show so that ts outside the rack and up high.

 

[Ledvedder]

I've purchases a rack and router. Now I need some advice on power. Are most of the rack mountable power devices pretty standard? I'm looking at the Radial Power 1, https://www.radialeng.com/product/power-1

 

[pipelineaudio]

I wouldn't spend too much. For the most part they are glorified power strips. They look nice but a surge protector power strip would do just as well and won't take up a rack space. The XAir is SUPER shallow so there's lots of space.

That said, I'm way too OCD so I always have a (cheap) rack mounted surge protector, and I like the types with pull out lights to help when its dark

 

[Ledvedder]

I wouldn't spend too much. For the most part they are glorified power strips. They look nice but a surge protector power strip would do just as well and won't take up a rack space. The XAir is SUPER shallow so there's lots of space.

That said, I'm way too OCD so I always have a (cheap) rack mounted surge protector, and I like the types with pull out lights to help when its dark

Any recommendations for a (cheap) rack mounted surge protector with lights?

 

[pipelineaudio]

I just saw this on Sweetwater and blown away that ART is still around https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SP4x4--art-sp-4x4-power-distribution-system

 

[Ledvedder]

I just saw this on Sweetwater and blown away that ART is still around https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SP4x4--art-sp-4x4-power-distribution-system

That's considered a "cheap" one?

 

[aflynt]

The Radial Power 1 is nice for the price. Nice long power cable. Some of the cheaper ones have short cables which is kind of annoying.

-Aaron

 

[FuzzyAce]

I have a few of the Furman M-8Lx, but they look to be out of stock at Sweetwater. $120 a piece. I like them because they have the pull-out lights with a dimmer control, and 9 total outlets per unit.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

^ Furman, for me, always. Also, a good isolated power conditioner is far beyond a normal power strip for sure ....it can solve so many problems, at the source. Do not by cheap garbage, get something quality.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Meant to say, if you're using this for live situations a voltage regulator is not a bad idea either. But they can get expensive.

 

[Gtrsolo]

Look for a used rack locally and you’ll save a lot of money. People don’t want to ship them and there’s not too many people in the market for them so prices tends to be low on the used market. I got a gator 8u rolling case for $150; new it’s around $400. And it’s nice having wheels on it.