Thread: Media Room.... turntable integration

Originally Posted by jay.goodman1

I'm redesigning my man cave and having a hard time deciding where to place the turntable on my component rack.


I used to have it on top shelf.. and it's interesting I don't see any pictures really with people's media room having a turntable I find that is very odd...

For me it must be at chest level or thereabouts...





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I think you already know the answer on where to place your table on your rack. As for you finding it odd that you don't see many turntables in media rooms, I don't find it odd at all for a number of reasons.

Originally Posted by jay.goodman1

I used to have it on top shelf.. and it's interesting I don't see any pictures really with people's media room having a turntable I find that is very odd...

Ok, feel better now ..........

will be interesting to hear the gold standard of tt placement here ;-)

anyone placing their tt on a lower shelf? would be nice to hear how much clearance to the shelf above is workable for changing LPs and in general how much of a PINTA this is versus the top shelf?

My turntable is top shelf, LOL Figuratively, on this forum that is arguable. Literally, my stand is tall, my turntable is on the top shelf which is about my chin. People are always asking me how I use it that high, it just works for me. I've always used the top shelf and the stands always ended up being high.

well, ok. my three tt's are on the top shelf. but it's not that simple.

2 issues with rack height and turntables. one is very obvious.

---your turntable needs to be at a height where you can most comfortably see what you are doing while setting up a cartridge, and where you can have proper sight lines. and if it's too low then as you age you will less and less want to take proper care. it will also depend on your expectations as to set-up perfection. my tone arm designer (a local friend) many times comments how easy and natural my turntable height is for him to easily tweak the set-up.

i know people who's back or neck needs a week to recover from setting up their cartridge. life is too short. something in that equation....gives.

---and generalizing about lower tt height sounds better misses the mark. you have to factor your floor construction, proximity to your speakers, how dynamic and how much deep bass your speakers produce, the rack type (isolating or solid), and your turntable plinth design......is it suspended or not? a tall solid, high mass, rack on a concrete floor will yield much better results than a cheap low rack on a suspended wood floor. better yet; your tall rack is mass loaded, and maybe you use a Stacore air suspension shelf, or better yet, and Taiko Tana active shelf.......and height no longer matters.......at.......all......as far as performance.

some racks are very solid when they get taller, some are not. it.....depends.

btw; there are no rules, tt fun is where you find it, and everyone has a different set of priorities. so i'm only commenting from the perspective of desiring un-compromised performance. YMMV and just my 2 cents.

my racks allow for the perfect working height. you are never hunching over and straining.......and are mass loaded onto a concrete floor and the tt closest to my speakers has active isolation.

3TR-3t (1 of 1).jpg

Originally Posted by Mike Lavigne

well, ok. my three tt's are on the top shelf. but it's not that simple.

2 issues with rack height and turntables. one is very obvious.

---your turntable needs to be at a height where you can most comfortably see what you are doing while setting up a cartridge, and where you can have proper sight lines. and if it's too low then as you age you will less and less want to take proper care. it will also depend on your expectations as to set-up perfection. my tone arm designer (a local friend) many times comments how easy and natural my turntable height is for him to easily tweak the set-up.

i know people who's back or neck needs a week to recover from setting up their cartridge. life is too short. something in that equation....gives.

---and generalizing about lower tt height sounds better misses the mark. you have to factor your floor construction, proximity to your speakers, how dynamic and how much deep bass your speakers produce, the rack type (isolating or solid), and your turntable plinth design......is it suspended or not? a tall solid, high mass, rack on a concrete floor will yield much better results than a cheap low rack on a suspended wood floor. better yet; your tall rack is mass loaded, and maybe you use a Stacore air suspension shelf, or better yet, and Taiko Tana active shelf.......and height no longer matters.......at.......all......as far as performance.

some racks are very solid when they get taller, some are not. it.....depends.

btw; there are no rules, tt fun is where you find it, and everyone has a different set of priorities. so i'm only commenting from the perspective of desiring un-compromised performance. YMMV and just my 2 cents.

my racks allow for the perfect working height. you are never hunching over and straining.......and are mass loaded onto a concrete floor and the tt closest to my speakers has active isolation.

3TR-3t (1 of 1).jpg

Mike, I agree.

My is at 4’3”. The table is easy to access and play records. I could not imagine having it lower requiring you to bend.


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Originally Posted by UltraFast69

Mike, I agree.

My is at 4’3”. The table is easy to access and play records. I could not imagine having it lower requiring you to bend.

I also agree with you and Mike, my platter ht being 50" of the floor, rack direct coupled to concrete floor beneath the carpeting.

Maybe everyone know this already, but when it comes to unlocking your music, WHERE the turntable & rack are located in the room can be a deal maker or breaker...

IMO & IME, of course...

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

Maybe everyone know this already, but when it comes to unlocking your music, WHERE the turntable & rack are located in the room can be a deal maker or breaker...

IMO & IME, of course...

Hi Jim...Where would be the best place for the turntable to be located in a room that's roughly 18.6' X 14.2' with speakers on the short wall?

Originally Posted by Audiophilehi

Hi Jim...Where would be the best place for the turntable to be located in a room that's roughly 18.6' X 14.2' with speakers on the short wall?

Never in a corner, and preferably not on the front wall behind the speakers, nor on the rear wall. Not adjacent to a speaker. Somewhere on the side wall, as long as it's not the first reflection point from the speakers...

Do not want the turntable in any area where the bass might be reinforced.

IMO, IME

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

Never in a corner, and preferably not on the front wall behind the speakers, nor on the rear wall. Not adjacent to a speaker. Somewhere on the side wall, as long as it's not the first reflection point from the speakers...

Do not want the turntable in any area where the bass might be reinforced.

IMO, IME

Thanks Jim!

After I tried the top shelf for a week, I shortened the rack, and suspended the turntable on a dedicated shelf from the wall. Anyone walking on the second floor upset the music when the TT was on the floor rack. Couple angle irons and slab of butcher block fixed it all. I did choose a convenient level for TT alignment, and record placement while standing.

Having read Jim’s book, my rack, and TT are on the side wall, with amps only between the speakers, on amp stands.