That looks REALLY nice, shadorne. The problem is each cube is $89, so a cube of four costs $356. The 4-cubicle EKET is $50. I bought nine EKET for $450; the comparable Simple Woods cubes would be $3204! That will buy a lot of LP’s. Yep, you're right, Ikea is junk, but I choose to spend the money saved on cheap LP storage instead on the Trans-Fi Terminator Arm I just ordered, and an LP flattener, and a diy ultrasonic record cleaner, not to mention more LP's! has2be, your project for your friend also sounds fantastic. You’re quite a pal! The 4 x 4 Kallax is the best LP storage deal around---sixteen approximately 13" cubicles for $109! |
The maximum load capability of a shelf is partially determined by what constitutes a shelf. The EKET 4-cube model (the largest EKET) has only two approximately 13" cubicles per shelf wide. The Kallax in available in many different configurations, the most commonly used by LP collectors being the 8 (2 cubicles wide x 4 cubes tall, or 4 cubes wide x 2 cubes tall), 16 (4 x 4), and 25 (5 x 5) cube models. The 16 and 25 are the same side-to-side and top-to-bottom, and must support considerably more weight than the EKET. The 8-cubicle can be positioned upright---in which case a shelf is 2-cubes wide, or laying down---4 cubes wide. Laying the Kallax on it's side---if space allows---would seem to me to be preferable. One may also secured an EKET to the rear wall, but it is sufficiently stiff and well-braced to not require doing so, unlike the wobbly Kallax. The Kallax is also backless---allowing dust access to the LP cover opening, and is a couple of inches deeper than I prefer, though that can be cured, as others have pointed out, with the addition of a spacer behind the LP’s. Whichever IKEA model unit one chooses, it will provide LP storage at the cheapest price per LP that I have found. |
I assembled the six 4-cubicle EKET's I bought, in two stacks of three cabinets. Each group of three cabs are fastened together on the back, and screwed onto the 4" high, 4-legged base with adjustable feet (for leveling) that IKEA offers for the EKET. When the back panel is slid into place, the final (top) panel installed, and the little plugs inserted into the cabinets rear, the finished EKET is very structurally stiff and inflexible. When mounted onto the base, place against a wall, and fully loaded with the LP's, the stack is absolutely unmovable! It feels like it's part of the rooms structure, as if it's built in. The six cabinets didn't provide as much LP storage as I require, so I went back and bought three more, and another base. I went up to the showroom to take another look at the KALLAX, particularly in terms of structural rigidity. After being surprised by just how stiff my stacks of EKET's are, I was now surprised by how wobbly the KALLAX is. I believe that rack can be considerably stiffened with the addition of cross supports on it's rear. Without them, I would not have enough confidence in the KALLAX to put my LP collection into one. |
When you go to roll the Kallax on it’s casters, push near the bottom of it’s side, rather than the middle, or even worse, near it’s top. Perhaps because it has no back panel, the Kallax exhibits some "give" in the lateral direction. I pushed on the top corner at one end of both the 16-cubicle and 25-cubicle Kallax, and they weren’t completely stiff---the whole assembly became out of square. I did the same with the 4-cubicle Eket, and the box remained square, showing no sign of movement. Now that I have assembled my Ekets, I can attest to their structural strength and stiffness. There have been reports of the larger (16 and 25 cube) Kallaxs collapsing when fully loaded with LP’s. When I was going to go with them, I was intending to get multiples of the 8-cubicle version, as many as necessary to hold all my LPs. I would lay the Kallax on it’s side---horizontally as Davey intends, rather than place it vertically, standing up. Adding a cross-member to the back of the Kallax, as some have done, is also an idea worth considering. The Kallax is definitely the best value around, the cost per LP very low. Just be gentle with them once they’re loaded! By the way, the "beefiness" of the Kallax, if it is perceived that way because of the thickness of it’s outer panels, is illusionary. Those panels are made of lightweight pressed-fibreboard, that "hollow-core" stuff, as are those of the Eket. The Kallax’s thicker outer panels, in comparison the those of the Eket, provide no additional strength. |
When I said their names was the only difference between the Expidit and Kallax, I was speaking in terms of the over-all dimensions, style (room divider with no back panel), and LP capacity. At a glance, they look very, very similar, if not identical. To me it’s now moot, as I much prefer the design of the Eket. I bought six of the 4-cubicle version (27-1/2" height and width, 13-3/4" depth, with a back panel---perfect for LP’s!), making two stacks of 3-Eket high units, each stack on the optional 4" high base unit. My search for LP storage is over! |
