Billy Bags AV Equipment Stands and Racks

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BillyBags_Reviewed.jpgBilly Bags stands have been receiving recognition for almost twenty years, a remarkable feat in this day and age when hot new products are usually made by companies that only stay in business for a few years. Equipment stands and racks may not be glamorous, but they are a necessity. While we all have our friends who have shoved their AV gear onto a bookcase or into an old armoire, a dedicated stand will do the job much better and can even help your equipment perform better.

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The equipment racks can be had in a variety of configurations. I personally own two single-column designs, one that holds five components and another, configured as a TV stand, which holds two components with a swiveling top. On of the great things about Billy Bags is that you can order your rack configured any way you like it. You need a four-component-wide rack that has eight-inch high spaces on the bottom row but only six-inch spaces on the top row? No problem. The top row needs a double-wide space in the middle for a center channel? No problem.

All this versatility in design is great, but it doesn't mean a thing if it isn't built well. Billy Bags makes several lines of gear, but are best known for their classic designs that feature tubular steel frames with laminated high-pressure composite boards to form the shelves. Other designs are available, including one that uses "I" beams. One of the tubular steel stands I have is well over a decade old and is still rock solid. The stands' frames are constructed out of one-inch coiled rolled steel. The seams are arc-welded on the inside, giving the outside a seamless appearance. The standard finish is a wrinkled black powder coat, but several other options are available. The shelves themselves are laminated three-quarter-inch-thick composite wood that are laminated top, front and bottom and have PVC edge banded sides. The top shelves on most units have the laminate surface on all sides and beveled corners. Glass shelves are also an option. Other options for the audiophile include the ability to fill the tubular legs with the material of choice and isolation dampers.

Read about the high points and low points of the BIlly Bags on Page 2.
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  • By Ken Taraszka, MD

When I was searching for my racks, I gave serious consideration to Billy Bags, but the welding construction makes them totally fixed, and as often as gear changes in my system, I needed something that would allow more flexibility. The masculine look of these might not have been totally appreciated by the wife either, though she gives me total and complete free rein when it comes to my audio equipment.

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