Console or other surface for amplifier and turntable

I had the same problem and a friend of mine, who owed me a favor, and I scaled up a set of bookcase plans by Norm Abrams from “The New Yankee Workshop”. We made them a lot deeper to accommodate the components but only wide enough to accept 1 component per shelf.We constructed 2 of the altered bookcases and I cut a piece of 3/4” birch plywood to the same depth as the book cases. Mounted between the bookcases cases it supports my turn table and my small record collection. I have a small led tv mounted to the wall along with a sound bar.

The room isn’t very big so that covers one wall completely with the speakers  tucked in next to the book cases. Not near as pretty as the BDI furniture, which I was drooling over but functionally it has served me well for about 30 years and counting. 

Open base, to fetch little things you drop behind the rack

I drop little things, levels, rca shorting plugs, a tool, whatever behind the rack. 

No way am I disconnecting equipment and moving the rack to get behind it.

IF you have an open base, you at least have a chance to look underneath with a flash light, and get something you dropped!

A KNEEPAD

A GRABBER

A Flash Light 

A Mate with small hands

I just found 3 of these tiny 10mm diameter round levels that I put on top of my headshells (shown inside the grabber’s red claw).

A glass shelf at the bottom, with easily removed stuff (not wired equipment), makes it easier to view thru the glass and see/fetch things.

Or, a removable bottom shelf

Oh Yeah, rear access and ventilation.

I like bigger rear holes, often cut my own, to see and reach the back of a big AVR is a PITA.

One problem is when looking thru big rear holes, you can see wires in front of a light colored wall behind the rack.

I made a sliding/removable back panel that is the same dark color and blocks light getting back there

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/12369

BTW

that entire cabinet is on small 3 wheel casters in each corner behind the skirt. It floats 1/4" above the floor, rolls out easy, no marks in the floor, not even fastened, get help lifting each end one end at a time, the weight keeps them in place, figure out the height, add some wood the right thickness so a small clearance you never notice results.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Richelieu-Hardware-6-7-16-in-164-mm-Three-Wheel-Dolly-with-200-lbs-Load-Rating-F29317/301656440

 elliot, you dirty dog !

Oh Yeah, rear access and ventilation.

I like bigger rear holes, often cut my own, 

lol

My Salamander rack came with back panels, but I didn't use them.  The rack is rock solid without them.  Trying to route heavy power cords wouldn't have worked with a back panel. Yeah, you can see the cables, but I don't care. 

I bought casters for my rack so it can easily be moved. 

I also bought extra shelves and a pull out drawer that my turntable sits on.