There are a few differences between the two: 1- The Valje is 11-3/4" deep, the Eket 13-3/4". 2- The Valje is 59" tall by 39-3/8" wide, and priced at $149. The Eket is 27-1/2" square at $50. So for the price of one Valje, one can get three Eket’s. For $149, a single Valje provides 157 linear feet of shelf space; for $150, three Eket’s 165 feet. 3- Each shelf of the Eket is divided into two identical 12-3/4" wide cubicles. Each shelf in the Valje is divided into two different width cubicles, one twice the width of the other. At roughly 39" wide, that’s about 13" for the smaller cubicle, 26" for the wider. I don’t like LP’s in a space with supporting walls that far apart. The wider the space, the more weight and pressure is exerted on warpable LP’s. 4- The Eket can be stacked three units high (as are mine), for a total height of 7’ 2" (including the optional 4" tall "underframe"). The hardware for attaching one Eket to another is provided with each, holes drilled into the rear of each Eket to accept the brackets that do so. The Valje, at 59" tall, can not be stacked in a room with the common 8’ high ceiling, requiring at least 10’. Plus, means of securing one Valje to another is not designed into the unit. The top shelf of the 7’ 2" tall stack of three Eket’s can be easily reached; the top shelf of an almost 10’ tall stack of two Valje’s not so much. |
It would be very close punki, but if you live by an IKEA you can take one of the Kallax inserts on display in the showroom and try to put it into an EKET cubicle. IKEA may eventually offer inserts for the EKET as well, which would be great. |
Most record cabinets sit on the floor. The EKET can, but doesn't have to. As mentioned above, Ikea offers a 4-legged base for the EKET which raises it 4" from the floor, plenty high enough for me. The base is pictured on the Ikea website for anyone interested. |
I have only a few special boxsets taller than 12-7/8", the interior height of the EKET. Anyone contemplating purchasing them can measure their LP’s to see if 12-7/8" will do. As for weight capacity, the EKET seems sturdier to me than does the Kallax, which a lot of collectors have been using without incident for a few years. Ikea specifies 29 lbs. maximum for each Kallax shelf, 33 for each in the EKET. |
Also, the Ikea Bitrade is larger than the EKET, at 28-3/8" top-to-bottom and side-to-side, and 15-3/8" deep. It also cheaper than the EKET, at $24.99, but available only in white. |
g-klaven, the 13" interior dimensions (height, width, depth) of the compartments in the EKET is perfect for LP's imo. With the front of each LP about 3/4" from the front of the EKET, and the top of each LP about 3/4" from the shelf above it, it is no problem to get a finger between the LP covers top and the shelf. If one keeps his LP's snug but not tight (as one should, to prevent ring wear), a finger can also be inserted between LP's to remove one. If one desires more space, the Ikea Kallax provides that. |
jt, take a look at the listing of the double EKET on the IKEA site. It is two of the 4-compartment models side-by-side, with a long underframe under each unit. IKEA sells that combination (two 4-compartment EKET's, two long underframes) as a separate model, but it's priced the same as buying each piece separately, no price break. The pic of it shows you exactly what it will look like. |
jt, I’m getting six of the 4-compartment 27-1/2" x 27-1/2" x 13-3/4" EKET’s, stacking them three high as two separate racks (a 12-pack of connecting hardware is available for securing multiple EKET’s to each other for stability, a real good idea). For the base of each stack I’m going with the 27-1/2" x 13-3/4" birch "underframe". Since the 4-cube EKET is 2 compartments wide, I too thought it might not be supported enough in the middle for the weight of LP’s by the long span of that underframe, as the frame has a foot at each of its four corners only, not in the middle of its 27-1/2" length. What one can do is get two of the shorter underframes, which are 9-7/8" long, rather than one long one. Two of the shorter frames side-by-side are the same length as a single longer one, but there will then be support in the middle of the EKET provided by the two "inner" feet of each underframe---the two 9-7/8" underframes will meet in the middle of the 2-compartment wide EKET, providing support there. I took a look at the longer underframe, and it appears plenty stiff enough to not bow under the weight of even a fully-loaded 2-cube wide EKET. But for anyone wanting to take extra precaution that option is available. The legs of the underframe, by the way, have height-adjustable feet, for leveling. The longer underframe is priced at $15, the shorter at $10. |
