If you’re a beginner to recording, it might seem like a good idea just to place your studio equipment on shelves and go from there. But here’s the thing I’ve learned over the years, doing this compromises the very sound quality you are trying to produce. Every piece of equipment has a vibration signature. Placing them on a shelf magnifies that signature.
Studio equipment also produces considerable heat. Placing them on a solid object of any type creates a barrier that reduces the exhaust of heat which could overheat and damage your equipment. Take it from the professionals: the only way to combat these two critical concerns is to use a recording studio rack mount or studio rack cabinet.
I’ve reviewed and ranked the best rack mounts for studio equipment based on numerous key factors, including quality, size, style, and price (click here to learn about our entire Editorial Process & Methodology for product reviews). This guide has been fully updated for 2024, so you can be sure you’re getting the latest information on the best current products to help you make an informed buying decision.
What are the Best Studio Rack Mounts?
Here are my picks for the best audio racks for a home studio environment:
- On-Stage RS7030 Rack Stand
- Odyssey Carpeted Studio Rack
- Samson SRK-12 Rack Stand
- StarTech.com Wall Mount Bracket
- KENUCO Vertical Wall Mountable Rack
- Procraft Equipment Rack
- StarTech.com 12U Open Frame Rack
1. On-Stage RS7030 Rack Stand →
On-Stage RS7030 Rack Stand
This 12-space studio rack can securely hold several pieces of gear of up to 115 pounds. The black powder-coat finish also makes it very durable and prevents it from chipping over time.
What’s Inside: Support bars and braces with screw fasteners and additional rack screws to fasten up to 12 equipment modules.
Top Features: I am choosing the On-Stage RS7030 Rack Stand first because it is an excellent example of the bare-bones or basic approach to the issue of mounting home studio equipment.
The stand offers space for up to 12 units, so all your basic home studio equipment should comfortably fit with a good amount of room to spare.
The steel tubing supports a maximum of 75 pounds of equipment without bending, and its angled style provides easy access for the user to every module.
The rack is usable anywhere in a studio or on stage. It can be placed beside a desk, on a platform, or elevated near musicians on stage for easy access during performance.
One of the things I like is this frame is easy to assemble and can be broken down and reassembled in minutes with each gig stop.
Best Use: This rack mount is best used in a home studio but sees a lot of use on performance stages.
2. Odyssey Carpeted Studio Rack →
Odyssey CRS08 8 Space Carpeted Studio Rack
This carpeted studio rack is built from 3/4" Plywood and offers an angled face so you can easily see and access your gear.
What’s Inside: The rack-mount system is already assembled and ready to receive equipment. Unfortunately, the kit does not include rack screws, so you need to purchase those separately.
Top Features: Rated as a portable system, Odyssey URS08 8 Space Carpeted Studio Rack comes in only one size.
Odyssey has done a great job of simplifying rack hardware to its essentials and offering it at an impressively low price.
Constructed from carpeted wood, the rack’s design is modest yet aesthetically pleasing, seamlessly integrating into any studio space without occupying too much room.
Though the design features a slanted front to allow easy access to equipment controls, the back is vertical, creating an ever-diminishing space for equipment. The bottom of the cubicle allows equipment up to 15.9 inches in depth while the top of the cabinet only allows 12-inches.
You should consider these dimensions while choosing your devices to ensure you have room.
The cabinet is completely enclosed with one-inch thick plywood making a sturdy structure in which to house your equipment.
The structure is 19 inches in height with apertures that accept up to eight devices.
The outside carpeting serves as an insulator and presents an attractive appearance.
The item is portable and wears well when shipped from one place to another. It is priced in the mid-range of the rack mount market.
Best Use: The Odyssey URS08 8 Space Carpeted Studio Rack is best used in a home studio environment and is small enough to be placed on the side of your desk for easy access to the control units. Some traveling musicians use the rack on stage as it has wheels and is portable. With its laptop computer-sized flat top, I have seen this rack used as a multifunctional podium in classrooms and churches.
3. Samson SRK-12 Rack Stand →
Samson SRK-12 Universal Equipment Rack Stand
The Samson SRK12 is a universal studio equipment rack designed to easily accommodate all of your rack-mounted gear. It's made from heavy-duty steel built to last and has fully enclosed side panels and front and rear rack rails. It's compatible with both US and metric screw thread sizes and both sets of screws are included.
What’s Inside: The kit comes in a flat pack that includes two steel side panels, a steel plate bottom and top panel, two steel rack posts, and a package of screws in both US and European sizes to accommodate equipment purchased from either source. The rack comes with four 3-inch casters and a single-space blank panel.
Top Features: The Samson SRK-12 Universal Equipment Rack Stand comes in four sizes including eight-unit, 12-unit, 16-unit, and 21-unit versions and is the costliest of the racks I considered for this list.
The rack accommodates the standard 19-inch equipment packages and has a consistent depth of 18 inches with an allowance of overlap beyond that if needed through the open back.
I really like that the casters are large enough to roll across carpet even when the rack is fully loaded.
I found this rack a pleasant surprise when using it in my home studio as the smaller eight-unit size fits beneath a desk, and the largest 21-rack size works well as a high-end rack that sits against a wall.
The rack-mount is easy to assemble with clear instructions and plenty of screws and cage nuts to support any equipment you wish to include.
When the casters are attached, this sturdy unit can handle up to 350 pounds of equipment. Removing the casters lets you upgrade to nearly 500 pounds.
Best Use: The best use for this rack mount system is in a home studio. Many musicians gravitate to this rack as the large casters allow easy movement across a stage, or from transport to the stage, and the casters are lockable once the rack is in place. The largest version is seeing use in customer service sites.
