Audio Video News

If you've ever installed a stack of A/V equipment in an armoire or cabinet with a sealed back, you know the meaning of "pain-in-the-neck." Struggling with a hand mirror and a flashlight to hook up cables in a cramped compartment can make you wish you'd never heard of home theater.

Standesign has the cure for what ails you. The British equipment rack manufacturer has introduced a retractable equipment rack, the BCM System, with an innovative cable management system, and removable gantry that can be used to move an entire stack of components 50" out in front of a cabinet and provide full access to the rear panels. No more struggling to replace a cable or add a component to your system! The Standesign BCM System is said to be compatible with almost any audio/video cabinet or equipment closet.

The BCM System has three elements: a rolling base and cable management device with a short segment of track fastened to the shelf of the A/V cabinet, and "The Gantry," a removable track and height-adjustable support that lets you slide the rack into the room. Modular shelf sections in 8", 10", and 12" heights can be combined to form a multi-shelf system rack. The BCM rolling base has a rugged steel and wood platform that can only move along the track sections, without lifting up or derailing in any way.

To extend the equipment out of the cabinet, the installer connects the gantry's tracks to the ends of the BCM's tracks, making sure the gantry legs are set to the same height. Cables are protected from pinching or being pulled loose by the rack's "folding cable management system." An entire A/V system can be assembled, connected, and tested in comfort and then rocked into place in the cabinet. The BCM also makes servicing easy by letting you pull the entire rack out, where it stands firmly on the floor.

"This is a terrific tool for the custom installer," said Paul Madsen, president of Group Madsen, Standesign's US distributor. "It will dramatically reduce the amount of time, effort and complexity of installing and connecting a system inside a cabinet or closet. No more wrestling with equipment or reaching around to make blind connections. With the Standesign BCM, one person can install, update or service the system without damaging the equipment, surroundings or the installer. We believe it is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to manage this type of installation."

It's also a boon to the do-it-yourself home theater enthusiast. Suggested retail price of the BCM is $599. The Gantry is $249, and the modules are $99 each. Standesign USA can be reached by telephone at 612-706-9250.