No, I'm picking mine up on Monday. As the interior compartments are essentially 13" cubes (height, width, and depth), it's perfect for LP's. And it has a rear panel! It also displays much less swaying left-to-right than the backless Ikea shelving units. The EKET is a little more dough than them, but not by much. I really like the charcoal color available. |
I do exactly the same Chris, listening to old favorites in moments of stress. I need to have a clear head to absorb new music, especially complex (Classical) music. |
Hey, how did that happen?! I must have signed on through Facebook recently, as that is my Facebook profile pic, playing my first drum on Christmas morning 1954. Damn Chris---one 5 x 5, three 4 x 4? You must have a lotta LP's! I had about 5,000 until late 2015, when I went through them in preparation for my move from S. California to S. Washington, weeding out the non-essential, duplicates, etc, leaving me with about 3,500 or so. I did the same with my CD's, going from about 10,000 down to around 6,000 I'm guessing. So much music, so little time (left)! I just finished Humphrey Burtons biography of Leonard Bernstein, and Bernstein himself became increasingly concerned with his remaining time as he approached turning 70, feeling like he had so much more to do. I have a lot of LP's and CD's that I have yet to hear even once, a lot of music left to discover. Use your time wisely, youngins'! |
Thanks Jeff, I did not know that. I don’t think the Kallax’s thinner shelves (I believe they are 5/8", 3/4" at most) should be a problem, as they are braced every 15" or so. |
spelly, the 25 space Kallax is listed and pictured on the Ikea website at the $199 price (plus shipping), and is priced the same in the Portland Oregon store I went into. I would think that is the price at all Ikea locations, but have no way to verify that. There is also a 16-cubicle version (4 spaces wide, 4 high) that is an even better deal at $109! The 8-cubicle model is priced at $65, and the 4-cubicle at $35. Great deals one and all. The fully enclosed and slightly smaller EKET’s are priced as follows: 13-3/4" cube @ $20, 2-cubicle 13-3/4" x 27-1/2" @ $30, and 4-cubicle 27-1/2" x 27-1/2" @ $50. The rear of each EKET is predrilled for the clips (an optional accessory priced @ $5/dozen) that secure multiple units together for stacking, and hardware to secure the EKET to a wall is included with each model. I also like the optional 4" high platform (with height-adjustable feet) to get the rack off the floor, priced @ $10 (for the narrower version) and $15 (for the wider). Why spend more? Some of the LP racks out there cost as much as do all the used LP’s it takes to fill them! |
Good idea Glenn. The Kallax 25 space unit is the best deal around at $199, providing almost 30 linear feet of LP storage (almost 6’ wide, and 5 rows high)! If I got the Kallax (I would be getting a number of the 4-space and 8-space units, my rooms layout not allowing the 25 space model), I was planning on screwing pressed fiberboard onto the rear of each, perhaps even a piece into each space, with 2" x 2" blocks behind each to shorten the depth. The Kallax 8-space unit sells for $65, the 4-space EKET for $50, the Kallax obviously a better deal per linear foot. But I really like the look of the EKET (it looks a little more "finished" than the Kallax, with a even thickness panels having rounded edges), and the charcoal color, not available in the Kallax. It’s all good! |
bdgregory---The Expidit was the model the Kallax is a replacement for. There was such an outcry when the Expidit was discontinued that Ikea reintroduced it as the Kallax, the name being the only difference between the two. The drawers look like they would be great for CD storage, but the hinges that mount doors to the rack would get in the way of LP’s on the side to which they are mounted. One could put cardboards flats (that come in mail order LP cartons) on that side to solve that problem. pryso---I had forgotten those chipboard boxes! I used them way back in the 70’s and 80’s, bought at the same unfinished-style store. They were available in a 2-section 15" x 15" version, and the 4-section 30" long one you mention. I too painted mine, and I remember LP covers kind of sticking to the paint. I guess I used the wrong kind! Being chipboard, they were pretty heavy, even moreso when fully loaded. But cheap, and very strong. I looked for some in the 90’s, but never again found them. By the way, the EKET is available in a bunch of colors---light gray, dark gray (a great charcoal), white, light blue, dark blue, light orange, and bright orange. |