4. StarTech.com Wall Mount Bracket →
StarTech.com 6U Wall Mount Network Equipment Rack
This sturdy studio rack allows you to safely wall mount your equipment to save space and make it more accessible. It's 14" deep and can handle up to 44 pounds of equipment.
What’s Inside: The kit includes a fully assembled wall-mountable rack system and the screws needed to mount the rack on the wall. Each kit also includes enough screws and cage nuts to install the highest number of rackable devices dependent on the size of the rack ordered.
Top Features: The StarTech.com Wall Mount Patch Panel Bracket comes in three sizes—6-unit, which can handle up to 44 pounds, 8-unit that takes as much as 80 pounds, and 12-unit, which handles 120 pounds of equipment.
These racks are constructed to be mounted on a wall. If you place them on a desk or other flat surface without mounting them, then the weight capability drastically drops.
Bear in mind when purchasing these racks that they are only 12 inches in depth. If your equipment is deeper than that, then it will not fit.
Remember, you also must allow for cable attachments in the rear of the devices, so the 12-inch limitation is further reduced, especially if you are using a high-grade stiff cable to shield from interference.
My recommendation when purchasing these racks is to find some four-inch mount extensions or build your own but cutting sections from a 4×4 block of wood. Using the extension allows you to use deeper equipment and makes it easy to attach or detach your cables.
Yes, there are convenient cutouts in the back of the rack where you can run your cables.
The advantages of these racks are that they are cheap, permanently installed, and look great when filled.
Best Use: These racks are not portable. That factor alone restricts their use to home studios or small businesses.
5. KENUCO Vertical Wall Mountable Rack →
KENUCO 19 Inch Steel Vertical Rack and Wall Mountable Server Rack Mount (Black-2U)
This low profile, highly durable wall rack can handle up to 75 pounds of gear, including studio equipment, server gear, telecommunications devices, and more. It offers open airflow to ensure gear is properly ventilated.
What’s Inside: The kit includes the rack, eight screws, eight connectors, four wall-mounting bolts, and an Allen wrench of the appropriate size.
Top Features: The KENUCO 19-Inch Steel Vertical Wall Mountable Rack is an original and unique product in the rack mount market. It is a step above the StarTech.com version that holds equipment in a vertical format, which allows you open access to the connections and controls.
The solid steel construction lets you hang up to 175 pounds of equipment in a small space within your home studio, freeing up more space in cramped studio environments.
The product costs nearly double that of the StarTech.com wall mount rack but more than makes up for it in convenience.
Best Use: The vertical rack mount is a perfect fit in a home studio or a small business where space is at a premium.
6. Procraft Equipment Rack →
What’s Inside: The kit includes the rack and a set of screws and washers to attach up to four pieces of equipment.
Top Features: The Procraft 12-Inch Equipment Rack is one of the most portable racks on the market. Housing up to four units, this rack, when filled with equipment, is light enough to be carried by the leather strap conveniently attached to the top.
When using this rack, you will find yourself limited to mounting equipment that is only nine inches in depth.
The original intent that drove Procraft to create this rack was to perfect a commercial rack that would sit easily on a desk.
Of course, musicians and other performers found other advantages for its use as its visible presence on stages across the globe attest.
Some users find themselves removing the back rails to install deeper equipment.
The rack consists of an attractive birch plywood and sports a carpeted bottom to reduce vibrations wherever it is placed.
Best Use: The Procraft 12-Inch Equipment Rack is best used as a desktop rack in a home studio.
7. StarTech.com Open Frame Rack →
What’s Inside: The kit includes two support flanges, two post bars, and a structural support brace. It comes with 20 M5 screws and cage nuts, allowing you to install up to five devices immediately after assembly.
Top Features: The StarTech.com 12U Open Frame Rack comes in a variety of sizes—eight-unit, 12-unit, and 16-unit. I chose this rack because it is constructed with strong steel posts to support even the heaviest of equipment in a compact and limited space.
The modern design takes advantage of physical laws to provide the type of support that an entrepreneur appreciates.
The eight-unit rack stands a mere 24 inches in height, the rack takes up little room while providing easy access to the equipment for performers and producers alike.
The 12 and 18-unit racks stand 36 and 48 inches in height respectively and require placement other than under a desk.
Sturdier than the On-Stage rack stand, the rack supports up to 140 pounds of equipment without a grunt.
Coming in a hinged design, the rack is easily moved from one place to another.
Best Use: This rack is built for use in tight spaces, making it ideal for the small home studio. I recommend you consider purchasing it for your second generation of equipment, which is normally heavier than your beginning set of devices.
Additional Equipment for Your Studio Rack
I’ve included this section as information for any new home studio builders. The section includes essential rack gear for your home studio.
NavePoint Ventilated Shelf →
The NavePoint Cantilever Ventilated 10-Inch Shelf is a useful piece of equipment that takes up only one unit of space in your rack. Its ventilated design allows airflow, and it fills any of those ugly spaces you may have left between equipment while constructing your rack. If you need more depth, it also comes in a 14-inch version.
PDU Power Strip Surge Protector →
Another piece of equipment that covers an unused space is the PDU Power Strip Surge Protector. Instead of using a vulnerable external protector that may unplug or disconnect without notice, this protector fits directly into your rack.
NavePoint Blank Rack Mount Panel →
The NavePoint 1U Blank Rack Mount Panel serves as a less costly cover for blank spaces and comes with a ventilated surface to encourage airflow for your studio equipment.
NavePoint Lockable Drawer →
To add security along with the convenience of accessibility to your blank space, the NavePoint Server Cabinet Case Lockable Drawer works well to hold those small necessities that every home studio discovers. Pencils, pens, pads, and cards are among those things that litter desks in home studios. Mounting storage drawers in the blank space in your rack cleans your desk while organizing your extra studio equipment.